EFC Africa 15 – Talk, Blows, Blood and a Title!

Friday night – 27th August – saw the 15th instalment of EFC Africa go down at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena in JHB! Fight Night was not a disappointment as 13 well matched bouts took to the cage and had fans screaming as heavy blows and submissions were the order of the night as well as the 1st ever EFC Light Heavy Weight champion being crowned!
Here is our take on the 13 fights:

Fight 1: Light Heavy Weight – LANCE CERONIO vs. MAHMOUD SALAMA
The first fight of the night got under way as the Big Top Arena was still filling up with EFC fans. Salama came in with a roundhouse kick wish saw both fighters engage into a clinch before going to ground. Fighting for positions Ceronio locked in a rear naked choke forcing Salama to tap out early in the first round.

Fight 2: Welterweight – HECTOR BRITTS vs. JC LAMPRECHT
Another quick fight! Lamprecht came out swinging, landing some hard punches and the fight went to the ground quick. Lamprecht stayed in control, landing hits to the body of Britts and trying for submissions locking in a Key lock 2 minutes 26 seconds into the first round forcing Britts to tap out.

Fight 3: Featherweight – BOYD ALLEN vs. ALAIN ILUNGA
Sizing each other up, Allen with some punches and kicks seeing Ilunga respond with the same. The fight went to the ground with Allen trying for the triangle choke but Ilunga threw him off and they stood back up. Allen tried to take the fight to the ground with no luck. The first round came to an end with a big exchange of knees and punches, Ilunga landing the bigger knee hits.
Round 2 saw Ilunga come out with some leg kicks but Allen landed a big punch dazing Ilunga forcing him to stumble. Allen took advantage of this and proceeded to land some heavy ground and pound. A big elbow to the face of Ilunga saw the ref call the fight. Boyd Allen taking the win by TKO.

Fight 4: Welterweight – FRANCOIS KABULU vs. DAVID BUIRSKI
Round 1 saw the familiar bouncing all over the place from Buirski landing a kick and punch here and there. A composed, relaxed Kabulu landed a good punch and took Buirski to the ground trying with a choke while landing a few hits to the body of Buirski.
In round 2 both fighters came out swinging and both fighters avoiding and blocking well. Kabulu knocked Buirski to the ground and got into full control. Buirski defended himself well from the bottom holding onto Kabulu as he tried to land strikes.
Round 3 saw an exchange of kicks, hard ones by way of Kabulu hurting Buirski. Buirski went in for a choke taking the fight to the ground but Kabulu turned it quickly and Buirski was now in defense again. Buirski tried with another submission but had no luck and defended himself till the end of the round.
The fight went to the judges – unanimous decision in favour of Fancois Kabulu

Fight 5: Middleweight: LIAM CLELAND vs. TUMELO MAPHUTHA
This fight started off with an explosive blow from Maphutha dropping Cleland to the ground, Maputha then rained down on his opponent with heavy punches. Cleland managed to save himself by holding onto Maphutha’s leg and taking the fight to the ground and getting himself into full control. Now composed Cleland landed some ground and pound, then got himself into side control landing some more hits before getting Maphutha into a rear naked choke just a bit too late as the bell went saving Maphutha. Cleland recovered well from the short onslaught he took at the beginning of the round.
In round 2 Cleland took the fight to the ground as soon as he could. He regained his full mount and Maphutha twisted to try get out giving up his back. Clelend tried to lock in the rear naked choke over and over but Maphutha managed to avoid it.
Round 3 saw Maphutha wanting a stand up fight and Cleland wanting the fight on the ground. Cleland tried to take the fight to the ground but Maphutha avoided by landing a knee and punch dropping Cleland to the ground. Maphutha then made the mistake of throwing a head kick while Cleland was on the ground. The ref stopped the fight and Maphutha was disqualified due to his head kick.
Cleland took the win but asked for a rematch.

Fight 6: Middleweight – CHETT MEYER vs. DONAVIN HAWKEY
Meyer came out with a hug leg kick not connecting Hawkey and making him fall to the floor. Hawkey let Meyer stand back up. A few trades where made before Meyer tried to take the fight to the ground, it took him a while but he finally got Hawkey to the ground. Hawkey responded by locking a very tight guillotine choke not even giving Meyer the chance to tap out as he blacked out before he could.
Donavin Hawkey took the win 1 minute 50 seconds into round 1. He did mention that he was coming into this fight with a new aggression and that exactly what he did.

Fight 7: Heavyweight – ANDREW VAN ZYL vs. MOHMED KARIM
A great comeback fight for Van Zyl completely dominating Karim from the get go. Van Zyl landed some big strikes and took Karim to the ground. He then controlled the fight from there landing heavy ground and pound all while trying for a few unsuccessful arm bars and rear naked chokes. The ref called the fight 4 minutes 37 seconds into round 1 in favour of Van Zyl by TKO.

Fight 8: Welterweight – DINO BAGATTIN vs. MARTIN VAN STADEN
This was without a doubt our fight of the night. A 3 round full on stand up slugfest. Round 1 was too close to call and saw a good punch from Van Staden knocking Bagattn to the floor. Van Staden tried to take advantage with no luck and they both went to stand up again.
Round 2 saw more and more trades, with the crown going crazy every time combos where thrown and landed by each fighter. Van Staden tried for a takedown in this round with no luck.
In round 3 you could see that each fighters game plan was to knock each other out. Van Staden eventually gets the fight to the ground and tried to get into full mount but Bagattin kicked him away. Van Staden maneuvered himself around Bagattin and locked in and Anaconda chock forcing Bagattin to tap out – 3 minutes 64 seconds.

Fight 9: Lightweight – LEON MYNHARDT vs. ALEX CHEBOUB
Round 1 saw Cheboub trying with a variety of unsuccessful kicks, after trying with his 3rd roundhouse kick Mynhardt responded with his own and connected the body of Cheboub winding him and dropping him to the floor. Mynhardt wanted to stand and trade and let Cheboub stand up and then got to work on Cheboub’s right leg damaging it with leg kicks.
In round 2 a few punches were exchanged before Cheboub took the fight to the ground. Mynhardt owned Cheboub at his own game and locked in a guillotine choke which saw Cheboub tap out 40 seconds into round 2.

Fight 10: Middleweight – TYRON RIGHTFORD vs. DARREN DANIEL
The fight with all the talk around it. There was so much tuning from both fighters leading up to this fight that everyone couldn’t wait to see what the outcome would be. The outcome was that Darren Daniel owned Tyron Rightford.
In round 1 both fighters sized each other up and a few punched were thrown before they went into a clinch. Both fighters were trying to take the fight to the ground landing knees. Daniel took the fight to the ground and stood above Rightford and went in with some big hits. Rightfords only defense was to kick Daniel away. Rightford managed to stand back up and they went into another clinch before Daniel took the fight to the ground again. Daniel landed some ground and pound before the bell went for round 1. Both fighters were covered in blood,.
Round 2 saw Daniel take Rightford to the ground yet again and stand above him landing some more big hits before getting into half guard. Rightford took a beating from Daniel until the ref called the fight 2 minutes 2 seconds into round 2.
Darren Daniel taking the win by TKO.

Fight 11: Light Heavyweight – RAYMOND AHANA vs. JASON CULVERWELL
Another great fight seeing both fighters go in hard in round 1. The fight went to ground and Culverwell tried with an arm bar but Ahana got out and the fight went back to stand up with some big trades. Ahana looked more composed than Culverwell in this round.
Round 2 saw more stand up exchange with Culverwell working on Ahana’s left leg before taking the fight to the ground and landing some ground and pound. Culverwell tried with and arm bar but Ahana was just too strong and got out, Culverwell then locked in a deep triangle choke but Ahana was saved by the bell.
Culverwell rocked Ahana with punches in round 3 and took him to the ground, got into full mount and landed ground and pound until the ref called the fight.
Jason Culverwell with a big win by TKO

Fight 12: Middleweight – GARRETH MCLELLAN vs. ARMAND DE BRUYN
Gloves touched and the fighters went into a clinch circling the cage. Mclellan took De Bruyn to the ground and maneuvered himself around until De Bruyn made the mistake of giving Mclellan his back. Mclellen took the win by locking in a rear naked choke 1 minute 22 seconds into round 1 and forcing De Bruyn to tap out.
Garrethh Mclellan called out Jeremy Smith during his interview as he want the title fight.

Fight 13: Light Heavyweight Title Fight – NORMAN WESSELS vs. JP JOUBERT
And what a fight this was. Both fighters came out in round 1 and felt each other out. JP taunted Wessels a bit and Wessels almost took advantage of that. Wessels took the fight to the ground and tried to get into full mount. Joubert defended himself well but Wessels landed some big elbows and almost locked in a rear naked choke before the fight went back t standing. There were a few big exchanges before they went back into a clinch. Joubert looked very tired and was throwing big but slow punches. Wessels took the fight to the ground again as the bell went.
Joubert came out in round 2 wanting a brawl and rained down on Wessels with big strikes dazing Wessels. A few trades were made before a now also tired Wessels took the fight to the ground. Wessels got himself into full mount and Joubert defended himself well before he rolled out, stood the fight back up and completely dominated Wessels with nonstop blows. Ref calls the fight.
JP Joubert wins by way of TKO and is now the EFC Africa Light Heavyweight Champion.