EFC kicked off the year in superb fashion at Carnival City on Saturday, 5 March. The crowd in attendance was treated to action-packed fights, with some incredible skill on display. The evening culminated in DRC-born Igeu Kabesa claiming a deserved victory over Scotland’s Danny Henry to bring the featherweight title back to African soil and in doing so, becoming the first EFC champion from the DRC.
The main event saw Kabesa dominate from start to finish through a display of wrestling excellence. Henry had no answer for the challenger over five rounds and looked out of sorts. Apart from a brief spell in the fourth round where Henry came close to sinking a rear naked choke, Kabesa controlled his opponent through a mixture of great top control and fluid transitions onto his opponent’s back, where he landed strike after strike.
“I wasn’t too phased at losing the first round, but did not expect that intensity for five rounds. I thought he would tire but he didn’t. I felt like I was in quicksand for five rounds and had no answer,” Henry said.
In the co-main event, the prospect of a bout between Boyd Allen and Leon Mynhardt at lightweight had MMA fans salivating. The bout was born out of a late withdrawal of contender Dave Mazany due to infection. Allen walked away the victor by split decision after methodically picking his opponent apart with clinical striking and superior movement.
The third fight on the main card saw Brendon Katz on a mission to reverse a two-fight losing streak when he faced Sizwe Mnikathi. The fight started and ended with Katz edging Mnikathi in the boxing stakes, claiming a unanimous victory.
Barend Nienaber is another athlete with a real claim to a potential title shot after he convincingly beat Tumisang Madiba in a three-round unanimous decision in the second fight on the main card.
The first main card of 2016 was opened by the first-ever all-local match-up in the women’s flyweight division. Amanda Lino faced Jacqui Trosee looking to avenge a loss to Isabelle Pare in her hometown. Trosee was coming off a victory over Zita Varju at EFC 41. Living up to her nickname, ‘Mad Dog’, Lino came out like a woman possessed and made light work of Trosee, landing a straight right that rocked her opponent. The bout was called after only 10 seconds as Lino capitalised on the first strike with a barrage of punches from behind that KO’d her opponent.
‘Fight of the Night’ was awarded to the lightweight bout Leon Mynhardt and Boyd Allen. Performance bonuses were awarded to Amanda Lino, Brendon Katz and Sizwe Mnikathi.
