Fadipe delivered the powerful and decisive right in the later stages of the first round, winning both his native Nigeria and homeland, Ireland, their first ever EFC Africa championship.
The bout, which had seen a huge amount of hype during its lead-up, provided an entertaining, fast-paced start with the champion’s eagerness playing well into Fadipe’s hands. Bagattin came out firing and forced Fadipe to retreat with kicks and punches before engaging too eagerly, dropping to a straight right by Fadipe to end the contest 3.09 minutes into the opening round.
“Herculeez’s” win continues the mythical “curse” of the welterweight belt, under which the title has never been successfully defended.
The victory also puts a Twitter feud between the two to rest, which began in February amid the first announcement of the fight.
“Nigeria! I love you guys; South Africa! I love you guys,” enthused the newly-crowned champion in a post-match hexagon interview.
“To all the people who have a dream of winning this championship, I have advice for you: Switch divisions (weight division) because this belt is staying with me,” he crowed.
A shot at the vacant featherweight title was on the line when Brendon Katz and local fighter Barend “BB Gun” Nienaber faced-off. Having identified Katz’s strike power, Nienaber produced a clinical three-round ground game to clinch the victory.
Following the bout, number one contender Boyd Allan entered the hexagon for a brief warning to Nienaber: “If he thinks he’s going to fight me like that and keep me down for five rounds, he’s got another thing coming.”
Allen and Nienaber will face-off for their title fight at EFC 31 in July.
In the night’s other main card fight, former champions Jeremy “Pitbull” Smith squared-off against the rugged Michiel Opperman in an absorbing, bloody fight which was later named the fight of the night.
The latter surprised with a controlled performance in the opening round, cutting “Pitbull” with an elbow, which enforced a brief blood stoppage, and keeping him on a leash. Smith gradually came into the match in the second having found his brutal and powerful boxing groove and delivering sound body shots. With all to fight for in the third, it seemed a case of both saving their best for last.
Smith continued the boxing assault, landing strikes to the taller Opperman’s head and ribcage, but a massive knee to the head from Opperman knocked him down; and for a second, looked to have knocked him down and out.
Despite the damaging blow, a bloody Smith refused to stay down and countered with more blows to take the fight to the very end and leaving it for the judges to decide.
Two of the three judges scored it 29-28 to Opperman with the third scoring it 29-28 to Smith, handing the former an unforgettable victory.
Fadipe won the knock out of the night award for his stone cold KO to former champion, Bagattin.
EFC 29 full results:
* Tyson Chelin defeated Mbulelo Swekile via unanimous decision.
* Saxon Delafield defeated Pietie Coxen via submission (armbar) 0:31 into round 1.
* Gordon Roodman defeated Pupanga Tresor via submission (armbar) 2:29 into round 2.
* Ricky Misholas defeated Dewald Botes via TKO 4:28 into round 2.
* Morne Prinsloo defeated Mark Hulme via DQ (illegal strikes) 1:49 into round 1.
*Francois Groenewald defeated Leo Gloss via TKO 3:32 into round 1.
* Gareth Buirski defeated Peter Nyide via TKO 4:36 into round 1.
* Wade Groth defeated Alexander Cheboub via TKO 4:06 into round 2.
* Michiel Opperman defeated Jeremy Smith via split decision.
* Barend Nienaber defeated Brendon Katz via unanimous decision.
* Henry Fadipe defeated Dino Bagattin via KO 3:09 into round 1.
