EFC Africa 22 delivered an action-packed evening at Carnival City\u2019s Big Top Arena, last Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Multiple kickboxing champion JP “Tinkerbell” Kruger took a sensational victory over Africa\u2019s KO king, Tumelo Maphutha, in the evening\u2019s main event.<\/p>
In addition, Polokwane\u2019s Frederich “Ninja” Naumann took another step toward a lightweight title shot, with a precision knock out of former welterweight champion Dallas Jakobi.<\/p>\n
The main event was billed a striker vs striker battle, and lived up to expectations.<\/p>
Initially, both men showed huge respect for each other\u2019s abilities, staying well clear and sniping with careful, long range strikes, before Maphutha broke through with a savage leg kick that wounded Kruger.<\/p>\n
Maphutha pounced, delivering ground and pound that seemed certain to end the bout.<\/p>\n
A sudden armbar by Kruger turned the tables, however, finishing “The Truck” by submission, 4:19 into the first round.<\/p>\n
Frederich Naumann came into his bout with Dallas Jakobi fully aware that the former welterweight champion was his biggest test to date.<\/p>\n
Naumann had stated that if he could knock out Jakobi within the first two rounds he would be ready to face either Leon Mynhardt or lightweight champion Don Madge.<\/p>\n
In a consummate display “The Ninja” did just that, dominating the first with pin point striking and intelligent ground work, before dropping his opponent with a right hand at the dawn of the second, culminating in the Knockout of the Night award.<\/p>\n
Donnovan Wilken and Matthew Buirski traded a huge amount of ill will in the lead up to their bout, a replay of a meeting between them at amateur level, where Buirski was victorious.<\/p>\n
The action went to the ground quickly, where Buirski snagged Wilken\u2019s arm and, despite desperate counter-rolling, cranked a Kimura hold to force Wilken to tap.<\/p>\n
The crowd was on their feet for Ekurhuleni\u2019s Barend Nienaber vs Amos Hlatswayo.<\/p>\n
Nienaber shot against the well-known kickboxer immediately, and dominated his opponent over three rounds, in a superior display of grappling technique.<\/p>\n
Hlatswayo hung on, weathering numerous elbow strikes, but could do little in the face of Nienaber\u2019s superior technique.<\/p>\n
Nienaber went on to take the bout by unanimous decision.<\/p>\n
Fraser Opie vs Mohamed Aly was a massively hyped fight.<\/p>\n
Opie, born in Johannesburg but based in the UK for the last 12 years, marked his return to African shores with a brutal demolition of his Egyptian opponent, clinching quickly before delivering hard knees, a takedown and savage ground and pound.<\/p>\n
The man from Milton Keynes has made a massive statement and interim light heavyweight champion Gideon Drotschie will certainly be taking notice.<\/p>\n
The Fight of the Night award was awarded to the slick one round strike exhibition delivered by Christophe Walravens and Ian Visser.<\/p>\n
Submission of the night went to JP Kruger for his incredible turnaround submission of Tumelo Maphutha, and Knockout of the Night was given to Frederich Naumann, who not only predicted a stunning KO, but managed to deliver it, too.<\/p>\n