HOT fighters show their mettle at EFC77
“We are back in the gym working harder to get him to the top of his game.."
House of Tinkerbell (HOT) had two fighters stepping into the cage on Saturday for EFC77 at Sun Arena, Times Square.
The duo, fighting out of Springs’ House of Tinkerbell and managed by ProLeague Fight Management, came away with one win and one loss.
In the featherweight fight, Marcel ‘Madness’ Els triumphed over Nerik Simoes in Fight Four, defeating him 2:03 into Round One via tapout due to ground and pound.
“It was a tough fight to walk into and I am blessed to have walked away with the win.
“Firstly, I want to thank my team at HOT, Arte Suave Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and ProLeague Fight Management, as well as all my sponsors,” says Els.
He says the game plan was to outstrike his opponent, but “once we went to the ground the plan was adjusted and I managed to get the win via ground and pound.”
HOT’s JP Kruger says: “We are so proud of him.
“Els pitched up and showed some great heart and skill and got the job done, putting him on a three-fight winning streak.
“We are back in the gym and training and evolving in this beautiful sport to take him all the way to the top.”
He says in the final decider of the fight, Els had mount position and was raining punches on his opponent, who tapped out.
James Read of ProLeague Fight Management says he and the team are happy with both fights.
“Els showed he has moved to the next level a pro-fighter attains in his career, not only through his classy performance in the cage, but his championship manner outside the fight arena.”
In Fight Three, Orlando ‘Mean Machine’ Machaba took on Asiashu Tshitamba in the bantamweight fight.
Machaba was defeated 3:19 into Round Two via a TKO, following a slew of punches from Tshitamba.
“Machaba is performing well and although he did not win, he definitely let the fans know why we call him Mean Machine.
“His performance impressed EFC’s Graeme Cartmell enough to earn him the promise of a fight at Carnival City in May,” Read says.
“We are super proud of Machaba, he fought a great fight.
“He put up a good fight and showed great sportsmanship.
“We are back in the gym working harder to get him to the top of his game,” says Kruger.
