EFC Africa middleweight champion Garreth “Soldierboy” McLellan made quick work of challenger JP “Tinkerbell” Kruger in their main event and title bout, when EFC 28 returned to the Coca-Cola Dome, on March 27.<\/p>\n
The champion’s successful title defence also means that Kruger’s previously perfect fight record (5-0) has ended.<\/p>
After surviving a combination of strikes from Kruger at the onset, McLellan patiently worked the challenger to the ground and took his back, before sinking into a rear-naked choke to take the victory 3.05 minutes into round one, in a match which otherwise failed to live up to its hype.<\/p>\n
Kruger produced tense moments, where he looked close to applying his deadly arm bar, which snapped Tumelo Maphutha’s collarbone at EFC 22, but the champion remained resolute.<\/p>
The night’s main card opened with the highly anticipated debut of Cape Town-born Muay Thai and Chinese MMA champion Irshaad Sayed.<\/p>\n
Following a reset from a precautionary pause in the bout, Sayed applied a rear-naked choke to secure the win, 4.01 into the first round.<\/p>\n
Another undefeated streak was brought to an end when Brendon Groenewald beat Vandam Mbuyi, via tap out, due to strikes in their rematch.<\/p>\n
Groenewald was always on the back foot, with the raw power of Mbuyi putting him on the ascendency, early on.<\/p>\n
But the Captonian maintained his composure before taking the hexagon-shaking clash to the ground — his area of expertise. After managing to take the big DRC national’s back, Groenewald delivered damaging blows, which forced Mbuyi to tap out.<\/p>\n
The match didn’t unfold without controversy, and Mbuyi suffered a brief scare following an illegal knee to Groenewald’s head, an incident similar to the one which resulted in him being disqualified in the pair’s reverse encounter.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Christophe “Bomaye” Walravens beat Bernardo Mikixi via a verbal submission, with the DRC heavyweight paying tribute to Ruan “Fangzz” Potts in his post-match interview.<\/p>\n
“To Ruan Potts: good luck with your first fight at UFC, you’re the best and you’re the greatest,” said Walravens.<\/p>\n
Potts will make his debut at the US-based fighting championship early next month.<\/p>\n
An intensely focused Norman “Chef” Wessels returned to the hexagon against Cape Town’s Chris “Danger” du Pont, after an absence of nearly two years.<\/p>\n
Chef entered the bout as the overwhelming odds favourite and proved the prediction with a clinical display of MMA.<\/p>\n
Du Pont engaged early, before Wessels pushed him up against the fence and landed a strong elbow to the face, before taking him down and submitting him by rear-naked choke; earning him a title fight against reigning light-heavyweight champion Gideon Drotschie.<\/p>\n
After the bout, Drotschie, dressed in a black suit, and with title belt over his shoulder, entered the hexagon to face-off with the new challenger.<\/p>\n
Wessels was unable to control himself and engaged the champion, forcing EFC Africa officials to separate the two. Afterward Drotschie was brief in his response.<\/p>\n
“If he thinks he just had a fight, wait until he gets into the hexagon with me,” he said.<\/p>\n
The final prelim bout of the evening, between Jason Culverwell and Wade Henderson, delivered both the fight and knock-out of the night.<\/p>\n
The submission of the night award went to Soldierboy, for his rear-naked choke victory, while Hanru Botha, Christophe Walravens and Bernardo Mikixi all took home performance bonuses.<\/p>\n
EFC 29, presented by BetXchange.com, returns to Carnival City on May 1.<\/p>\n
EFC 28 full results are:<\/p>\n
Pierre Botha defeated Lourens Botes via unanimous decision.<\/p>\n
Gareth Sawyer defeated Pupanga Tresor via TKO 2:28 into round one.<\/p>\n
Marcel Teniers defeated Wayde Sage via submission (rear naked choke) 4:25 into round one.<\/p>\n
Regis Muyambo defeated Texier Kabesa via TKO 2:48 into round two.<\/p>\n
Elvis Moyo defeated Sors Grobbelaar via split decision.<\/p>\n
The bout between Pietie Coxen and Igeu Kabesa did not take place, due to medical complications with Coxen.<\/p>\n
Hanru Botha defeated Alain Ilunga via a split decision.<\/p>\n
Jason Culverwell defeated Wade Henderson via a knock-out 2:06 into round three.<\/p>\n
Irshaad Sayed defeated Leo Gloss via submission (rear naked choke) 4:01 into round one.<\/p>\n
Brendon Groenewald defeated Vandam Mbuyi via tap out (strikes) 4:21 into round two.<\/p>\n
Christophe Walravens defeated Bernardo Mikixi via verbal submission (strikes) 3:44 into round two.<\/p>\n
Norman Wessels defeated Chris du Pont via submission (rear-naked choke) 1:57 into round one.<\/p>\n
Garreth McLellan defeated JP Kruger via submission (rear-naked choke) 3:05 into round one.<\/p>\n