EFC AFRICA 10 - Bagattin withdraws due to Injury
23 aug 2011
Johannesburg (South Africa) – With just days to go until EFC AFRICA 10, Dino Bagattin has revealed that he will be unable to compete. ‘The Lion’ was scheduled to face Martin van Staden in one of the evening’s main events but suffered a rib injury during training.
“I’m devastated about not being able to fight at EFC AFRICA 10,” said Bagattin. “I suffered the injury while grappling about two weeks ago and at first I thought I could push through it. I was in absolute agony, and after seeing me in constant pain trying to complete my training camp, my coach Peter Smith decided that enough was enough and I had to withdraw.”
According to Bagattin, he welcomes another opportunity to face van Staden and hopes to compete at the next EFC AFRICA event.
“I asked for a step up in competition and that’s exactly what Martin was. I hope we have an opportunity to settle this in November when I’m fully healed and can fight him at my best. If I kept this quiet and fought Martin now only to make excuses about my injury afterwards it wouldn’t have been fair on either of us. I really wanted this fight, I know the fans did, and I hope that it will still happen in the future. I’m expecting people to have something to say about me being forced to pull out, but at the end of the day I hope no one doubts my heart or ability. I wish Martin and his new opponent a good fight.”
A replacement fighter has been found and Martin van Staden will still compete at EFC AFRICA 10. Details to follow.
EFC AFRICA 10 takes place at the Carnival City Big Top Arena on 1 September. Tickets for the live event are on sale now at Computicket www.computicket.com and tickets for the live broadcast to Nu Metro Cinemas are on sale at www.numetro.co.za.
