EFC Africa 19 Fight Review | MMA

EFC Africa 19 did not disappoint MMA fans on Friday night (19 April). 13 action packed fights took to the hexagon in Carnivals City’ Big Top Arena with the 3 main card bouts being some of the best fights EFC has seen. We were cage-side to bring you all the action.

Fight 1: Bantamweight – Donnovan Wilken vs Nkazimulo Zulu
Winner: Donnovan Wilken
A 3 round battle that saw most of the fight take place on the ground. A good debut for Zulu but the fight went to the judges and Wilken took the win by a majority decision.

Fight 2: Lightweight – Frederich Naumann vs David Van Schalkwyk
Winner: Frederich Naumann
Stand up exchange between both fighters before the fight went to the ground. Naumann then locked in a Keylock forcing Van Schalkwyk to tap out. Naumann was awarded the submission of the night.

Fight 3: Middleweight – Sean Robinson vs Paul Terblanche
Winner: Sean Robinson
This fight saw both fight in the clinch and against the cage for most of the fight. Terblanche landed a few punches in the first round but in the second Robinson got a knee in to the body of Terblanche and the fight went to the ground. Robison landed some ground and pound and the ref called the fight 23 seconds into the round. Robinson taking the win by way of TKO.

Fight 4: Heavyweight – Wilhelm Strauss vs Sors Grobbelaar
Winner: Sors Grobbelaar
A quick fight that saw Grobbelaar come in hard and land punch after punch after uppercut sending Strauss to the ground in seconds and taking the win by knockout in just 23 seconds. Grobbelaar was awarded KO of the night.

Fight 5: Featherweight – Boyd Allen vs Kanyeba Anicet
Winner: Boyd Allen
Allen came into this fight landing punches and kicks, Anicet responded by going in for the clinch. Allen then took the fight to the ground and got into full mount. Anicet tried to turn it but gave up his back which saw Allen take advantage and land some elbows and punches before trying to lock in a rear naked choke. Allen had to try 3 timed before he locked it in and forced Anicet to tap out.

Fight 6: Featherweight – Markus Taljaard vs Peter Nyide
Winner: Markus Taljaard
A closely matched fight which featured stand up, clinch and ground game fighting. Taljaard took the first 2 rounds landing more hits and trying for the rear naked chock in the second round. In round 3 Nyide landed the hits and knocked Taljaard to the ground before commencing with some ground and pound until the end of the fight. All 3 judges scored the fight 29 – 28 in favour of Taljaard.

Fight 7: Middleweight – Tumelo Maphutha vs Henry Fadipe
Split Draw
Both fighters looked tentative in the first round engaging every now and then. In round 2 Fadipe took the fight to the ground and got Maphutha’s back landing a few punches. Maputha turned it and landed some ground and pound, Fadipe again got Maphutha’s back, locked him in and landed punches. Maputha landed some big punches in rounds 1 and 2 and he did the same in round 3, Fadipe can take a punch. The rest of the round was again tentative and saw Fadipe knock Maphutha to the ground at the end of the round. The judges scored the fight 29 – 29, 29 – 28 and 28 – 29 for a split draw.

Fight 8: Lightweight – Leon Mynhardt vs Johan van Staden
Winner: Leon Mynhardt
A good fight which saw Mynhardt take all 3 rounds by landing the hits in the stand and trade and controlling the fight when van Staden went in for the takedowns and landed elbow ground and pound. Van Staden managed to hang in there for all 3 rounds and the fight went to the judges. All 3 judged scored the fight 30 – 27 in favour of Mynhardt.

Fight 9: Featherweight – Wesley Hawkey vs Alain Ilunga
Winner: Alain Ilunga
Ilunga came into the fight landing kicks that Hawkey had mentioned he was worried about. Hawkey took the fight to the ground which had both fighters fighting for position, briefly stand up in the clinch and go back to ground. Ilunga got the position and locked in a tight guillotine chock which forced Hawket to tap out 3 minutes 59 seconds into round 1.

Fight 10: Welterweight – Francois Kabulu vs Wade Henderson
Winner: Francois Kabulu
Another clinch warfare fight that went the distance. All 3 rounds were very similar and close with both fighters landing a few hit before going into the clinch. In the 3rd round Kabulu connected Henderson with a big right. Towards the end of the fight Henderson took control on the ground landing hits and trying for the rear naked choke. The fight went to the judges: 28 – 29 Kabulu, 29 – 28 Henderson and 28 – 29 Kabulu which we disagree with and think Henderson should have got the win.

Fight 11: Welterweight – Dino Bagattin vs Tyron Rightford
Winner: Dino Bagattin
The fight that fans had been waiting for. The fight that fans had come to witness for themselves. The fight dubbed “The Superfight”. And the fight that did not disappoint!
An explosive blow for blow fight that saw both fighters land and take big punches. A few kicks were thrown in every now and then but stand up and trade with punches was the order of the day. Rightfor got a right in the rocked Bagattin at the end of round 1. In round 2 Rightford had a cut above his right eye that was bleeding heavily but this did not stop the trade for trade action. Bagattin connected Rightford hard causing him to slip and fall to the ground, Bagattin then went in with the gound and pound. The ref stopped the fight (possibly a bit too early) 4 minutes 39 seconds into round 2. Bagattin took the win by way of TKO.

Fight 12: Welterweight – Adam Speechly vs Martin van Staden
Winner: Adam Speechly
A closely matched and good fight. Van Staden landed his hits in round 1 sending Speechly to the ground and then landed some ground and pound but Speechly, who’s always brilliant on the ground turned it and got in some punches of his own. In round 2 Speechly went in more aggressive standing and trading and connecting. Van Staden still connected with some of his hits but Speechly took the fight to the ground and controlled it from the top. In round 3 van Staden went in with good leg and body kicks, Speechly responded by going in for the clinch. Van Staden took the fight to the ground but Speechly quickly turned it and got into control landing ground and pound, all van Staden could do was defend until the bell went for the end of the fight. The judges scored the fight 30 – 27, 29 – 28 and 29 – 28 in favour of Speechly.

Fight 13 Featherweight Title Fight – Demarte Pena vs Wentzel Nel
Winner: Demarte Pena
A brilliant 5 round fight that had fans screaming and on the edge of their seats. Nel went into round 1 quick and hard, completely rocking Pena with nonstop punches. When Pena had the chance he ran away from Nel’s attack. Pena then went in for the clinch and composed himself. The fight then went to the ground which Pena controlled and looked as if it was his only chance of taking this fight. In round 2 and 3 Nel landed spot on jabs that dazed Pena and knocked him to the ground but Pena was working on Nel’s left leg with hard kicks. In round 4 Nel was now hurt and dint really put on any attack. In round 5 Nel found some energy and went in hard but Pena got away and continued to work on Nel’s left leg. The fight went to the ground and Pena controlled it from there landing ground and pound. The fight went to the judges after the gruelling 5 round battle and the scores were 49 – 46, 48 – 47 and 48 – 47 all in favour of the winner and still the EFC Featherweight Champion Demarte Pena.