EFC Africa 24 Fight Review

A stacked fight card saw a night of epic Mixed Martial Arts fights take place at EFC Africa 24 which had MMA fans to their feet and screaming for their favourite athletes. We were cage-side to bring you all the action from fight night, so if you missed out, here’s our review.

Fight 1: Featherweight – Kanyeba Anicet vs Amos Hlatshwayo

Winner: Kanyeba Anicet
This fight started off with a stand up trade before Anicet landed a bit right, Hlatshwayo recovered quickly and fought back. The fight then went to the ground with Anicet in control, Hlatshwayo gave up his back and Anicet tried with a Rear Naked Choke with no luck. The rest of the fight played our similarly with Anicet getting top mount when the fight was on the ground and controlling while Hlatshwayo defended well from the bottom. IN round 3 Hlatshwayo gave up his back again and gave Anicet the opportunity to lock in that Rear Naked Choke which saw Hlatshwayo tap out.

Fight 2: Bantamweight – Steven Momah vs Pietie Coxen

Winner: Pietie Coxen
A quick fight that saw a good stand up exchange before going into the clinch. Separated, Coxen landed a big right hurting Momah, Coxen then went in with the bangs and ref called the fight. Coxen took the win by TKO.

Fight 3: Bantamweight – Cedric Doyle vs Sibulele Swekile

Winner: Cedric Doyle
Doyle came into the fight aggressive and landed big strikes. Swekile fought back but Doyle got the takedown, got into control and landed destructive ground and pound seeing the ref call the fight and Doyle taking the win by TKO.

Fight 4: Bantamweight – Victor Anyoagu vs Darryl Moodley

Winner: Darryl Moodley
Moodley looked tentative coming into the fight and Anyoagu was waiting for the right time to attack. Moodley eventually took the fight to the ground and got into top mount, Anyoagu gave up his back and Moodley capitalised by locking in a tight Rear Naked Choke. Anyoagu tapped out in round 1.

Fight 5: Bantamweight – Pierre Botha vs Mbulelo Swekile

Winner: Mbulelo Swekile
Botha went straight in for the takedown and got it. Swekile looked comfortable on the ground and got Botha into a triangle lock and landed some strikes. Botha tried to get out but Swekile’s hold was too tight and Botha had to tap out due to the Triangle Choke.

Fight 6: Bantamweight – Nkazimulo Zulu vs Craig Ninow

Winner: Nkazimulo Zulu
This fight went the distance which saw Ninow go in for the takedowns and Zulu making it difficult for him to accomplish them. When the fight did go to ground, both fighters fought well. Zulu Landed a head kick and shattered Ninow’s nose right at the end of the final round. Fight went to the judges and they scored it unanimous in favour of Zulu.

Fight 7: Welterweight – Josh Muller vs Morne Prinsloo

Winner: Morne Prinsloo
Muller went in for the takedowns but Prinsloo kept standing his attempts up. The fight did finally go to ground with some great maneuvering by both fighters but Muller threw in the verbal submission giving the win to Prinsloo due to a knee injury. In the post fight interview, Prinsloo said he could hear Muller’s knee pop.

Fight 8: Welterweight – David Buirski vs Wade Henderson

Winner: David Buirski
Both went in sizing each other up and throwing strikes without landing. Buirski then caught Henderson with a heavy punch dropping Henderson, Buirski went in with more hits seeing the ref call the fight. Buirski won by TKO.

Fight 9: Middleweight – JC Lamprecht vs Dricus Du Plessis

Winner: Dricus Du Plessis
One of the most exciting fights of the night with amazing stand up trades, clinch warfare and ground game. Through rounds 1, 2 and 3 it looked to be anyone’s game but in round 3 Lamprecht gave up his back while Du Plessis had guard and was landing strikes. Du Plessis took advantage and locked in a Rear Naked Choke forcing Lamprecht to tap out.

Fight 10: Featherweight – Brandon Katz vs Gareth Buirski

Winner: Brandon Katz
Buirski’s usual dancing and jumping around the hexagon made life hard for Katz as he looked frustrated. When Buirski engaged he landed some good and heavy combos, even knocking Katz to the ground in round 2. Katz also landed his big hits and hurt Buirski a few times. On the ground Katz got himself into top mount most of the time. The fight went the distance and went to the judges who scores it, by unanimous decision in favour of Katz. Awesome fight for Katz on his return to the EFC.

Fight 11: Heavyweight – Ruan Potts vs Ricky Misholas

Winner: Ruan Potts
I don’t think one punch was thrown in the fight. Potts ran in for the clinch and then took the fight to the ground. Potts got himself into control, locked in a Trangle Choke and forces Misholas to tap out. This win sees Potts get the chance at the EFC Africa Heavyweight title against the champ, Andrew van Zyl come EFC 26 in December.

Fight 12: Featherweight Title Fight – Demarte Pena vs Alain Ilunga

Winner: Demarte Pena
Not the most exciting of title fights. Demarte wanted the takedowns and Ilunga made life hard for him by defending and going into the clinch. The fight was in the clinch or on the ground for the majority of the 5 rounds with not much action. Pena put in the work he needed to and when the fight went to the judges he took the win by unanimous decision. Pena is still the undefeated EFC Africa Featherweight Champ.

Fight 13: Middleweight Title Fight – Jeremy Smith vs Garreth McLellan

Winner: Garreth McLellan
The fight MMA fans had been waiting for. The rematch between two of the best EFC Middleweight warriors. Both fighters looked ready and hungry. Smith landed a few combo’s to the body of McLellan before McLellan got the takedown. Both worked around each other with Smith on the bottom landing strikes and McLellan on the top landing strikes. McLellan landed a heavy strike which saw Smith’s face instantly start to bleed heavily. McLellan then got Smith’s back and locked in a Rear Naked Choke. Smith tried with everything he had to get out but it wasn’t enough and he had to tap out in the midway through round 1. Garreth McLellan is the new EFC Africa Middleweight champion.