Chef, who displayed great power and a world class ground game throughout the fight, subjected the champion to an onslaught of takedowns and smothering before claiming his TKO win.
Drotschie suffered a cut early on in the bout, and the wounds worsened as the fight progressed to a point where the doctor had to stop the fight in the fourth round, leaving Wessels as the new light-heavyweight champion.
The night’s other main event involving Brendon Groenewald and the enigmatic Christophe Walravens for the vacant heavyweight title also lived up to its hype as the former sensation claimed a TKO win.
Groenewald, who was widely regarded as the underdog coming into the fight, quashed any lingering questions about his championship credentials. What began as a trading battle between the two heavyweights soon evolved into a clinch tussle. ‘
Upon disengage of the clinch, Groenewald bombarded Walravens with a set of unrelenting punches, which the DRC native had no answers for.
A dazed Walravens failing to defend himself, and the referee stepped in and called the fight halfway through the first round.
In the evening’s other fights, Irishman and EFC debutant Peter Queally displayed resilience as he ground out a victory over Francois Kabulu, while Irshaad Sayed catapulted himself into contention for a bantamweight title shot following his unanimous win over Abdul Hassan.
The Fight of The Night honours went to Sayed and Hassan for their three-round war while Knockout of The Night went to Groenewald for his onslaught on Walravens.
Performance bonuses were handed out to Shaun de Lange and Peter Nyide.
EFC 35 full results:
* Sydney Mokgolo defeated Chad Hepbrun via split decision.
* Peter Nyide defeated Boney Bukaka unanimous decision.
* Pupanga Tresor defeated Tyron Bester via KO in 0:12 in round 1.
* Sizwe Mnikathi defeated Anthony Mailer via split decision.
* Luke Michaels defeated Regis Muyambo via TKO in 4:27 into round 3.
* Elvis Moyo defeated Knife Didier via unanimous decision.
* Champion Dalcha defeated Danie van Heerden via unanimous decision.
* Bruno Mukulu defeated Shaun de Lange via split decision.
* Peter Queally defeated Francois Kabulu via unanimous decision.
* Irshaad Sayed defeated Abdul Hassan via unanimous decision.
* Brendon Groenewald defeated Christophe Walravens via TKO 2:57 into round 1.
* Norman Wessels defeated Gideon Drotschie via TKO 1:22 into round 4. – @SabeloBoksburg
