First EFC event of 2022 great success
Africa’s biggest fight promotion has officially put its first event of the year in the books.
EFC 92 took place live from the EFC Performance Institute in Johannesburg on March 5.
An exciting 12-fight card saw every athlete enter the Hexagon with something to prove but it was the middleweight title fight between Luke Michael and Pupanga Tresor that proved to be one of the most controversial contests in recent memory.
After both athletes exchanged on the feet it was Pupanga Tresor who found himself in the ascendency on the canvas and began raining down some serious ground and pound.
Among the barrage of blows, referee Ferdi Basson perceived several to have landed behind Michael’s head and signalled the fight to be over before changing his hands to a ‘time-out’ gesture.
The initial waving-off of the bout confused the crowd, corners and fighters who thought that the DRC man had won gold.
Basson then deducted a point from Tresor and restarted the fight after which the positions were reversed. Michael took control, bringing down some heinous blows and forcing the referee stoppage upon which a large section of the crowd began to protest with chairs and other missiles being thrown.
Many are calling for an immediate rematch, the granting of which remains to be seen.
Full results and performance bonuses:
• Middleweight main event: Luke Michael def. Pupanga Tresor by TKO (Strikes) – round 1.
• Middleweight co-main event: JP Kruger def. Roy Lokolo via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – round 1.
• Bantamweight: Cameron Saaiman def. Roevan de Beer via TKO (Strikes) – round 1.
• Women’s strawweight: Jessica Mouneimne def. Crystal van Wyk via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – round 2.
• Catchweight: Conrad Seabi def. Wade Henderson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
• Featherweight: Nerik Simoes def. Keir Harvie by Unanimous Decision.
• Heavyweight: Vandam Mbuyi def. Robert Cunningham by TKO – round 1.
• Flyweight: Fafa Dwama def. Salahuddin Plaatjies by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
• Middleweight: Diego Bandu def. Khulekani Hlongwa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
• Lightweight: Guelor Sondi def. Hanro Enslin via TKO (Strikes) – round 2.
• Featherweight: Guide Moyo def. Qaasim Coetzee via TKO (Ground ‘n’ Pound) – round 2.
• Heavyweight: Ivan Strydom def. Willem Smith via Medical Stoppage (Injury) – round 1.
• Performance bonus:
Guelor Sondi and Cameron Saaiman. Fight of the night: Nerik Simoes vs Keir Harvey
EFC 93 Van Staden vs Makengele, presented by World Sports Betting, take place on April 9 from the EFC Performance Institute in Johannesburg.
Fight information HERE.
