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EFC Africa 28 is in the books and was a night filled with exciting, boring, well matched, badly matched and controversial Mixed Martial Arts fights. None the less, MMA fans were treated to a night of intense fighting action in the Coca Cola Dome. If you missed out or just looking for a recap on what happened, here’s our fight review.
Fight 1: Featherweight – Pierre Botha vs Lourens Botes
Winner: Pierre Botha
A 3 round battle that saw some great stand up trading. Botha scores most of the takedowns and Botes defended well on the ground. Both fighters had a good ground game but Botha out wrestled Botes. The fight went to the judged with Botha taking the win by unanimous decision.
Fight 2: Middleweight – Gareth Sawyer vs Pupanga Tresor
Winner: Gareth Sawyer
A debut fight for both fighters. Tresor came in hard with the strikes but Sawyer retaliated by taking the fight to the ground. Sawyer got himself into side control and landed some heavy elbows that were unanswered by Tresor. The ref called the fight seeing Sawyer take the win by a round 1 TKO.
Fight 3: Welterweight – Marcel Teniers vs Wayde Sage
Winner: Marcel Teniers
Teniers went straight in for the takedown with Sage landing strikes. The fight went to ground with both fighters scrambling for position. Sage got into control but Teniers turned it with nonstop grinding pressure, landing some hits before locking in a Rear Naked Choke forcing Sage to tap out in round 1.
Fight 4: Lightweight – Regis Muyambo vs Texier Kabesa
Winner: Regis Muyambo
Kabesa got the takedown in round 1 and worked for top control with Muyambo defending well from the bottom. Muyambo turned it towards the end of the round.
In round 2 Muyambo went for the takedown but it was Kabesa that got himself into control. Muyambo quickly turned it and landed some Ground and Pound. The ref called the fight with Muyambo taking the win by TKO.
Fight 5: Heavyweight – Sors Grobbelaar vs Elvis Moyo
Winner: Elvis Moyo
A slow and tentative 3 round battle. Grobbelaar worked on Moyo’s left leg all fight long with kicks while Moyo landed direct jabs to the stomach of Grobbelaar. Moyo was looking for the KO and landed some big combos, Grobbelaar defended well. The fight went to the judges who scored the fight 30 – 27 Moyo, 30 – 27 Grobbelaar and 29 – 28 Moyo seeing Moyo take the win by split decision.
Fight 6: Lightweight – Igeu Kabesa vs Pietie Coxen
This fight was cancelled due to Coxen forfeiting the fight because of medical reasons.
Fight 7: Featherweight – Hanru Botha vs Alain Ilunga
Winner: Hanru Botha
Botha got 2 takedowns in round 1 and also hurt Ilunga in the stand up with some big hits. Ilunga recovered when the fight went to ground toward the end of the round.
In round 2 Ilunga landed 2 of his signature body kicks before going in for the takedown. Ilunga then got Botha’s back and landed some strikes while Bothe fought to get out. The fight went back to standing before Botha got another takedown.
Round 3 saw a big exchange and a scramble to the ground. Back standing and Botha got another takedown and got himself into top control.
The fight went to the judges who scored the fight 29 – 27 Ilunga, 29 – 28 Botha and 29 – 28 Botha seeing Botha take the win by split decision.
Fight 8: Middleweight – Wade Henderson vs Jason Culverwell
Winner: Jason Culverwell
A hugely exciting fight that saw trade for trade stand up action for nearly the full 3 rounds. Culverwell rocked Henderson seconds into round 1 with a big right sending him to the ground. Henerson recovered and then rocked Culverwell sending him to the ground. Henderson let Culverwell stand up and they commenced with an exchange of strikes. This went back and forth through rounds 1, 2 and 3 but in round 3 Culverwell caught Henderson with a big right and knocked him out. Culverwell took the win by KO and scored Knock Out of the Night.
Fight 9: Bantamweight – Leo Gloss vs Irshaad Sayed
Winner Irshaad Sayed
This fight started off with an explosive exchange of punches, both fighters landing bit hits. Irshaad get a god combo in before he took the fight to the ground and worked his way to Gloss’ back. Gloss got a reprieve due to a groin strike. The fighters returned to their grounded position and Irshaad locked in a Rear Naked Choke seeing Gloss tap out in round 1.
Fight 10: Heavyweight – Brandon Groenewald vs Vandam Mbuyi
Winner: Brendon Groenewald
The rematch everyone wanted to see after the controversial disqualification at EFC Africa 27. Straight into the clinch before Mbuyin slammed Groenewald to the ground. While fighting for position, Mbuyi kneed Groenewald in the face, The ref stood the fight up and warned Mbuyi, Groenewald was happy to carry on.
In round 2 Groenewald went in for the early takedown and got into control, Mbuyi tried t turn it and gave up his back for a short while before turning and standing back up. Groenewald got another takedown, got Mbuyi’s back and landed some heavy striked. Mbuyi tapped out in round 2 due to strikes.
Fight 11: Heavyweight – Christophe Walravens vs Bernado Mikixi
Winner: Christophe Walravens
This fight was everything a heavyweight battle should be. A stand up brawl with big hits from both fighters. Round 1 saw lot of quick and powerful combos by Mikixi but Walravens managed to block and avoid most of the strikes. Mikixi tired himself out in round 1 while Walravens remained calm and worked on Mikixi’s left leg with kicks.
In round 2 Walravens was more aggressive and the fighters traded heavy hits. Blow for blow, swing for swing. Walravens connected Mikixi with a big hit and hurt him. Walravens took the win by verbal submission from Mikixi.
Fight 12: Light Heavyweight – Norman Wessels vs Chris Du Pont
Winner: Norman Wessels
Wessels made his return to the hexagon after almost 2 years off. Du Pont went straight in for the takedown with no luck, Wessels counteracted and the fight went into the clinch. Wessels then made quick work of Du Pont by taking the fight to the ground, getting his back and locking in a tight Rear Naked Choke. Du Pont tapped out 1 minute 57 second into round 1.
Wessels now has a chance at the title. The champ, Gideon Drotschie entered the hexagon to be interviewed, Wessels then made a point by pushing the champ around.
Fight 13: Middleweight Title Fight – Garreth McLellan vs JP Kruger
Winner Garreth McLellan
Kruger went into this fight hard, McLellan remained composed and got the takedown. McLellan fought to get control while Kruger tried with and Arm Bar, McLellan avoided the submission. Kruger gave up his back and McLellan capitalised by taking it and locking in a Rear Naked Choke. Kruger tapped out 3 minutes 5 seconds into round 1.
Garreth McLellan retains his EFC Africa Middleweight Title.
Photos by Ruby Woolf and Anton Geyser
