LW Mag LW Magazine
Related Articles
Ahead of this week’s MMA fight night at EFC Africa 18 (Friday 1st March at Carnival City) we caught up with the two warriors that will be fighting for the EFC Africa Heavyweight Title. Namely Ruan “Fangzz” Potts – the title holder and Andrew “One Gear” van Zyl – the contender. Ruan defeated Andrew in 2011, now Andrew has his chance for revenge and the title, will he succeed or with Ruan retail his undefeated Heavyweight title? See what each fighter has to say about the fight, fight night and each other:
Full Name?
Ruan: Ruan Potts
Andrew: Andrew van Zyl
Nickname?
Ruan: Fangzz
Andrew: One Gear
Age?
Ruan: 34
Andrew: 30
Hometown?
Ruan: Boksburg
Andrew: Johannesburg
Fight record?
Ruan: 5-0
Andrew: 9-1
Submission of choice?
Ruan: Rear Naked Choke
Andrew: Silly question
Gym?
Ruan: Mark Robinson’s MMA and Grappling
Andrew: BJMMA
Sponsors?
Ruan: Rex Diff & Gearbox, Barloworld, Bad Boy, Musclepharm, Cinemagic, @Home, Extension Housing Exchange, Sedgars.
Andrew: Ample Insurance, Raw fitness, Rockstar, Titan nutrition, Giga combat wear, Jaded ink, Substation.
How long have you been training for the upcoming EFC Africa Heavyweight Title fight?
Ruan: 3 Months.
Andrew: I have been training since my last fight in October.
You have faced your opponent before. What do you think he is going to change up and bring to this fight?
Ruan: I think Andrew will come in prepared for this fight. I think he will come in more conditioned and more prepared than the last time and I hope he is going to bring his “A” game so that we can give the crowd a fight to remember.
Andrew: Yes, my first loss in 2011. I don’t think he’s going to change much he has a formula that is working for him.
How have you prepared for this fight and have you changed up you game plan?
Ruan: I have prepared as I prepare for all my fights and have upped my game by adding a new aspect to my game. I have brought Mark Robinson on board (a MMA legend) in South Africa. He has sharpened my grappling and ground skills to a whole new level.
Andrew: It has been a year for me to work on many aspects of my game but mostly a maturing year, I have had the opportunity to get into the ring on two more occasions and had a chance to focus on aspects of my game that needed change. I have been working on my stand up and on my mental game.
Did you train throughout the off / festive season?
Ruan: I have trained throughout the festive season and also trained through my birthday on the 23rd of February. I will celebrate my birthday after my victory on the 1st of March.
Andrew: I had committed to completing the half iron man in January this year so I was training every day. I finished the race in 7:49 it was tough. I stopped training mma on the 16th of December and resumed on the 6th of January.
What are you looking forward to most about this fight?
Ruan: I am looking forward to the victory as I have trained harder for this fight than any other fight in my career.
Andrew: Winning.
What flaws do you think your opponent will have in the cage?
Ruan: I think Andrews flaw is that he thinks he can beat me and that I was lucky in my last fight with him.
Andrew: We have had a look at all of his fights there are aspects that I will exploit but that’s for the 1st.
What can the crown expect from this fight on fight night?
Ruan: I think the crowd will go home with the memory of a fight that they will never forget. I think we will both bring our “A” game and we are both hungry for the title. The question is – who is the hungriest?
Andrew: Hopefully a KO.
What song will you be walking in with on fight night?
Ruan: Unfortunately you will have to wait for that one on the night!
Andrew: Same as always – Fuel by Metallica.
What goes through your mind as you enter the cage and see your opponent?
Ruan: I focus on nothing but the task at hand – victory!
Andrew: It has nothing to do with him, it’s what I do that counts!
How do you see the fight ending and in what round?
Ruan: I see the fight ending with my hand raised and me walking out the hexagon with my belt once again – victorious! The round does not worry me.
Andrew: The fight will be finished when it’s finished.
Any words for Andrew before fight night?
Ruan: I wish Andrew all the best and I hope he has trained hard for this one so that we can give the crowd what they are there for – A fight to remember!
Andrew: I’m a man of action, talk is for free.
Potts vs Van Zyl Fight Feature – EFC AFRICA 18
You can follow both these fighters on Twitter.
Ruan here and
Andrew here.
