EFC: Kabesa brings gold back to Africa, Nienaber impresses
Saturday evening culminated in DRC-born Igeu Kabesa claiming a deserved victory over Scotland’s Danny Henry as EFC kicked off the year in superb fashion at Carnival City.
In doing so, the agile Kabesa was crowned the new EFC featherweight champion.
The main event saw Kabesa dominate from start to finish through a display of wrestling excellence. Henry had no answer for the challenger over five rounds and looked out of sorts.
Apart from a brief spell in the fourth round where Henry came close to sinking a rear naked choke, Kabesa controlled his opponent through a mixure of great top control and fluid transitions onto his opponent’s back, where he landed strike after strike.
Speaking at the post-event press conference, Henry admitted to underestimating his opponent, and boy did he pay for it.
“I wasn’t too phased at losing the first round, but did not expect that intensity for five rounds. I thought he would tire but he didn’t. I felt like I was in quicksand for five rounds and had no answer,” he said.
In the co-main event, the prospect of a bout between Boyd Allen and Leon Mynhardt at lightweight had MMA fans salivating.
The bout was born out of a late withdrawal of contender Dave Mazany due to infection.
True to form, the athletes left it all in the hexagon in a dream fight that will live long in the memory of those who watched.
Allen walked away the victor by split decision after methodically picking his opponent apart with clinical striking and superior movement.
The lightweight champion’s face was evidence of Allen’s continuous onslaught, with the fight having to be paused to repair a heavily bleeding broken nose midway through the second round.
After three rounds, the fans were on their feet for both athletes who put on a show to be remembered.
The result leaves a question that begs for an answer: will Boyd Allen move up to lightweight to challenge for the title?
However, EFC president Cairo Howarth quickly removed the elephant out of the room during the press conference: “Boyd can pick whatever fight he wants. If he wants a rematch with Leon for the title, he can have it.”
Barend Nienaber from Boksburg is another athlete with a real claim to a potential title shot after he convincingly beat Tumisang Madiba in a three round unanimous decision in the second fight on the main card.
Nienaber dominated his opponent with sound wrestling and top control. Madiba was not given a chance to display his considerable striking skills.
Speaking after the fight, Nienaber was quick to call out a shot at the featherweight strap.
It turns out that he may have the chance at a rematch with Kabesa, whom he lost to at lightweight at EFC 36. His claims are becoming increasingly harder to ignore.
Still on the main card, Brendon Katz claimed a rather controversial win over the nugget Sizwe Mnikathi who did enough to come away with the ‘W’.
Katz was handed a unanimous victory despite being on the receiving end more than Mnikathi throughout the contest.
The first main card of 2016 was opened by the first-ever all-local match-up in the women’s flyweight division. Amanda Lino faced Jacqui Trosee looking to avenge a loss to Isabelle Pare in her home town.
Trosee was coming off a victory over Zita Varju at EFC 41. Living up to her nickname ‘Mad Dog’, Lino came out like a woman possessed and made light work of Trosee, landing a straight right that rocked her opponent.
Lino followed up the big first blow with multiple vicious punches to Trosee’s face before the referee interjected to Trosee’s rescue, handing Lino a TKO after just 10 seconds.
The Fight of the Night was awarded to the lightweight bout, Leon Mynhardt and Boyd Allen. Performance bonuses were awarded to Amanda Lino, Brendon Katz and Sizwe Mnikathi.
EFC 47 full results:
Brendan Lesar defeated Jean-Marie Kabeya via unanimous decision.
Stefan Pretorius defeated Robo Ambamba via Triangle choke 2:07 into round 1.
DuHo Kim defeated Pieter De Klerk via Rear-Naked choke 4:54 into round 2.
JP Buys defeated Roevan de Beer via Rear-Naked choke 3:24 into round 1.
Anicet Kanyeba defeated Tshilumba Mulumba via TKO 3:36 into round 3.
Martin de Beer defeated Lourens Botes via Rear-Naked choke 2:56 into round 1.
Amanda Lino defeated Jacqualine Trosee via TKO 0:10 into round 1.
Barend Nienaber defeated Tumisang Madiba via unanimous decision.
Brendon Katz defeated Sizwe Mnikathi via unanimous decision.
Boyd Allen defeated Leon Mynhardt via split decision.
Igeu Kabesa defeated Daniel Henry via unanimous decision. – @SabeloBoksburg
