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The first MMA Fight Night of 2013 finally arrived on Friday 1st March at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena. EFC Africa 18 did not disappoint and set itself up for an exciting year ahead. A night filled with explosive action, debut fighters and a Title fight that will be spoken about for years to come. Here is our review of event from the night:
Fight 1: Bantamweight – Charlie Weyer vs Donnovan Wilken
Winner: Charlie Weyer
A closely matched fight that went the full distance. Round 1 saw the fight go into a clinch before going to ground with Wilken on top and Weyer defending well. Winken tried to get a Rear Naked Choke in but Weyer got out and stood back up. In round 2 Weyer came out with the punches and Wilken took the fight to the ground where most of the fight was spent for the rest of the round. Round 3 was a faster paced fight with an exchange of kicks and punches (as well as 2 time-out’s given for low-blows to both fighters) before Wilken again took the fight to the ground. Wilken then stood above Weyer and tried to land some heavy kick but Weyer fought back well from the ground.
The fight went to the judges – split decision – 29 -27, 28 – 29, 28 – 29 in favour of the winner Charlie Weyer
Fight 2: Lightweight – Peter Nyide vs Frederich Naumann
Winner: Frederich Naumann
Fast paced an aggressive fight. Big exchange of punches and kicks, the fight went to the ground for a few second but went straight back into a stand up exchange. Nyide seemed to be in control of the fight both in the stand up and on the ground but it was an aggressive Naumann that locked in a Triangle Choke and forced Nyide to tap out 2minutes and 6 seconds into round 1 taking his EFC debut win.
Submission of the night.
Fight 3: Light Heavyweight – Tumelo Maphutha vs Chris Du Pont
Winner: Tumelo Maphutha
The quickest fight EFC Africa has seen. Maphutha connected Du Pont with a big right followed by another sending Du Pont to the ground. The ref called the fight 7 second into the first round. Maphutha taking the win by way of TKO.
Knock out of the night.
Fight 4: Welterweight – David Van Schalkwyk vs Juan Lubbe
Winner: Juan Lubb
Van Schalkwyk took the fight to the ground early. Both fighters manoeuvred around each other and tried to get into control while trying with submissions. Lubbe turned it, stood back up and rained down on Van Schalkwyk with some heavy punches. Van Schalkwyk tried to defend himself but the punched kept on coming. The ref called the fight 4 minutes and 27 second into the 1st round. Lubbe taking the win by way of TKO.
Fight 5: Heavyweight – Wilhelm Strauss vs Christophe Walravens
Winner: Wilhelm Strauss
Another quick and exciting fight. Walravens went straight in for the clinch and tried to take the fight to the ground. Strauss retaliated and landed a big knee to the face of Walravens followed by another which saw Walravens dazed and all over the place. Strauss then landed a kick to the chin of Walranves as he was stumbling back sending him to the floor. Ref called the fight and in favour of Strauss by way of TKO.
Fight 6: Light Heavyweight – Gideon Drotschie vs Brendon Groenewald
Winner: Gideon Drotschie
This fight was saw 3 rounds go the same way with Drotschie in control, taking the fight to the ground and trying with submissions. It was in round 3 that Drotschie took the fight to the ground, got into full mount and land some heavy elbow ground and pound. The ref called the fight 2 minutes and 46 seconds into round 3. Groenewald did well to defend himself and last till almost the end of round 3.
Drotschie took the win by way of TKO.
Fight 7: Heavyweight – Ricky Misholas vs Sors Grobbelaar
Winner: Sors Grobbelaar
The clash of the heavyweights. This fight was an all out brawl that went the distance. All 3 round were stand up battle with big blows being exchanged. Both fighters were bleeding but Grobbelaar was a bloody mess but kept coming back after taking knock out size punches from Misholas. Misholas looked to be more composed and landed some huge punches but could not knock Grobbelaar out. In round 2 Grobbelaar got Misholas to the ground and got into full mount landing some ground and pound before Misholas turned it and stood back up. Misholas looked to have taken the first 2 round with Grobbelaar catching back up in the 3rd. The fight went to the judges. 29 – 28, 29 – 28, 29 – 28 and favour of the winner Grobbellar. The crown booed in disagreement.
Fight 8: Lightweight – Dallas Jakobi vs Johan Van Staden
Draw
A well matched fight that saw a similar outcome in all 3 rounds. Van Staden landed perfectly timed and accurate jabs which hurt Jakobi and even dropped him in the 1st round. Jakobi had the better ground game and got into control when the fight was on the ground. Van Staden defended himself well when on the ground and didn’t let Jakobi land the ground and pound he was looking for.
After the 3 round battle the judges called the fight a draw. 29 – 29.
Fight 9: Light Heavyweight – Jason Culverwell vs Danie Van Heerden
Winner: Danie Van Heerden
Both fighters went into round1 swinging before going into a clich and going to ground. Van Heerden got himself into full mount and landed some ground and pound. Culverwell tried to turn but Van Heerden kept on landing hits. Culverwell gave up his back and Van Heerden took advantage locking in a Rear Naked Choke forcing Culverwell to tap out. Culverwell didn’t stand a chance.
Fight 10: Middleweight – JP Kruger vs Donavin Hawkey
Winner: JP Kruger
Kruger came into this fight landing some big kicks. Hawkey went in for the clinch and took Kruger to the ground. Kruger quickly forced in a very tight Arm Bar and Hawkey had no other option than to tap out 1 minute 36 seconds into the 1st round.
Fight 11: Welterweight – Tyrone Rightford vs David Buirski
Winner: Tyrone Rightford
Rightford came into this fight looking better and faster than he ever has and it paid off. Rightford made quick work of Buirski and connected him with a big right knocking Buirski off his feet. Rightford went into finish Buirski off and the ref called the fight 1 minute 47 seconds into the first round. Rightford taking the win by way of TKO.
Fight 12: Featherweight – Abdul Hassan vs Gareth Buirski
Winner: Abdul Hassan
A long and boring fight. Buirski was seen doing his usual jumping all over the place and not really engaging. When he did engage he either didn’t connect or he did but stopped to soon. Hassan could only take the fight to the ground when he had the opportunity and try work around Buirski. Hassan worked on Buirki’s left keg in round 3 land some hard leg kicks. The fight went to the judges. 28 – 28, 29 – 28, 29 – 28 in favour of the winner Hassan.
Fight 13: Heavyweight Title Fight – Ruan Potts vs Andrew Van Zyl
Winner: Andrew Van Zyl
The fight, the rematch, the weight class that everyone had been waiting for and what a fight it was.
Round 1: Potts came in with some big punches before going in for the clinch and taking the fight to the ground. Potts landed some more punched before the ref stood the fight back up. Back into the clinch both fighters landed some punches and knees then separated. Potts landed some heave leg kicks. The fight went back to the ground and Van Zyl tried with and Armbar but Potts twisted out of it.
Round 2: Both landed some heavy punches before Van Zyl took the fight to the ground. Tumbling over each other Van Zyl got himself on top and tried to land some ground and pound, Potts defended himself well. Van Zyl got himself into full guard but Potts turned it quickly and stood back up letting Van Zyl stand back up as well. Potts landed another 2 big kicks, Van Zyl took the fight to the ground again trying to get into full mount. Potts turned and gave up his back. Van Zyl got in some punches until the bell went.
Round 3: Exchange of kicks and punches before going into the clinch and to the ground again. Van Zyl again controlled it on the ground and got some good hits in. Potts managed to turn out and get Van Zyl into a Rear Naked Choke but Van Zyl was ready and had enough skill to get out. They exchanged a few more hits.
Round 4: Van Zyl landed a good uppercut in response to Potts kicks. The fight went to the ground and yet again Van Zyl controlled it. Van Zyl landed some ground and pound. Potts defended as well as he could and also turned but this did not stop Van Zyl from throwing the hits. Potts was not bleeding heavily from his nose.
Round 5: Potts was still landing high kicks, Van Zyl went in for the clinch. Both fighters look a bit tired now and had slowed down. They exchanged a few knees before separating. With a last burst of energy both fighters exchanged some big hits. Van Zyl rocked Potts with a big right and Potts came back with a big hit himself. The fight went to the ground and Van Zyl controlled it from there with Potts hanging on.
The fight went to the judges. 49 – 45, 49 – 46, 49 – 46 in favour of the winner and new EFC Africa Heavyweight Champion – Andrew Van Zyl.
Fight of the night.
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