EFC Africa 16 Review

Friday 19 October 2012 saw EFC Africa’s 16th instalment of their fighting championship go down at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena. Even though for some reason there were quite a few empty seats and a not as hyped atmosphere, fans were treated to some of the best cage fighting action the hexagon has seen including 3 title fights. Here is our review of what went down on EFC 16’s fight night:

Fight 1: Heavyweight – Brendon Groenewald vs Sors Grobbelaar
This fight started off quickly with Grobbelaar dropping Groenewald with a leg kick and lands a punch taking the fight to the ground as Groenewald was getting up. Grobbelaar tried with a submission but Groenewald turned it and tried to lock in a rear naked choke unsuccessfully. Groenewald got himeseld into control and locked in a tight guillotine choke forcing Grobblaar to tap out 3minutes 5 seconds into the 1st round. Groenewald was happy fith his debut EFC fight.

Fight 2: Lightweight – Wade Groth vs Khalil Akleker
This was an exciting fight that went all 3 rounds. Round 1 saw Groth landing some big punches and Akleker wanting to take the fight to the ground. Groth landed a big punch knocking Akleker to the ground. Groth let Akleker stand up and they traded until the end of the round.
In round 2 Akleker came out firing and dropped Groth twice with punches but Groth composed himself and went in with some good body shots and one two’s. Groth knocked Akleker down with a big right at the end of the round.
Round 3 saw Groth control the fight with jabs, uppercuts, body shot and big punches. Akleker too the fight to the ground but Groth kicked him off and the fight went back to standing and trading until the bell went.
Groth took the fight by unanimous desicion.

Fight 3: Heavyweight – Ricky Misholas vs Wilhelm Strauss
Strauss, now dropped to the heavyweight division, took on Misholas in battle that lasted 2minutes 27second into the 1st round. Both fighters came in and traded but Misholas got in a big right stunning Strauss and sent him stumbling. Misholas got one more punch in sending Strauss to the ground and took the fight by way of KO.

Fight 4: Featherweight – Francois Groenewald vs Jean-Luc Kazadi
Round 1 saw Groenewald want the fight on the ground but Kazadi was a tough customer. Both fighters exchanged a few kicks and punches with Kazadi getting the best of the stand up before Groenewald took the fight to the ground. Groenewald tried twice with a guillotine choke with no luck and also got into full mount but Kazadi defended himself well and got out.
In round 2 Groenewald again got Kazadi to the ground and eventually locked in a triangle choke. The ref called the fight as he thought Kazadi tapped out. From our point of view this was a mistake by the ref and an upset Kazadi lost the fight to Groenewald.

Fight 5: Light Heavyweight – Danie van Heerden vs Dain Neveling
Van Heerden back up to light heavyweight he feels more comfortable in this division.
This fight went straight into a slug fest with both fighters standing and trading big blows. Van Heerden got Neveling to the ground and landed some ground and pound before letting Neveling stand back up. Stand and trade again which saw Neveling bleeding from the right eye and looking tired. The fight went to the ground again and Van Heerden landed some heavy ground and pound before the ref called the fight due to verbal submission by Neveling due to strikes 3minutes 16seconds into the 1st round.

Fight 6: Light Heavyweight – Daniel Sinclair vs JC Lamprecht
Round 1 was a stand up battle with both fighters landing some good combos and heave punches. Sinclair connected Lamprecht making him wobbly on his feet at the end of round 1.
In round 2 both fighters stood a traded but Sinclair landed the bigger punches and knees which saw Lamprecht bleeding heavily from the nose. Lamprecht went in for the takedown and took the fight to the ground but Sinclair capitalised and landed some ground and pound leaving Lamprecht a bloody mess as the ref called the fight. Sinclair takes the victory by TKO

Fight 7: Heavyweight – Andrew van Zyl vs Ian Visser
Both fighters came in a traded, a short time out was called due to a low blow to Van Zyl. The always improving Van Zyl took the fight to the ground and worked around Visser to get into full control and land some heavy ground and pound. The ref called the fight and Van Zyl took another win by TKO 2minutes 13seconds into the 1st round.

Fight 8: Welterweight – Francois Kabulu vs Nicholas Radley
Radley’s debut fight saw him take on the tough Kabulu. Kabulu took the fight straight to the ground and got into position but Radley defended himself well on the ground. Kabulu locked in a triangle choke but Radley was saved by the bell.
Round 2 saw Radley get in some good leg and body kicks. Kabulu went in for the takedown again and lands some elbows before Radley turned it and stood the fight back up. Kabulu managed to get a guillotine choke in and yet again Radley was saved by the bell.
In round 3 Radley came out firing and took it out of Kabulu. Kabulu’s only defence was to try take the fight to the ground which he did but the ref stood the fight up as nothing was happening. A tured Kabulu went in for the takedown again and held onto Radley until the end of the round leaving Radley with not much to do.
This was a close fight but in the end Kabulu took the win by majority decision.

Fight 9: Featherweight – Gareth Buirski vs Markus Taljaard
Buirski came out with his usual fighting style bouncing left, right and all over the place before going in for the takedown. Manoeuvring around each other Taljaard tried with and unsuccessful armbar and Buirski tried to get himself into position to ground and pound. Buirski stood up over Taljaard but couldn’t connect with anything. The ref stood the fight up and Buirski landed a big punch and took the fight to the ground at the end of round 1.
47 seconds into the 2nd round Buirski connected Taljaard with a big right and knocked Taljaard out. Buirski took the win by KO and Taljaard left the hexagon on a stretcher. Burski also recieved the “Knock out of the night” award.

Fight 10: Middleweight – Wade Henderson vs Tumelo Maphutha
Round 1 saw Maphutha connecting Henderson with a big punch almost dropping him and then followed it up with a leg kick that did drop Henderson. Maphutha let Henderson stand up and they continued to trade, Maphutha getting the better of the stand up and Henderson wanting to take the fight to the ground. Maphutha did lose a point in this round due to holding the cage.
Round 2 Saw an exchange of punches and kicks and Henderson going in for the takedown over and over unsuccessfully.
In round 3 Henderson came out more intense and it worked for him as he knocked Maphutha to the ground and got into rear mount and tried with a rear naked choke. Maputha turned giving Henderson full mount but turned again and again Henderson landed punches while trying for the rear naked choke. Maphutha defended himself well and jumped out of Henderson’s hold as the bell went for the end of the fight.
Henderson took the victory by split decision.

Fight 11: Welterweight Title Fight – Michiel Opperman vs Jadyson Costa
The first of the 3 title fights of the night saw the darkhorse Opperman take on the confident title holder Costa.
Opperman went in hard straight away but Costa retaliated by taking the fight to the ground. Costa manoeuvred around Opperman to try get into position but the fight stood back up before quickly going back to ground. Out of nowhere Opperman locked in a Rear Naked Choke forcing the champ to tap out 2minutes 6seconds into the 1st round.
Opperman now the new EFC Africa Welterweight Champion.

Fight 12: Featherweight Title Fight – Demarte Pena vs Terrence Griessel
This title fight went all 5 rounds and unfortunately was not as exciting as fans had hoped for. Both fighters looked well matched in the first 3 rounds in stand up and on the ground, both getting takedowns, defending well and exchanging punches and kicks.
Griessel landed a nice flying punch right at the end of round 2 and Pena catching Griessel’s kick for the takedown in round 3.
Not much happened in round 4 except for Pene swapping from a orthodox to southpaw stance over and over and both fighters avoiding each other’s attacks.
In the final round Pena got a big takedown which saw some good grappling before the fight went back to stand up. With 10seconds left to go Griessel went in firing but it was too late and the bell went.
The judges scored the fight 49 – 48, 48 – 47 and 49 – 46 in favour of and still the EFC Africa Welterweight Champion Demarte Pena

Fight 13: Heavyweight Title Fight – Ruan Potts vs Bernardo Mikixi
Finally the fight that everyone had been waiting for! The heavyweights entered the hexagon and fans were not let down by this big hitting battle.
In round 1 Mikixi went in hard and the defending champ Potts kept calm and took the fight to the ground. Potts worked around Mikixi and got himself into full mount but Mikixi turned giving up his back which gave Potts the chance to try lock in a rear naked choke. Mikixi avoided this and stood the fight back up in a clinch. Potts went to ground and Mikixi took advantage and started hammering down with hid big fists which saw Potts in danger as the round ended.
In round 2 Potts still recovering from Mikixi’s onslaught was swaying and looking tired. Potts went in with the kicks and Mikixi with the punches. A tired Potts took the fight to the ground got himself into full mount, recovered and landed some heavy elbow ground and pound. The ref called the fight by TKO.
A brilliant comeback by the still undefeated EFC Africa Heavyweight Champion Ruan Potts.