The fans eagerly anticipated EFC Africa 20 and safe to say, the event surpassed expectations. Most of the combatants left it all in the cage and further illustrated why the South African level of MMA is on a rapid rise.
EFC Africa 20 Fight Summary
Matthew Buirski vs. Marino Cutendana (bantamweight) – [Winner: Buirski via unanimous decision]
In the first round, Cutendana attacked with a series of kicks and scored with a takedown. In round two and three, Buirski turned up the heat and started landing takedowns of his own and worked his ground and pound game, even missing a spectacular Peruvian neck-tie by millimetres. The judges gave him a unanimous nod.
Kanyeba Anicet vs. Barend Nienaber (featherweight) – [Winner: Nienaber via rear naked choke]
In round one, Nienaber came out making his intentions clear to get the fight, down to the ground. Anicet landed a few stiff strikes on the feet but was soon taken down, Nienaber took his back and landed solid ground and pound and tried to finish with a choke but Anicet defended. In the second round, Nienaber took him down again and took his back to sink in a fight ending rear naked choke.
Chris Du Pont vs. Charl Hurter (light heavyweight) – [Winner: Du Pont via verbal submission]
Hurter shot in for the takedown but Du Pont effortlessly stuffed them and punished him with hard ground and pound. Hurter soon conceded defeat by delivering a verbal submission.
Charlie Weyer vs. Craig Ninow (bantamweight) – [Winner: Weyer via unanimous decision]
In round one Weyer landed a solid overhand. Ninow jumped guard for a guillotine and the fight hit the deck. Weyer worked from inside his close guard. For the bulk of round two, Weyer chipped away from inside of Ninow’s closed guard. In round three, Ninow got a takedown and there were a lot of reversals and scrambles on the ground. Weyer earned a unanimous decision in the end.
Donavin Hawkey vs. Raymond Ahana (middleweight) – [Winner: Hawkey via KO]
The fighters clinched and Hawkey landed some hard uppercuts, but Ahana controlled the clinch well. When they broke, Ahana landed good kicks. Hawkey returned fired with stinging punches. In round two, Hawkey stalked Ahana, launching vicious kicks and punches during the round. In round three, Hawkey landed the better of the strikes. When they clinched Hawkey controlled Ahana’s back by grabbing him from behind while standing. Hawkey then landed some hard punches from the side and knees, knocking out Ahana in spectacular fashion.
Alex Cheboub vs. Sibusiso Mdoko (lightweight) – [Winner: Cheboub via majority decision]
In the first round Cheboub landed the crisper strikes in the exchanges. He took his opponent down and even took his back. Mdoko defended his choke and even a leg lock attempt, escaped and landed some ground and pound. In round two both combatants score with takedowns and landed ground and pound. Towards the end they threw some one-for-one strikes. In the final round, they exchanged and Mdoko launched a Cheboub-dropping punch and tried to rain down punches from top but Cheboub scrambled back to his feet. He returned the favour and dropped Mdoko with a solid punch and rushed in for some hard ground and pound to end of the final round. The judge’s decision went in favour of Cheboub.
Juan Lubbe vs. Neil Diesel (welterweight) – [Winner Lubbe: via verbal submission]
Diesel took Lubbe down and unleashed some blistering strikes from inside the closed guard, side mount and full mount. Lubbe reversed position but Diesel was able to sweep and work from top position. Towards the end of the round, Diesel’s knee popped and could not answer the bell for the second round.
Frederich Naumann vs. Johan Van Staden (lightweight) – [Winner: Naumann via split decision]
Most of round one was fought on the feet and was fairly close between both men. In round two, Naumann took Van Staden down. The ground battle saw a few good reversals and exchanges. In round three Van Staden landed a takedown and worked from top position. All in all it was a very close bout but Naumann walked away with the win.
Alain Ilunga vs. Markus Taljaard (featherweight) – [Winner: Illunga via triangle choke]
In round one Illunga victimised Taljaard with a variety of blistering kicks to the body and some even went to the head. Round two saw Illunga unleash some more vicious kicks until Taljaard landed a takedown on him. From his back, Illunga sunk in a tight triangle choke to win by submission.
Garreth Mclellan vs. Tumelo Maphutha (middleweight) – [Winner: Mclellan via split decision]
In the first round, Mclellan took down Maphutha and took his back, Maputha defended the choke attempts well and the fight got back up to standing with him trying to work his kicking game. In round two Gareth was fighting off the back foot occasionally coming in with kicks. Maphutha seemed to stalk Mclellan and unleashing kicks on occasion. In the final round, Maphutha, once again stalked Mclellan. He fired off strikes but was eventually taken down with Mcllelan unsuccessfully trying to lock in a rear naked choke.
EFC Africa Interim Light Heavyweight Championship
Danie Van Heerden vs. Gideon Drotschie (bantamweight) – [Winner Drotschie: via keylock]
For three rounds, Drotschie, diligently hunted for the takedown and when the fight hit the mat, there were several scrambles with him being in control of the majority of the bout. On the feet, Drotchie obliged to some exchanges. In the final round he eventually caught Van Heerden in a crucifix position and locked in a keylock.
EFC Africa Lightweight Championship
Costa Ioannou vs. Don Madge (lightweight) – [Winner Madge via: rear naked choke]
Ioannou exhibited his trademark stifling style by keeping a tight defence and pushing forward, not giving Madge the chance to properly implement his devastating thai-boxing game. The bulk of this bout was fought on the ground. To the amazement of everybody, Madge was able to go head to head with Ioannou on the ground. They exhibited a beautiful display of BJJ skill with many exchange of positions. As the rounds passed by, Madge appeared to look sharper. By the fifth round they were probably two rounds, a piece. Madge stuffed Ioannou’s takedown and sunk in a rear naked choke, pulling off a massive upset, winning the EFC Africa Lightweight belt.
