Du Plessis wins EFC’s biggest fight
The biggest night in EFC history had a fairy-tale ending when South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis became the first man in the organisation’s history to hold a title in two divisions simultaneously.
The evening’s main event was contested between EFC welterweight champion Dricus du Plessis and EFC middleweight and BAMMA champion, the UK’s Yannick Bahati.
Du Plessis did what many thought was impossible and finished Bahati in a rather unexpected turn of events when he brutally and swiftly finished the Brit with a guillotine in the first round before stepping into a new era of the organisation.
Credit must be given to the outspoken Bahati, however, who despite a string of trash talk in the big fight build-up, was gracious in defeat.
He also agreed that if du Plessis wanted to return the favour and meet him in the UK for his BAMMA title, he would be happy to oblige.
Flyweight champ Nkazimulo Zulu also defended his title, and Igeu Kabesa re-took the featherweight strap.
Zulu lived up to his reputation by delivering a stand-up masterclass. Although Chipfumbu troubled him in the first, thereafter the champion dismantled his opponent, leaving him cowering in the fourth when the referee finally called it off.
Kabesa against Pierre Botha pitted two wrestlers against each other for the vacant featherweight title and it was no surprise when a poorly-timed suplex sealed Botha’s fate.
Storming into the first, he was controlled by Kabesa, attempted a suplex escape against the fence and gifted his opponent the full mount position. The fight ended by TKO (punches) in the first.
The UK’s Cal Ellenor made his EFC debut against local favourite Gareth Buirski, and both fought a hard fight to the final bell. The judges’ decision caused consternation when they ruled in favour of Buirski (split decision) with most of the crowd convinced the foreigner had done enough to take it.
Sindile Manengela and Barend Nienaber put in two hard rounds of even fighting in their main card opener, until Manengela found the edge in the third, finishing his opponent from Pretoria by rear naked choke.
The official EFC 62 results are:
Steven Goncalves defeated Claude Ntumba via unanimous decision.
Sifiso Ngcobo defeated JP van Rooyen via TKO (punches) 4:26 in round 1.
Trezegeut Kanyinda defeated Stephen De La Rey via TKO (punches) 4:54 in round 1.
Rizlen Zouak defeated Bunmi Ojewole via TKO (punches) 1:08 in round 2.
Ricky Misholas defeated Nico Yamdjie via unanimous decision.
Sindile Manengela defeated Barend Nienaber via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 2:48 in round 3.
Gareth Buirski defeated Cal Ellenor via split decision.
Igeu Kabesa defeated Pierre Botha TKO (punches) 3:19 in round 1.
Nkazimulo Zulu defeated Sylvester Chipfumbu via TKO (punches) 1:38 in round 4.
Dricus Du Plessis defeated Yannick Bahati via submission (Guillotine) 1:30 in round 1.
EFC 63 takes place in Cape Town on September 9. – @SabeloBoksburg
