McLellan, Kruger in middleweight championship showdown
EFC middleweight icons Garreth “Soldierboy” McLellan and JP “Tinkerbell” Kruger will face-off for the EFC Africa middleweight title in a bout that promises to be one of the fights of the year at Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Dome on Thursday, March 27.
The challenger and undefeated Kruger (5-0) earned his number one contender spot with a sensational victory over Tumelo Maphutha at EFC Africa 22.
After sustaining injuries from a series of brutal outside leg-kicks from Maphutha, Kruger executed an armbar that snapped his opponent’s collarbone.
In McLellan, however, he has met his ultimate match.
“Soldierboy” is an African MMA phenomenon. Known for his unrelenting aggression, he is a man on the warpath after his brutal destruction of former champion Jeremy “Pitbull” Smith.
The first man to reclaim an EFC Africa title, he has stated that “someone will have to be a science project to beat me now. I’m never giving up this belt”.
“I have only started to achieve the goals that will make me the fighter I am destined to be,” he says.
“Lessons have been learned. I have tasted the sweetness of victory and the pain of loss. I have matured mentally, physically and emotionally. I fear no man but respect those who come before me.
“JP is a good martial artist; he is humble, respectful and deserving of champion status but he has to fight me. How far is he really willing to go? For me this is more than just a belt, it’s my path to forever being remembered. I will sacrifice everything for it.”
Kruger’s response was words of a hungry and equally determined challenger.
“This is the most important fight of my career. This is my future. I started kickboxing at 16 and since then I have been putting every piece of my energy into becoming champion.
” I know Garreth is a worthy and tough opponent, which makes this fight even sweeter. I want to get into that hexagon. I wish this fight was tomorrow.
“This fight is about getting the belt, it’s about testing my skills at the highest level and spreading my message to the world. I want to finish this fight. How hungry am I? It’s a 20 out of 10.”
