The Ecstasy and Agony that was EFC 113

Going into EFC 113, who would ever have thought that 26 fighters from 6 countries (2 continents) would put on an event that would result in the most pulsating, yet frustrating, night this writer can remember in the longest time!

Unlike the low attendance at EFC 112, there was a far bigger turnout last night for EFC 113, probably a result of the organisation’s announcement that fans would now be able to join the action as it had “opened it’s doors to spectators for all Fight Week events”. Those in attendance were again entertained by yet another BIG African MMA Fight Night with fighters from no less than 5 African countries represented.

The only real disappointment was that with almost a third of this year’s events now completed, we are yet to see a female bout in the EFC hexagon as one of SA’s top female prospects, Ceileigh Neidermayr, who was in attendance at EFC 113, and was reportedly scheduled to fight on card, is now competing on the UAE Warriors Arabia vs Africa card next weekend (May 17). Dollars Rule Baby!!!!

The main card action was collectively done and dusted in the time it takes to complete a non-title fight – 15:52 to be precise! While the prelim card may have taken longer, due mostly to the fact that two of the eight bouts went the distance, it was not by much as there were also four 1^st round finishes out of the eight prelim bouts. Now despite the judges only being called upon twice to deliver a verdict, it seemed that this may have been too much work for the MMASA officials as they “conspired” to make the ring announcer look like an amateur but more crucially, they gave the unfortunate Jesse Schaper the unenviable task of having to rewind his emotions after incorrectly indicating him as winner, when in fact he had lost to Lucky Magekha in what was ultimately deemed FOTN! MMASA – the gift that keeps on giving!

The fact that the card had seven 1^st round finishes meant that it was almost impossible to really get into the event. Just as one was getting involved in a bout it would end resulting in long delays between bouts and eventually a lack of focus on the upcoming action. At least this writer had some great conversations that will drop shortly and definitely blow your minds!!!

The main event for the EFC Welterweight strap was over before we were properly able to warm our seats, as Zaakir Badat’s 7-punch combo ended the title aspirations of Jailson Sousa. The win secured the new champ his second win-streak as a pro fighter while snapping Sousa’s 2-fight streak.

The reason our seats were not properly warm in the first place had much to do with the co-main event. Originally billed as a Bantamweight contendership bout between Sylvester Chipfumbu and Faeez Jacobs, the rematch was reclassified on Monday to a Catchweight bout as Chipfumbu was having weightcut issues. Unfortunately, we never got to see if those issues affected his performance because Jacobs dispatched with Chipfumbu in just over a minute, and in so doing, avenged his title loss at EFC 85! Information received from EFC matchmaker, Ashley Calvert, confirmed that the win by Jacobs does ensure his status as the division’s number one contender for a shot at the current king, Nkazimulo Zulu, later this year.

The other contendership bout on the card – Tumelo Manyamala versus Micky Cloete – was the highlight of main card, especially if one was looking for a demonstration of most, it not all, the disciplines within MMA.  Manyamala’s offensive range finding coupled with his defensive distance control meant that most of Cloete’s weapons were neutralised for most of the bout. Round 1 saw great standup, punctuated by the knockdown of Cloete from a right head-kick. Round 2 witnessed some good ground-work from both, in attack and defence, while in round 3, fans were treated to a quick-fire TKO, set-up by a HUGE right hand, which put the “championship material” stamp on a clinical performance from Manyamala. The Conclusion: Tumelo Manyamala is a legit problem in the Flyweight division.

The Welterweight bout between Horatious Alonu and Cole Henning had all the ingredients for a potential BANGER. But alas, the opening round showed that there is absolutely nothing RAGE about Alonu and even less HIT about the Hitman! I have witnessed faster chess matches than the strategic manoevering of both these fighters……..until that head-kick! It was a left head-kick from nowhere that initially sent Henning reeling, only to be followed-up GnP that would ultimately end the fight.

The opening bout of the main card was one for the record books and deserving of a performance award, as Vince Bembe – who was going up a division – sent Adrian Sanchez to the spirit realm with the fastest KO in EFC history (13 seconds) which is also my KO of the Year so far!

Results from the Prelim card:

• FEATHERWEIGHT: Guide Moyo def Sizwe Mnikathi by UD
• FLYWEIGHT: Edson Machavane def Kgaugelo Moitshela by 2^nd Round 2 submission
• HEAVYWEIGHT: Justin Clarke def Willem Smit by 1^st Round KO
• BANTAMWEIGHT: Lucky Magekha def Jesse Schaper by UD
• FLYWEIGHT: Salahuddin Plaatjies def Godknows Ndlovu by 1^st Round submission
• WELTERWEIGHT: British Boloyoang def Given Majuba by 1^st Round submission
• LIGHTWEIGHT: Patrick Ocheme def Glody Kanzeko by 2^nd Round KO
• FEATHERWEIGHT: Allistar Kunene def Kenan Hornabrook by 1^st Round TKO

The EFC 113 Performance bonuses were as follows:

• Patrick Ocheme
• British Boloyoang
• Edson Machavane
• Guide Moyo
• Vince Bembe
• Tumelo Manyamala
• Faeez Jacobs
• Zaakir Badat

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Lucky Magekha vs. Jesse Schaper