Two Concerning Questions from EFC 112

EFC 112 served up a superb prelim card where the debutants took centre stage while the main card was dissapponting for a number of reasons that will be raised below. However, the events at EFC 112 have raised two rather concerning questions;

Is Fighter Safety a real thing?

The level of officiatting is steadily getting worse at the EFC, especially regarding fighter safety!

Firstly Tapiwa Katikati was knocked out by Adrian Sanchez at EFC 111 – a month ago! Yet there he was, headlining the prelim card at EFC 112! I thought that MMASA had strict medical controls and return-to-training-protocols when it comes to athletes being knocked-out!?

Secondly, there is absolutely no referee consistency in terms fighter safety especially if one compares the main card stopages in the opening bout and the catchweight bout of EFC 112. 

In that opening bout (Oosthuizen v Hokonya), referee Bobby K stopped the bout because Oosthuizen had been knocked down – not out, just down. In speaking to Billy Oosthuizen after the fight, he confirmed that the referee explained his decision of stopping the fight because he saw that Oosthuizen had been knocked down! WTAF!!!

Compare that to the actions of the “notorious’ Ferdi Basson who, after watching Shadrack Nsua get knocked out, allowed a further 2 hammer fists to land on a clearly unconscious opponent. If these refs are considered the best we have, the sport is in more trouble than we actually know!?

Is MMA growing?

For JP Kruger to become the new undisputed Unified middleweight champ and for Igeu Kabesa to become only the fourth EFC double champ in front of a less than capacity EFC PI is a hard pill to swallow for a sport that was supposed to “kick-off” following Dricus du Plessis’ historic UFC championship win earlier this year. This writer cannot help thinking that despite the fact that MMA is growing across the African continent, it appears to be dying here in South Africa and this needs to be put at the feet of our administration body. MMASA are clearly not growing the sport, which is witnessed by the fact that we have fewer amateur promotions operating inconsistently, meaning there are fewer opportunities for local amateur athletes to build a record.

As mentioned in the opening, and despite the haphazard officiating, the main card continued to make the point that there are levels to this game.

There is a saying in both wrestling and jits circles; position before submission. And this was never more true than in the Middleweight title fight between Luke Michael and JP Kruger. Despite the bout being scheduled for 5-rounds, Michael seemed to use a fair amount of energy looking for the early finish, in what can only be described as a first round whipping of the interim-champ, JP Kruger, inflicting massive damage with his GnP from that early takedown. Kruger in defense, seemed to be comfortable on his back – more comfortable than most while defending the barrage of punches and elbows. He seemed to be biding his time, waiting for an opening…

That opening duly came early in round two as Kruger attempted a mounted guillotine choke from which Michael was unable to escape, meaning that JP Kruger unified the EFC middleweight division without any controversy.

I do feel for Michael, who, right now must be beside himself evaluating his gameplan after relinquishing the strap he should have never had in the first place! 

The Lightweight title fight between Igeu Kabesa and Kaleka Kabanda showed why Kabesa is the banner carrier of the EFC organisation right now as he made light work of the heavy-handed Block Kabanda to become only the fourth fighter – after Amanda Lino, Dricus du Plessis and again most recently, Nkazimulo Zulu – to become a champ in two EFC divisions.

The face-off between Kabesa and rising prospect, Humphrey Mulenga, promises to be yet another old-guard vs new-comer clash that I cannot wait to see!

The Catchweight fight between undefeated Shadrack Nsua and the unknown and also undefeated Isaac Muluh had most of us speechless! In attempting to finish the fight early, much like he had done in his first two professional bouts, Nsua left an opening for Muluh to land a solid left-hook and send Nsua to the shadow realm. The ref, in delaying his stoppage, allowed a further 2 shots to land on a downed opponent – Ferdi clearly subscribes to the the notion that additional strikes are always “super necessary”!

The card opened with the two Featherweight Grand Prix bouts.

The first – between Billy Oosthuizen and Simbarashe Hokonya – was overshadowed by that controversial first round stoppage as a downed Oosthuizen, seemed to be moving to keep the fight going before the referee put a stop to proceedings.

In the second – between Steven Goncalves and Ayanda Zwane – fans were again treated to interesting officiating as the referee allowed the fighters to do nothing but hold hands for almost a minute at the end of round one! Besides that oversight, what started as a fairly even match-up, swung fully in the favour of Zwane as Goncalves wilted from the presistent pressure in the final two rounds.

Those results mean that Zwane (4-1) will face the undefeated Hokonya (4-0) for the right to challenge Igeu Kabesa for his Featherweight strap at the end of the year.

Results from the Prelim card, where all but one of the debutants left victorious;

FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT

Ken Sekeketu def. Tapiwe Katikati via Rnd 2 TKO

WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT

Elbert Steyn def. Felix Manga via Rnd 1 submission (RNC)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT

Siyakudumisa Nomvemve def Andile Madlala via Rnd 2 Verbal Submission where the fight was initially stopped due to an illegal strike

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Willie Van Rooyen def Tebatso Molele via UD in the event’s FOTN

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Ntando Zondi def Mpumelelo Mngoma via Rnd 1 KO

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Lucky Boscoe def Angelo Foloti via UD

BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT

Thima Mhlauli def Lecture Gumbi via Rnd 2 TKO

PERFORMANCE BONUSES were awarderd to:

Thima Mhlauli

Ntando Zondi

Simbarashe Hokonya

Ayanda Zwane

Isaac Muluh

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT:

Willie Van Rooyen vs Tebatso Molele

Image Credit: EFC