Oosthuizen buries Time Square nightmare
The result saw Oosthuizen improve his record to 4-3-0, while Kalambay was made to wait longer for his first ‘W’ as he fell to 0-3-0.
Beyers Park striker Billy Oosthuizen returned to winning ways when he defeated Aly Kalambay via unanimous decision in their featherweight clash during EFC 84 at Time Square in Pretoria.
The victory was a welcome boost for Oosthuizen and his camp, who desperately wanted to get back on track, coming into this one on the back of a vicious KO loss to Asiashu Tshitamba at EFC 81, which took place in the same arena.
The Boksburg fighter said: “This win was everything, I had to get back to winning ways. I was calm and I only focused on listening to my coaches and exceeding exactly what they told me.”
Quizzed on his fight plan, he explained: “It was to stay outside the pocket and the main thing was to not brawl and just keep some distance, which suited me because I was faster and fitter.”
Elsewhere, in the night’s main event, Zimbabwean EFC welterweight champion Themba Gorimbo stopped the then undefeated Lyle Karam from Australia via submission to retain his belt.
Gorimbo controlled proceedings from the beginning despite some scary moments which unsettled the champion. Following a largely controlled round one, the Australian made a costly mistake as he attempted a takedown, opening the door for the champion to apply a triangle choke that ended the contest.
“For Africa to be recognised in this sport, it needs a real African,” bellowed the champ in a post-fight interview.
Fight of the Night was awarded to Tshilumba Mukishi and August Kayambala. Performance bonuses were given to Cameron Saaiman, Cole Henning, Pierre Botha and Anicet Kanyeba.
The official EFC 84 results are as follows:
- Orlando Machava defeated Danie Swart via submission (rear naked choke) 1:03 in round 3.
- Colin Hume defeated Willem Smith via submission (rear naked choke) 1:13 in round 1.
- Diego Bandu defeated Mark Kamba via forfeit before the fight began.
- Roy Lokolo vs JT Botha was cancelled due to injury in warm-up.
- Billy Oosthuizen defeated Aly Kalambay via unanimous decision.
- Cameron Saaiman defeated Zwelebanzi Ngema via TKO (punches) 3:29 in round 2.
- Cole Henning defeated Rodrique Kena via knockout (punches) 3:21 in round 1.
- Sindile Manengela defeated Roevan de Beer via TKO (punches) 3:48 in round 1.
- Tshilumba Mukishi defeated August Kayambala via knockout (punches) 4:38 in round 1.
- Stefan Pretorius defeated Niel du Plessis via submission (kimura) 3:25 in round 2.
- Anicet Kanyeba defeated Pierre Botha via unanimous decision.
- Themba Gorimbo defeated Lyle Karam via submission (triangle choke) 2:06 in round 2.
