McLellan soldiers to middleweight title victory
Garreth McLellan regained the middleweight title in the main event of EFC Africa 24, after defeating fierce rival Jeremy "Pitbull" Smith at Carnival's City, Big Top Arena, on Thursday, October 10.
In a match billed as “The Battle of The Ages”, the man who is affectionately known as “Soldier Boy” by his fans, won the spectacular bout after it went to the ground and delivered a damaging strike that caused Smith’s nose to gush blood.
“Soldier Boy” followed through by taking the champion’s back and applying a rear naked choke, ending the contest four minutes and 38 seconds into round one to get back the title he surrendered to Smith in March 2012.
In the evening’s co-main event, undisputed, and undefeated featherweight champion, Demarte Pena, retained his gold after defeating Democratic Republic of Congo’s Alain Ilunga via unanimous decision, in a match that went the full five rounds, setting a new EFC record of five title defences.
The bout had added significance for being the first title fight in EFC Africa history that did not feature a South African fighter – with the champion from Angola stretching his record to 8-0.
In the night’s only heavyweight bout, local fighter Ruan Potts swiftly went about his job.
He took down opponent Ricky Misholas and tied him up in a triangle lock, leaving “The Apocalypse” with no other choice but to tap out 4.05 into round one.
“It’s very good,” said Potts about the win in a brief post match interview.
“I want my title back!” a cheerful Potts shouted.
Edenvale-bred Pietie “Thunder” Coxen made a winning debut in the hexagon after beating Steven Momah via TKO. The bantamweight bout began at a slow pace with both fighters grappling and warming up to each other, before a vicious outburst of rights-and-lefts from Coxen put Momah on his bottom 2.33 into the first round.
In a match which included a tinge of irony, Nkazimulo Zulu, who made his way to the hexagon in Zulu music, defeated Durbanite Craig Ninow in round three of the bantamweight fight. This came after Zulu built-on a damaging stamp to Ninow’s gut, with repeated strikes and subsequently winning via unanimous decision.
Brendon Katz made a winning return to EFC after a two-year absence. Up against Gareth Buirski in the featherweight bout, Katz came out the eventual victor by unanimous decision.
The “Knockout of The Night” award went to Pietie Coxen for his first round KO of Steven Momah. Submission of The Night was given to Morne Prinsloo, and Dricus du Plessis and JC Lamprecht earned the “Fight of The Night” award for their epic three-round encounter in one of the evening’s main card bouts.
EFC Africa 24 other results:
* Anicet Kanyeba defeated Amos Hlatswayo via submission (rear naked choke) 3:44 into round 3.
* Cedric Doyle defeated Sibulele Swekile via TKO 4:08 into round 1.
* Darell Moodley defeated Victor Anyoagu via submission (RNC) 2:05 into round 2.
* Mbulelo Swekile defeated Pierre Botha via submission (triangle) 2:34 into round 1.
* Morne Prinsloo defeated Josh Muller via verbal submission 2:41 into round 1.
* David Buirski defeated Wade Henderson via TKO 1:35 into round 1.
* Dricus du Plessis defeated JC Lamprecht via submission (RNC) 1:54 into round 3.
