Buys becomes youngest EFC title holder
“I must make sure I keep the title for as long as I can and, hopefully, get more fights, even on an international level.”
JP Buys became the youngest fighter in Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) history to win a title, at EFC 54, at Sun City, on Saturday night, October 15.
The 20-year-old former Brakpan Wrestling Club star is officially a professional champion after he defeated Durban’s Badwin Mdlalose.
In front of a boisterous crowd, Buys handled an initial barrage from Mdlalose and then managed to manipulate from the clinch into a tight arm triangle, to take the victory by submission, two minutes and five seconds into the first round.
The quick victory ensured that Buys would receive the interim flyweight title and sets up a potential unification bout with Nkazimulo Zulu.
It also means that the young fighter achieved revenge for his first and only professional defeat – to Mdlalose at EFC 43 – in September, last year.
“It feels great knowing that the hard work over the years has finally paid off,” he told the Herald.
“I’m happy that I could bring back some kind of reward to my team (Fight Fit Militia), sponsors, family and friends.”
Asked what was going through his mind heading into the bout, Buys said: “I have to be honest – before the fight, from around 4pm, I was incredibly nervous.
“It was actually a good thing, because it kept me focused and helped me stay grounded.
“My coaches played a huge role in the fight, as they kept me calm by saying: ‘Go 60, 60, 100’ – which means start at 60 per cent and then explode to 100 per cent (pace yourself).
“When I got Baldwin into submission, I did not think that it was on; I just didn’t want to let go of the dominant position.”
On the issue of attaining revenge over his opponent, Buys said: “For me it wasn’t about getting revenge over him, it was about overcoming a mental and physical stepping stone.
“If I never got the opportunity to fight him again and to beat him, I would always have him in my mind when it comes to my record and my career.”
Buys aims to grow and evolve more in professional mixed martial arts.
“I must make sure I keep the title for as long as I can and, hopefully, get more fights, even on an international level,” he added.
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