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EFC Africa 31 graced the Coca Cola Dome with a stacked MMA fight card of 12 bouts, one of them being the EFC Africa Bantamweight Title fight. LW Mag was cage-side to bring you this review.
Fight 1: Featherweight – Sizwe Mnikathi vs Tumisang Madiba
Winner: Tumisang Madiba
A debut fight for both fighters that went the distance. Each round started off with an aggressive stand up exchange before going to ground. Madiba tried with a Rear Naked Choke and a Armbar in the 1st but Sizwe got out of both and turned it towards the end of the round. The fight went back and forth. In the final round Sizwe was dominating on the ground but Madiba was defending well from the bottom. The ref stood the fight up which saw a heavy exchange till the end of the fight. It was a close fight that went to the judges who scored it with a majority decision in favour of Madiba.
Fight 2: Bantamweight – Marino Cutendana vs Craig Ninow
Winner: Craig Ninow
Ninow’s first fight back from the hectic nose break injury. Ninow landed a big strike straight off the bat. The fight then went into the cling and then to ground with Cutendana in top position and landing some Ground and Pound. Ninow was defending well and locked in a Triangle Choke forcing Cutendana to tap out in round 1.
Fight 3: Bantamweight – Lourens Botes vs Baldwin Mdlalose
Winner: Lourens Botes
Botes came out firing but Mdlalose remained calm and fought through. In round 2 Mdlalose hurt Botes with a big strike but Botes fought back and took the fight to the ground, got Mdlalose’s back and locked in the Rear Naked Choke forcing Mdlalose to tap out.
Fight 4: Middleweight – Warren Allison vs Jason Culverwell
Winner: Warren Allison
Allison went in for the takedown early and got himself into top position. Culverwell was defending well from the bottom but Allison was in control and slipped in an Arm Triangle forcing Culverwell to tap out in round 1.
Fight 5: Featherweight – Leo Gloss vs Tyson Chelin
Winner: Tyson Chelin
Gloss came in with the combo’s but Chelin shot for the takedown and got himself into top position. Gloss landing hits from the bottom and Chelin from the top. Gloss tried to manoeuvre out but Chelin capitalised and locked in an Ankle Lock seeing Gloss tap out in round 1.
Submission of the night.
Fight 6: Light Heavyweight – Ian Visser vs Donavin Hawkey
Winner: Ian Visser
Visser went in swinging and Hawkey came back with a big hit knocking Visser to the ground. Visser took it to the ground, recovered and took top control landing elbows. Visser got Hawkey’s back and forced him to tap out due to a Rear Naked Choke.
Fight 7: Featherweight – Brendon Katz vs Nelson Feiteira
Winner: Brendon Katz
A big fight with nonstop trading. Both fighters landed big strikes and in the clincg, it was uppercut and knee warfare. Just seconds before the end of round 1 Katz caught Feiteira with a big right and took the win by KO.
KO of the night.
Fight 8: Bantamweight – Cedric Doyle vs Matthew Buirski
Winner: Cedric Doyle
With a lot of smack talk around this fight MMA fans we’re excited to see the outcome. A tense start with Doyle engaging and Buirski on the back foot. Doyle was determined to hurt Buirski looking for the big hits while Buirski remained calm and kept getting his jabs in. In round 2 Doyle took Buirski to the ground and had top position, Buirski was trying with an array of submission from the bottom but Doyle managed to avoid and get out. In round 3 Buirski came into his own and was more aggressive taking the round until Doyle caught him with a big hit and knocked him to the ground. The fight went to the judges who scored it in favour of Doyle by unanimous decision.
Fight 9: Featherweight – Wesley Hawkey vs Hanru Botha
Winner: Wesley Hawkey
A big fight that went the distance. Hawkey wanted to stand and trade but Botha wanted the fight on the ground. Hawkey’s ground game has improved drastically and he worked well from the bottom, landing hits and trying for submissions. Botha got his takedowns and ground it out but never broke Hawkey. There was a huge exchange with both fighters swinging until the bell went for the end of the fight. The judges scored the fight in favour of Hawkey by majority decision.
Fight of the night.
Fight 10: Heavyweight – Andrew van Zyl vs Elvis Moyo
Winner: Andrew van Zyl
Moyo went in with a big one two but Van Zyl wanted the fight on the ground and took it there. Van Zyl got into full mount and landed hits. Moyo defended well from the bottom and landed strikes as well but Van Zyl got in the Armbar and forced Moyo to tap out in round 1.
Fight 11: Light Heavyweight – Tumelo Maphutha vs Danie van Heerden
Winner: Tumelo Maphutha
A 3 round stand up war that saw both fighter land and defend well. Maphutha worked Van Heerden with leg kicks and body kicks that hurt Van Heerden. Maphutha continued to hurt Van Heerden with punches leaving him a bloody mess but Van Heerden kept fighting back, advancing and engaging. The fight went to the judges. Maphutha took the win via unanimous decision.
Fight 12: Featherweight Title Fight – Demarte Pena vs Nkazimulo Zulu
Winner: Demarte Pena
Pena is known for not finishing fights and leaving it to the judges but always taking the win by unanimous decision. This fight went the distance again and yes, it was boring for spectators, but Pena went in with a game plan and stuck to it. Zulu fought well in the stand up and dominated Pena, but Pena avoided the stand up and took the fight to the ground every opportunity he could and grinded it out. In the final round Pena already knew he had won and was watching the clock while avoiding Zulu’s engagement. Zulu got his chance at the end of the fight and unleashed on Pena but it was too late. The fight went to the judges and Pena took the win by unanimous decision. Pena is the new EFC Africa Bantamweight Champion.
Photos by Ruby Woolf / EFC Africa
