Joubert bounces back after title shot
17 aug 2011
Jacques ‘Law and Order’ Joubert makes his return to the EFC AFRICA hexagon on 1 September as part of his campaign to once again reach title contention. Having lost a four round championship battle with Garreth Mc Lellan in April, Joubert has made significant changes to his training and seeks to prove that he is still the number one contender when he faces MawandeVapi at EFC AFRICA 10.
“I want the EFC AFRICA middleweight title and I’m on my way back for it,” said Joubert.“ It took me a few months to get my head right after losing the title to Garreth.I took a big lesson from that loss, and that was not to fight my opponent’s fight in future. My takedown defence wasn’t the best and I didn’t keep it standing. I fought Garreth on his terms and it was a huge mistake.”
Joubert has since joined Team CIT, home of fighters such as Leon Mynhardt, Jeremy Scheepers, Michiel Opperman and many more. He’s already seen an improvement in his own skills, thanks to toughsessions with his new team. “I recently joined Team CIT under Morne Visserand Attila Barna, so I’m evolving and bringing new tools to EFC 10. It’s nice to spar with CIT’s high-calibre fighters, and with the amount of experience in the gym there is definitely a competitive spirit that comes to the fore. On the first day I walked in it was like being back in nursery school, they were toying with me during sparring and I got hit a lot. It’s actually quite cool, and necessary, to get hit in the face again. The bruises I’m walking around with are true signs of people that love the sport. But I’ve been adapting quickly and it’s good to see the fruits of my labour taking shape. Give me a few more months and my game will be rounded enough for me to once again look at becoming champion.”
The first step back towards title contention pits Joubert against Mawande Vapi. Although Joubert stresses his evolution and increased skill set, this fight will see him return to his roots for the type of fight he’sbeen craving. “The reason that I want to fight Vapi is because there aren’t a lot of guys that will fight me in my element, trading strikes, and I know he has the same problem. I’m going to cherish this fight because it’s going to be a good old stand-up war. I know Vapi’s hands are going to test me and I know how strong he is from when we fought before.”
Joubert and Vapilast fought in February 2010, where Vapie merged victorious after Joubert was disqualified for knees to the head of a downed opponent. “I remember that Vapi came in with a boxing combo and I hit him in the same manner that I did old GOAT, a right elbow that dropped him. I was so into the fight that I followed up with two knees to his head before I knew what I was doing.It was a good fight up until then and the rematch gives me an opportunity to settle the score.”
Joubert would like to thank Henk from Mile High Kickboxing,Arno and Marius from Shido, Morne from CIT, hisbrother JP, Gavin de Villiers and his sponsors Jiguja, Throwdown, Pure Nutrition and Definition Lab.
