Amanzimtoti champ smashes his way to SA MMA title
My dream has finally become a reality.
Amanzimtoti warrior, Dylan Swanepoel, is the SA mixed martial arts (MMA) featherweight champ. Despite receiving the call-up to battle only two weeks before stepping into the ring with an unknown foe, he shattered David Mambo’s hopes of the title with a rear naked choke – submission defeat one minute and 28 seconds into the first round.
Mambo was called up to contest the SA title against Dylan at the MFC (Maximum Fighting Championship) Fight Zone at Greyville Convention Centre on Sunday night, 1 December, after the title holder, Andrew Caruth, withdrew for the third time, this time after he suffered a TKO (technical knock-out) fighting in the International MMA Federation World Champs in Bahrain last month.
Mambo had previously lost to Caruth for the SA title.
Nineteen-year-old Dylan was ecstatic at finally lifting the trophy. “The fight went according to plan – it was exactly what I expected and the outcome was what we wanted and prepared so hard for in our game plan. It was the first time I had faced Mambo and we knew nothing about his fighting style.”
READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti teens take up MMA to deal with stress
Coach and father, Morné managed to track down footage of his last fight in Johannesburg and in the two weeks they had to prepare, designed a game plan. “We executed it to a T with specialised strategies. We improvised our game plan and focused on Dylan’s weight cut.” He had to cut an incredible 8kg before weigh-in – a humongous achievement in just two weeks – which they did through a strict diet and rigorous, sweat-fuelled training sessions at Combat Coaching Gym, often until 10pm.
His brother Bradley was the junior SA champ in 2012 and, although he turned pro with his brother last year December, Dylan has held back his EFC debut until the SA title was his. Bradley already has one EFC victory under his belt, but the world now eagerly awaits the brother double-bill fight night that EFC has been licking its lips for. This should happen in March, so Dylan will not have the opportunity to defend his SA senior title.
When he fought for the title in 2017 and had to retire hurt, he was up against Cameron Simon. Simon turned pro after the fight and Dylan hasn’t faced him since, but the bookies are drooling at the prospect of the two meeting up again in the EFC ring next year.
So how does Toti’s latest champ feel after his well-deserved victory: “Amazing! My dream has finally become a reality. Words can’t describe how ecstatic and grateful I am for my huge achievement. I couldn’t have done it without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my coach and dad Morné, my brother Bradley, my beautiful girlfriend, Necashje Price, and my team who came out to support me. Without you guys, none of this would’ve happened. On Sunday night I made a statement and history that I am undefeated and the best featherweight at the MFC.”
READ ALSO: Determined grans take on martial arts
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