Buys to debut at EFC 40
It is quite fitting that 19-year-old JP Buys will be making his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut at the milestone event, EFC 40, at Brakpan’s Carnival City.
The young fighter, now living in Farrarmere, has grown from strength to strength from his dominant wrestling days with Brakpan Wrestling Club, and has fast become a revered name in the amateur MMA community with excellent displays in the cage.
The Fight Fit Militia fighter’s recent bantamweight title victory at Fightstar 12, in Primrose, blew the socks off all the spectators in attendance as he won his fight against last-minute opponent Roevan de Beer via TKO, with an incredible double kick a mere 11 seconds into the first round.
His last five fights in the amateur ranks have been wins for Buys and this has boosted his confidence ahead of his much-anticipated first professional fight, in the flyweight division, on Saturday, June 6, in the Big Top Arena.
He has been drawn to face World of Warriors fighter Jasen van der Merwe, and Buys said that he will be treating the fight just like any other, despite the pressure that a larger crowd will bring.
“I have been working on grinding him down,” he said.
“I will stick to the game plan that has worked for me in recent fights.”
His opponent at EFC 40 lost his debut professional fight against Baldwin Mdlalose, via submission to a rear naked choke, at EFC 38, in Durban.
The rear naked choke is one of Buys’s favourite moves and will be just one of the weapons in his arsenal come fight night.
“My goal is to get a shot at the championship belt and this is where it all starts,” he added.
