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Both the Heavyweight and the Lightweight titles on the line at EFC AFRICA 05
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EFC AFRICA Heavyweight Title
NORMAN WESSELS vs. BERNARDO MIKIXI
EFC AFRICA Lightweight Title
WENTZEL NEL vs. CHRIS BRIGHT
Plus
GARRETH MCLELLAN vs. WADE HENDERSON
COSTA IOANNOU vs. WILLIAM BENTLEY
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Johannesburg (South Africa) – Fight fans are gearing up for the biggest fight night ever on African soil, where the top heavyweight and lightweight fighters will battle it out for the championship titles...
Bernardo "the Black Panther" Mikixi is back in the main event for EFC AFRICA 05, where he will take on Norman "Chef" Wessels for the inaugural heavyweight title. Mikixi has fully recovered from his hand injury that he picked-up fighting at 03, and is now ready to take on the toughest opponent that he has ever had to face. Wessels has already made short work out of the heavyweight division and is looking forward to putting a stop to the Black Panther’s dominance. Both contenders have been training for this fight since May and have promised to make the most of their first title shot.
Also on this star-studded 05 card, which is presented by MusclePharm, lightweight champion Wentzel Nel defends his title against undisputed contender Chris Bright in the co-main event. This is the first time that Nel is defending his title, one which he said he will hold until "death do us part", and he is going to have his hands full against the more experienced Bright.
"These are the by far the counties biggest and most anticipated fights ever" says EFC AFRICA director Cairo Howarth. "The level of excitement for this card is just unbelievable, this is going to be the biggest spectacle that this sport has ever seen on the continent".
Garreth "Soldierboy" McLellan will take on his nemesis Wade Henderson, in what can only be described as the years most anticipated grudge match. This fight was scheduled to take place in August, but McLellan was injured during training and had to pull out of the fight, only adding to the build up and hype for this middleweight clash.
Rounding out the main card is a bout pitting rising lightweight star Costa Ioannou against the more experienced William Bentley. Ioannou is fresh of his destruction of Brendon Katz but is in for a long night against Bentley, who has an impeccable professional record and is making his EFC AFRICA début.
With 12 professional MMA fights on the night and an expected full house of 7000 fans this is not to be missed. Tickets from R225 are available now from Computicket so book early to avoid disappointment. Full fight card and more information at efcafrica.com.
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EFC AFRICA 05 release a star studded fight card
On 21st October the Coca-Cola Dome will once again host the largest mixed martial arts event on the Africa continent. EFC AFRICA 05 boasts the most anticipated fight card ever with 12 of the best professional fights in the hexagon cage.
Highlights include the title fight with legendary Chris Bright from Port Elizabeth challenging the EFC AFRICA lightweight champion, Wentzel Nel form Durban, for the most coveted title in Africa. Then the grudge match between top Johannesburg fighters Garreth "Soldierboy" McLellan and Wade Henderson in a massive middleweight clash. Plus popular crowd favorite Costa Ioannou returns to the cage to take on the more experienced William Bentley from Durban in a thrilling lightweight bout.
As with every EFC AFRICA event there is a full AV rig that gives the fans an experience that is right out of Vegas.
With an expected full house of 7000 fans this is not to be missed so book early to avoid disappointment. Full fight card and more information at efcafrica.com and tickets available now from Computicket.
Top fights and all-out action at EFC Africa™ 04
Tonight the Coca-Cola Dome was once again transformed into the largest fighting arena on the Africa continent, where the record-breaking crowd was treated to four hours of non-stop mixed martial arts action.
With a sold-out house of 6500 fans, EFC Africa™ was a huge success all round: great atmosphere, twelve hugely hyped match-ups, and then finished off with exceptional performances from the best fighters on the continent.
Highlights include the lightweight battle between “King” Leo Gloss and Luis Mendes. It was a close stand-up fight with both fighters landing some devastating blows, but it was Gloss who took the win with a TKO victory late in the first round.
Then it was Durban bad boy Ian Swart up against hometown lightweight Alex Cheboub. Again it was another close first round until Cheboub slipped in a tight armbar to take the win, earning himself Submission of the Night.
Six fights later saw the return of Brendon Katz of Johannesburg to take on Mark Jones from Cape Town. Both fighters were landing massive blows and showcasing their skills for a full fourteen minutes and fifty six seconds, until Katz landed a devastating uppercut that sent Jones crashing to the canvas. The fight won Fight of the Night and Katz took home Knockout of the Night.
Adam Speechly and Nolan Swanepoel displayed some exceptionally technical BJJ with Swanepoel as the aggressor, until Speechly took his back and sunk in a rear naked choke, giving Speechly the win late in the first round.
The main fight of the night saw crowd favorite Darren "Double D" Daniel take on Durban legend Dallas Jakobi in the much anticipated middleweight bout. Daniel came out firing and took the fight to the ground where he got round the back of Jakobi and submitted him with a choke, bringing the amped crowd to their feet.
With EFC Africa™ 05 scheduled for 21st October at the Coca-Cola Dome, fight fans don’t have to wait long to see their favorite fighters in action again.
Ozzy "Daddy" de Paiva who was injured in his welterweight bout against Remo Ralph at EFC AFRICA ™ 03 has made progress in his recovery. He is due to move out of hospital any day now and into care at his home where he will begin his rehabilitation.
The Ozzy de Paiva Foundation has been set up to raise money for his rehabilitation cost. Following are the details for contributions:
For EFT (Electronic Transfers):
Bank: Investec Bank
Account Name: Ozzy de Paiva Foundation
Branch Code: 580105
Account Number: 50004225164
For cash and cheque deposits:
Bank: ABSA Bank
Account Name: Investec Bank
Account Number: 4059749310
In the reference field on the deposit slip fill in the following electronic account number: 50004225164.
Massive all-star lineup for 5th August
After an extended break over the world cup, EFC Africa is back with a sterling lineup of 12 professional fights that has fans and fanatics alight with excitement.
The main fight of the night sees local star Darren Daniel from Sandton take on the more experienced Dallas Jakobi from Durban. Jakobi has had twice as many fights as Daniel and will look to capitalize on that experience and walk out of the cage with another win, but is in for the fight of his life against the much hyped Daniel.
"Jakobi is a brilliant fighter with the record to prove it" says EFC Africa director Cairo Howarth, "but he has never faced an opponent as talented and strong as Daniel, and visa versa. Both these guys are in for the toughest fight of their careers".
Fight circles are abuzz with debate over who will come out top in the main welterweight fight between the prodigal Adam Speechly and the dark horse Nolan Swanepoel. Speechly has the superior record and more cage time but that does not mean that he will take the win. Many in the know say that this could be the big upset of the night, tipping Swanepoel to be the victor, but he will have to be at the top of his game to beat the exceptional Speechly.
"Both Speechly and Swanepoel are popular Johannesburg fighters so there is going to be a great atmosphere for this one. Throw in two of the best and most technical fighters on the continent and we are in for a hell of a show" says Howarth.
EFC Africa star Brendon Katz is back to take on Capetonian Mark Jones in the main lightweight bout of the night. Both are massive talents and are coming into this fight with almost identical records. "These are top notch guys who both give it their all in the cage" says Howarth. "They train at two of the top camps in the country and will come out firing!"
Another main card middleweight clash is between MMA veteran Wade Henderson and rising newcomer Paul "the Terror" Terblanche. Both are very intense and outspoken contenders and bring different styles to the fight, ensuring an all-out war till the end.
"There are so many great fighters on this card with equally good opponents, we are spoilt for choice!" says Howarth. "Just one look at the rest of the lineup - with stars like Rico Hatting, Jacques Joubert, Remo Ralph and Leo Gloss to name a few - it is going to be non-stop brilliance from beginning to end."
Just 16 days to go to until the Coca-Cola Dome once again hosts the largest MMA event on the continent. For the full fight card and more information see efcafrica.com. Tickets are on sale now at Computicket.
New exciting match-ups at EFC Africa™ 04
Due to injury and illness, the upcoming fight card for EFC Africa 04 has been amended, resulting in the most exciting line-up of the year.
Whilst training for his fight against Wade Henderson, main card middleweight Garreth McLellan got struck with a knee to his forehead, which split open between his eyes. "The cut was deep, it went right down to the bone, and McLellan had to have three layers of stitches to close it up" says EFC Africa director Cairo Howarth. "McLellan still wanted to fight Henderson on the 5th but after assessment from two different doctors he has been ruled out of competing for another two months".
Janus De Lange, another talented middleweight from Sandton, has injured his back in training. "De Lange pulled out his back and is still undergoing assessment and treatment, but it looks like he will be unable to compete for some time" says Howarth. De Lange was due to fight Paul "Terror" Terblanche from Cape Town who is easily remembered from his brutal win at 03.
"As sorry as we were to lose McLellan and De Lange, we were left with two great middleweights that are a fantastic match-up. Henderson the experienced veteran looking to dominate the middleweight division, and Terblanche the new guy on the block who is yet to be tested so nobody knows just how good he is" says Howarth.
And both fighters are eager to take on their new opponents. Terblanche jumped at the opportunity to fight the more experienced Henderson, showing just how confident he is in his own ability. And Henderson said that he will gladly take the fight and that he is "looking forward to beating the crap out of Paul the Terror, I’m going to put his head on a stick". There is no love lost between these two outspoken contenders, but one of them will be silenced on fight night.
Terrence Griessel has been battling with flu and has been unable to train for his upcoming fight with Alex Cheboub and has withdrawn from the card. Ian Swart, the experienced and talented Durban striker said that he would take Griessel’s place, making for a closely matched fight between the two veterans. Both are coming off a loss at 03 and are hungry to redeem themselves in front of the EFC Africa faithful.
With just three weeks until the cage door closes, the fans are eager to see who will come out tops. Tickets are on sale now at Computicket and more information is at efcafrica.com.
EFC AFRICA ™ 04 welcomes new top fighters, plus an old score will be settled
There is a star-studded line up for the largest MMA event on the continent, with the best fighters from around South Africa looking to put their name up in lights.
EFC AFRICA ™ favourite Garreth "Soldierboy" McLellan will take on his nemesis Wade Henderson, in what can only be described as the years most anticipated grudge match. Henderson is the only man that has defeated McLellan, knocking him out in a powerful display of striking, and McLellan wants redemption. But Henderson has vowed to deliver another KO.
"Wade is a great fighter and wants to show us that he has what it takes to compete and win at the highest level. Since his loss at EFC AFRICA ™ 01 he has been training hard and is now at the top of his game, so we gave him another shot at the big time" says EFC AFRICA ™ director Cairo Howarth after signing Henderson to an exclusive fight contract with EFC AFRICA ™, the largest MMA promotion on the continent.
A top newcomer is Sandton local Janus De Lange who will be facing off against Paul "Terror" Terblanche in a powerful middleweight bout. Terblanche will be remembered from his aggressive and fast TKO victory at 03.
Fans will also see the entrance of top ranked Cape Town heavyweight Rico Hatting to the Coca-Cola Dome, where he will be taking on Jakes Els.
Plus Durban legend Dallas Jakobi is pitted against Sandton star Darren Daniel in a massive middleweight main card bout. "We are very happy to welcome Dallas to EFC AFRICA ™. He is one of the best and most experienced middleweights in the country" says Howarth. The less experienced Daniel has made the cut down to middleweight for this fight, looking to prove that he is as dominant at this weight as he was at light heavyweight.
"The new talent that we have signed up is fantastic. These are top fighters matched up against the best on the continent" says Howarth. "The Daniel versus Jakobi fight is huge. Neither of these guys has ever faced opponents as tough and skilled as each other, it is going to be massive."
And if the 6000 strong crowd and the hundreds of thousands more watching on TV isn’t enough pressure for all these athletes, then the fact that they are fighting in-front of one of the best fighters in the world, Wanderlei Silva, will surely make it all that much more special. "Silva is a living legend. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to fight with him watching from the front row".
EFC AFRICA ™ takes place at the Coca-Cola Dome on Thursday 5 August. Tickets are on sale now at Computicket. More information and full fight card available at www.efcafrica.com.
Ozzy "Daddy" de Paiva who was injured in his welterweight bout against Remo Ralph at EFC AFRICA ™ 03 has made progress in his recovery. He is due to move out of hospital any day now and into care at his home where he will begin his rehabilitation.
The Ozzy de Paiva Foundation has been set up to raise money for his rehabilitation cost. Following are the details for contributions:
For EFT (Electronic Transfers):
Bank: Investec Bank
Account Name: Ozzy de Paiva Foundation
Branch Code: 580105
Account Number: 50004225164
For cash and cheque deposits:
Bank: ABSA Bank
Account Name: Investec Bank
Account Number: 4059749310
In the reference field on the deposit slip fill in the following electronic account number: 50004225164.
Bernardo "The Black Panther" Mikixi recovers with a broken hand
The highly anticipated EFC AFRICA ™ heavyweight title fight between Bernardo "The Black Panther" Mikixi and Norman "Chef" Wessels has been postponed due to injury. Mikixi injured his hand during his fight at EFC AFRICA ™ 03, where he defeated Jakes Els in the first round.
Mikixi underwent hand surgery but after assessment from his medical team and trainer, it was concluded that he will not recover in time to train and prepare for the championship bout against Wessels on the 5th August. Both fighters have agreed to the title fight at EFC AFRICA ™ 05 in November at the Coca-Cola Dome.
"It is very unfortunate that this fight has to be postponed as it is the most anticipated fight to date. Both these guys have a massive following but the fans will just have to wait a little longer to see who will be champ" says EFC AFRICA ™ director Cairo Howarth. "But the fans will not be disappointed with the 04 fight card, it is a cracker!"
The best from 03 plus Wanderlei Silva comes to EFC AFRICA ™ 04
The verdict is in from the jury… following are the top results from EFC Africa 03 on 8 May 2010:
Fight of the Night goes to Brendon Katz and Costa Ioannou. This was an epic battle and has been pitted as the greatest MMA fight ever on African soil.
Submission of the Night goes to Barry "the X-Man" Duncan for a devastating kimora in the second round against Alex Cheboub.
And knockout of the night goes to Wentzel "the Animal" Nel for his title clinching overhand right which put out the lights of Leo Gloss, and won him the EFC Africa lightweight title.
All the action at EFC Africa 03 was proudly brought to you by AG Cellular in conjunction with Fighters Only Magazine, and thanks to Brutal Clothing for the additional Fight of the Night sponsorship.
MMA superstar Wanderlei Silva will be cage side at EFC Africa 04 with his signature AG Cellular handset on 5th August at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg. On the night Wanderlei will personally hand over the keys to a very lucky winner of a Lamborghini Gallardo.
"Super fights, an international superstar and the luckiest fan in the world winning a super car. All this coupled with the EFC Africa heavyweight title fight between Bernardo Mikixi and Norman Wessels! It is going to be a night that you will never forget" says EFC Africa director Cairo Howarth.
Tickets are on sale now at Computicket.
Ozzy de Paiva from Johannesburg was injured during his welterweight bout against Remo Ralph at EFC Africa 03 on 8 May at the Coca-Cola Dome. He suffered trauma to the head during the bout and after assessment from the fight doctor and medical team, was admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital where he is in a critical but stable condition.
"We have been assured by our medical team that he is in one of the best trauma facilities in the country" says EFC Africa director Cairo Howarth. "The support from the fighters, sponsors and community has been amazing, and a fund is being set up to raise money to assist with his medical and rehabilitation costs."
"We are getting constant feedback from the family on his condition. They have the full support of the EFC Africa team and we wish him well in his recovery."
Wentzel Nel takes the EFC Africa lightweight title.
EFC Africa destroyed all expectations, blowing the roof off African combat sports and establishing itself as the pinnacle of SA MMA promotions. After breaking crowd attendance records at 02, EFC Africa again smashed the mould at 03 with a sold out 6000-seat spectacle.
In a blazing final bout, Wentzel Nel crowned himself king of the lightweight division by stunning knockout, flooring Leo Gloss in the final second of the first round with a massive right hand that left ‘King’ Leo dazed and despondent, proving that Wentzel ‘The Animal’ Nel is just as dangerous standing as he is on his home turf, the canvas.
"Those who doubted my hands, wake up, I’m here," said an elated Nel.
" For seven days a week I trained non-stop and I didn’t get to see my wife. Someone had to pay for that and it had to be Leo. The title belt is mine, until death do us part!"
It was a night of potential legends being born, with newcomers Paul Terblanche, Sterling Shaw and Costa Ioannou clawing victory from their bruised and broken opponents . The Joubert brothers proved their worth to Africa’s main fight promotion and, as expected, Bernardo Mikixi steamrolled his opponent Jake Els, and cemented his name into title contention, earning a shot at the heavyweight title against Norman ‘Chef’ Wessels at EFC Africa 04. Garreth McLellan again proved that the cage is his territory and put an end to Warren Allison’s dreams of debut glory in just 1 minute 5 seconds into the first round, keeping his promise to ‘pick Allison up, drop him on his head and smash his face’, winning by armbar after some brutal ground ‘n pound.
Remo Ralph and Ozzy de Paiva brought the house down, showing massive heart and giving the crowd exactly what they deserved through three rounds of adrenaline-fueled action. Only one man was left standing and 20-year-old Ralph won when the referee couldn’t take anymore, let alone de Paiva. Another standout brawl was the bout between Dino Bagattin and Manny da Silva. Dino promised a devastating close quarters battle and did not disappoint, with da Silva hard pressed to keep the side up for the South. Eventually Bagattin won through with a fight-stopping cut, putting an end to a much anticipated battle.
Fight of the night, possibly the decade, lightweight bout between Costa Ioannou and Brendon Katz had the crowd on their feet, especially a strong Greek contingent which backed Costa throughout the three round war. Incredibly, it went to the judges, who awarded a unanimous decision to an elated Costa Ioannou.
Alfie Chemaly from Fighters Only magazine summed the night up by saying, "This has set the benchmark for SA mixed martial arts events. It was an evening of athleticism and entertainment of the highest caliber, proving that mixed martial arts is here to stay and emphasizing why it has taken the world by storm."
There have been a few updates to the fight card for EFC AFRICA™ 03 on 8 May.
JD Du Plessis tore his pectoral muscle in training late last week and is unable to compete for 8 weeks. He has been replaced by Luis Mendes who was defeated by Richard Quan at EFC AFRICA™ 02. Mendes has requested the fight to be at lightweight which Shaw has agreed to and this promises to be a great battle, Mendes the more senior and experienced of the two.
Although both Leon Mynhardt and Chad Hepburn lost their debut fights at EFC AFRICA™, they are exceptional strikers and huge talents. These two now face each other in a welterweight bout, both hoping to redeem themselves in front of the 6000 EFC AFRICA™ fans.
A crowd favourite Garreth "Soldierboy" McLellan faces off against Warren Alison, a rising MMA talent from Bloemfontein with a lot to prove. Warren has a strong record as an amateur and brings his relentless style head-to-head with one of the best in the game.
And Bernardo "The Black Panther" Mikixi is up against his toughest challenge yet in Jakes Els, a former 2nd ranked pro boxer and world Muay Thai champion from Brackpan. This is going to be a massive heavyweight bout.
With 14 great match-ups in total including the EFC AFRICA™ lightweight title fight, this is a night not to be missed.
Two warriors battle for the lightweight title
A king, an animal, a gold belt and a Lamborghini. These are the main attractions waiting for you at the next EFC Africa™ event at the Coca-Cola Dome.
It is amazing to see how far the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has come in South Africa in such a short period of time. Also commonly known as Cage Fighting, MMA has fast become a mainstream sport since the launch of EFC Africa, the extreme fighting championship, in November last year.
Once a niche and underground sport, the local EFC Africa™ events attracts more people than mainstream boxing, with over 6000 visitors expected to attend the next sold-out instalment, EFC Africa 03™ - Fight for the Title.
Since its inception, EFC Africa has been putting local fighters to the test to see who deserves the chance to compete for a title shot. Now for the first time ever on local soil, two seasoned fighters will battle it out in the hexagon cage to see who can lay claim to the ultimate honour, the EFC Africa™ Lightweight Champion.
Wentzel Nel, also know as "the Animal", has been fiercely dominating the lightweight division with 6 straight wins.
But he is facing his toughest opponent yet, Leo Gloss, the man who calls himself King Leo with no hint of a smile. Gloss has knocked out the last 5 opponents that he has faced.
Both are undefeated at EFC Africa™.Two warriors but only one can be the champion. "The title fight is the longest of the bouts, with contestants having to prove themselves over 5 five minute rounds," says EFC Africa™ director Cairo Howarth. "It is intense and incredibly technical. These guys are up for the toughest fight of their lives."
The night will see a total of 14 explosive fights with the likes of Costa Ioannou versus Brendon Katz, Adam Speechly versus Russell Van Heerden, Lance Ceronio versus Jacques Joubert, Barry Duncan versus Alex Cheboub, and more.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the unveiling of a Lamborghini Gallardo which can be won by one lucky MMA fan. This exceptional car is being given away by AG Cellular, a company known for taking cell phones to the extreme.
"This competition is amazing," says Howarth. "Someone is actually going to drive away from an EFC Africa event in a Lamborghini, who does that?"
Also contributing to the growth of the sport locally is the popularity of South Africa's only MMA magazine, Fighters Only, which was launched in December 2009. The magazine is the largest worldwide MMA publication and features fight and fighter profiles from around the world, as well as fight training tips and interesting articles for fighters and the casual fight fan alike.
EFC Africa™ 03, Fight for the Title, takes place Saturday 8 May at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg. Doors open 18:30. Tickets available from Computicket and efcafrica.com.
Top fighters sign exclusive contracts with EFC Africa™
The last four months have seen epic changes on the African Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) scene with the launch of the biggest and only all professional MMA organization EFC Africa™, and the local version of the world's biggest fight roundup Fighters Only Magazine. Followed up by the success of the sold-out mega event EFC Africa™ 02, and the only MMA television series on the African continent now broadcasting on SuperSport, the local scene is exploding.
"We had over 4100 people in the sold-out arena at our last event, it was phenomenal to be there," says EFC Africa™ director Cairo Howarth. "Everyone is talking about it, and the next event is going to be even bigger".
EFC Africa™ pioneered the practice locally of contracting fighters to fight exclusively in their organisation.
"The main attraction to EFC Africa™ is that all the best fighters in South Africa are contracted to fight exclusively at our events, so this is the only place to see the top fighters in all the weight divisions," says Howarth. "This coupled with the biggest AV rig and best venue in the country, and you have an entertainment experience that is on par with the top events in Las Vegas".
The impressive talent pool speaks for itself, judging by the fight card for EFC Africa™ 02, and is rapidly growing. Recently signed fighters include Brendon Katz, Ozzy De Paiva and Manny Da Silva who are all going to be competing at EFC Africa™ 03 on 8 May at the Coca-Cola Dome.
"With athletes like these we will continue to produce the best fight cards on the continent, and with all the new talent coming forward like Costa Iounnou, it will only get better from here" says Howarth.
Following his impressive victory at EFC Africa™ 02, Darren Daniel, one of the top EFC Africa light heavyweights, has gone to train in Las Vegas USA at the Wand Fight Team under Wanderlei Silva. Daniel was introduced to the Wand Fight Team manager Mike Whitehead at EFC Africa™ 01 when Whitehead was cornering for Gabe Casillas who was competing in the event. Casillas fought and lost to local hero Chris Bright.
"It was a huge opportunity to meet people like Mike Whitehead and to be invited to train with one of the best camps in the world" says Daniel, who will be returning just before his next fight at EFC Africa™ in May.
The best of the best battle it out in the cage
Twenty-four of the fiercest men in South Africa are preparing themselves, mentally and physically, for the toughest fight of their lives.
On 10 March the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, will once again be transformed into a fighting arena for one explosive night with the return of the extreme fighting championship, EFC Africa™ 02.
The night will see the best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters from around the country battling for glory in twelve grueling fights in the hexagon cage.
Some of the stars from EFC Africa™ 01 which took place in November last year return to face off against new, tougher opponents. The main fight of the night is the heavyweight bout with Norman Wessels pitted against Danie Van Heerden. Both are previous winners at EFC™ Africa and are two of the top ranked heavyweights in the country. Other main card fights are Chris Bright versus Nathan Raaths, Darren Daniel versus Jacques Joubert and Adam Speechly versus Dino Bagattin.
MMA is no longer a niche sport supported only by an underground fighting movement. Organisers of the event have been inundated with calls, emails and website hits from thousands of local MMA fans, showing just how popular the sport is becoming in South Africa.
"There is a lot of hype around the bouts, these are fights people really want to see" says EFC Africa™ director Cairo Howarth. "And the ticket sales prove it. We are outselling the last event 3 to 1, making this the biggest event ever held on the continent"
Visitors will also be treated to an MMA exhibition within the venue. A host of MMA brands will be present giving fans the opportunity to experience and take home authentic MMA fight gear.
"This is the biggest and best MMA event in Africa, with top fighters competing in front of over four thousand fans" says Howarth.
EFC Africa™ has also concluded a TV broadcast deal with SuperSport securing the first and only local MMA dedicated TV show in Africa. "Now the sport and the fighters will be viewed in millions of homes throughout Africa, promoting MMA as a mainstream sport and giving the fighters the recognition that they deserve. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and South Africa is no exception."
The EFC Africa™ TV show starts airing on SuperSport in the last week of February and with at least seven EFC Africa™ events in 2010, there is going to be plenty of action this year.
On 12 November 2009 the Extreme Fighting Championship launched at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate Johannesburg. Showcasing the toughest and meanest fighters from all over South Africa as well as the African continent, EFC Africa™ hosted 26 fighters battling for glory in 13 action packed fights. The continent's best were given the chance to test their might on two seasoned mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters from the USA.
The fights all took place in the custom built Hexagon, a 6 sided steel cage built to keep two fighters in until one is knocked out or voluntarily taps out.
Fighters included Gareth McLellan from Johannesburg fight training camp Fight Fit Militia and Gabe Casillas from Las Vegas who trains with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva. Strikeforce star and MMA veteran, Mike Whitehead, attended the event to corner for Cassilas and complimented the EFC event as the most impressive and well produced MMA tournament he has been to outside of the USA and on par with the top USA events.
In recent years the controversial sport, MMA, commonly known as cage fighting, has taken the world by storm. As this inaugural event proves, MMA has a huge following in South Africa. Over 3000 spectators and local fight fanatics packed the seats and grandstands in the Coca-Cola Dome for the event which saw 13 fights in just over 4 hours, instantly making EFC Africa the largest MMA event ever held in South Africa.
"The response to the first EFC Africa™ event has been amazing," says EFC Africa™ director, Cairo Howarth, "the fighters are finally getting the recognition they deserve, the sponsors finally have a proper platform to promote from and, most importantly, the MMA fans have finally got an international quality event that really does the sport justice."
The headline fights of the evening saw the 92kg Henk Van Wyk from Bloemfontein take down the slightly heavier (93kg) Clinton Young from East London with a neck choke in their light heavyweight bout. Mohanned Barazi, the 115kg brawler from Texas USA took on Johannesburg heavyweight, Danie van Heerden, in an explosive battle which saw Barazi knocked out cold. Joburg power-house Wade Henderson, known to be one of the best MMA fighters in the country, was beaten with a technical knock out (TKO) victory four minutes into the first round by the formidable Jeremy Scheepers from East London.
The final fight of the evening was the most spectacular. The lightweight bout pitted the Port Elizabeth fighting machine, Chris Bright, against the Las Vegas sensation Gabe Casillas. The international fighting ability of our local fighters was once again proved as Bright won by submission in this well matched, gripping fight.
"There simply has never been an MMA event done on this scale in Africa before, with a full AV production to enhance the action. We have ripped the local MMA scene wide open and are looking forward to hosting EFC Africa™ events every two months in Joburg from March 2010 and taking the fighting phenomenon country and continent wide in the years to come" says Howarth.
The entire event was covered by a seven camera rig and the production team is currently putting the finishing touches on a top-quality MMA fighting television show which will be aired soon on major local and international mainstream sporting channels.
Fighters Only Mag now available at petrol stations - and all SPAR and CNA stores - countrywide
With Fighters Only Magazines new huge distribution footprint, sold in over 3000 stores in South Africa from 10 March, it is now easier than ever to keep up to date with the happenings of international and local MMA.
Here is a taste of what you will find in issue 03:
The growth of MMA has surpassed all expectations, and it's only getting bigger. As the sport is bigger than it's ever been, it's time to recognize the achievements of the people that make it so special. That's why Fighters Only created the world MMA awards, the first honours in MMA that are totally 100% fan-driven. Not only did you nominate who was in with a chance of running, but you were the people who chose the winners from the shortlists in each category.
Your highest award went to George St Pierre, the Canadian super athlete you deemed to be fighter of the year. St Pierre's status as one of the best mixed martial artists in the world was never in doubt, but you felt his accomplishments in 2009 warranted further recognition. He was overwhelmed with his award, as we found out when we exclusively interviewed him shortly after. Find out more on GSP's hopes for the coming 12 months in issue 03.
For the exclusive inside-access coverage of the world MMA Awards, we've got a special supplement in issue 03. You will find tons of info about the winners, exclusive images, statistics and more - for those of you who couldn't make it to Vegas, it's the next best thing to being there!
We've got all the regular features on top of the Awards coverage, including a profile of Dutch heavyweight Alistair Overeem, who some consider the best heavyweight striker in MMA. He's one of the biggest starts in Japan (quite literally) but says he wants nothing more than going back to the USA and fight Fedor Emelianenko.
South African Mixed Martial Arts is, by global standards, a young sport. Chris Bright has been there from the beginning and has beaten some of the best local and international fighters. Find out what makes this South African MMA legend tick in the exclusive interview.
For all the up to date news make sure to check out www.fightersonlymag.com, and follow us on www.twitter.com/FightersOnlySA. To subscribe please email us on alfie@fightersonly.co.za or call us on 011 463 3519.
Train Hard, Fight Easy...
Here's the very first issue of South Africa Fighters Only! For this launch issue we've put heavyweights on the cover which is sure to be one of our ‘heaviest' issues ever. The centrepiece of this issue is a revealing interview with Frank Mir, who speaks openly of his obsession with Brock Lesnar. Former heavyweight champion Mir wants to take the belt back, but he also wants something more. Read the article to find out what is driving him.
In addition to Mir, we take a look at the UFC heavyweight division in general and ask, is there a need for a super-heavyweight division? At the opposite end of the scale, a feature-length article looks at the rise of nerds in MMA – there are plenty of fighters out there now proving brains can conquer brawn. We meet some of them.
On top of all that, we root through Jason MacDonald's kitbag, break down BJ Penn's fighting style so you can try it in the gym, catch up with Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi and introduce South African light-heavyweight champion Donavin Hawkey. We also provide fight by fight reports of Fight Force's MMA Mania and Fight Club's Last Man Standing.
- Frank Mir talks frankly - the former UFC heavyweight champion talks exclusively to Fighters Only about the one thing that drives him now - wanting to end Brock Lesnar's career. Mir pulls no punches as he explains his desire to humble the current UFC heavyweight champion, who weighs on his mind every day.
- Donavin Hawkey – the South African light heavyweight champ talks us through his transition from boxing to MMA and other interesting facts that give us an insight into a champion.
- Does size matter? Your answer will probably depend on how much you fancy the prospect of being stuck under the likes of Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Some of the UFC heavyweights now are so large that an argument can be made for a super-heavyweight class. But how much difference does a size advantage make? We break it down in this heavyweight feature.
Pick up a copy today C.N.A. and Exclusive Books or for further details contact dirk@fightersonly.co.za
The controversial sport, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), commonly known as cage fighting, is to be showcased in one explosive night at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg. EFC Africa™, the extreme fighting championship, is the largest event of its kind on the continent and promises to blow the SA fight scene wide open.
Previously an underground and niche sport with a violent and bloody reputation, MMA has grown in popularity worldwide to become the one of the most watched sport in the USA and the fastest growing sport in the world. MMA is a full contact combat sport where contestants battle it out in a cage until the opponent either taps out or is knocked out.
The extreme fighting community in South Africa has been steadily increasing with fighters in all categories training across the country, waiting for their chance to prove their strength, speed and their ability.
On Thursday 12 November, twenty-two of the continent's fiercest fighters and two seasoned MMA fighting professionals from the USA are set to battle it out at the EFC Africa™ event. The fight night will include 12 fights, one after the other, keeping audiences glued to their seats for at least four hours of action packed combat.
"MMA has a huge following in South Africa and the continent deserves a world-class event to put our fighters on the map and for MMA to be taken seriously here as the major international sport that it is" says EFC Africa™ director, Cairo Howarth, "the cage is ready, the fighters are ready, let the action begin."
Modelled on the American extreme fighting phenomenon the UFC, the local event will host over 4000 spectators seated in huge grandstands around a specially built, raised hexagon cage. Fighters include Gareth McLellan from Johannesburg fight training camp Fight Fit Militia and Gabe Casilla from Las Vegas who trains with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva. Wanderlei unfortunately cannot make the trip out to SA due to a conflicting arrangement but Strikeforce star Mike Whitehead will be coming to corner for Gabe.
"There simply has never been an MMA event done on this scale in Africa before, with a full AV production to enhance the action. It is going to be massive with everyone who's passionate about fighting at the Dome," says Howarth.
EFC Africa™ takes place on 12 November at the Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate. Doors open 18:45. Tickets are available from R225 at Computicket
The internationally acclaimed MMA fight mag, Fighters Only, announced today that they are launching a local version in South Africa. Said to be the biggest fight magazine in the world, Fighters Only is on sale in 13 different Countries and has the largest International reach of any magazine of its type. This will be the first and only magazine of its kind in South Africa.
Fighters Only journalists and editorial team are fight enthusiasts who will cover all the local fight events, news and local fighters and will also feature the best of the international Fighters Only content, keeping readers up-to-date with the latest international industry news and events.
They only work with the leading journalists and photographers from around the World in order to produce the finished product. In the Fighter Profiles they aim to help readers learn more about the great athletes in the sport than just what their favourite punch is. Learn about the personalities and backgrounds of the people who put it on the line in the cage, ring or on the mat.
Because it is a specialised magazine with a loyal readership base, Fighters Only offers a gateway to the fighting world in South Africa and brings with it fantastic branding and advertising opportunities.
The magazine is set to hit shelves in December 2009 and will be available at all major magazine outlets. For more information visit www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk
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