{"id":6748,"date":"2013-07-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-07T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/6748\/mixed-martial-artists-get-ready-to-do-battle\/"},"modified":"2013-07-23T11:36:21","modified_gmt":"2013-07-23T09:36:21","slug":"mixed-martial-artists-get-ready-to-do-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2013\/07\/08\/mixed-martial-artists-get-ready-to-do-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Mixed martial artists get ready to do battle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Martin “The Punisher” van Staden has had to pull out of his EFC Africa 21 main card bout against Nigeria\u2019s own Irishman, Henry \u2018Herculeez\u2019 Fadipe, due to a month-long bout of ‘flu that has kept him from training.<\/p>\n

Congolese ground and pound specialist Francois “The Frenchman” Kabulu will be taking his place.<\/p>

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Further changes have been rung with Brendon Groenewald falling off the prelim card due to injury, making way for Ekurhuleni\u2019s Wilhelm “Tiny” Strauss to battle Lance Ceronio, at heavyweight.<\/p>\n

A further new fight has also been announced.<\/p>

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Johan “The Gun” van Staden will face Nigerian strike artist Steven Momah at lightweight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had bad ‘flu for four weeks,\u201d said Martin van Staden of his situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t been able to train in that time and I\u2019ve been taking course after course of antibiotics.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve tried to stay active, just doing some lifting, but even that doesn\u2019t work; my doctor\u2019s advised me not to get my heart rate above 120, but, basically, just walking takes it over 100.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van Staden expects to be able to return to training soon and aims to appear on the EFC Africa 22 card, on Thursday, August 15.<\/p>\n

With regard to the new match-up between Fadipe and Kabulu, van Staden is interested to see the action unfold.<\/p>\n

\u201cFadipe\u2019s explosive,\u201d said The Punisher.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got some good skills. I\u2019ve fought Francois and the guy\u2019s big and very strong. It\u2019s going to be a tough battle for Fadipe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fadipe is coming off a draw against Tumelo Maphutha, at EFC Africa 18, a well-fought performance, where the then debutant took the KO King all the way to the hooter — a man who very nearly finished Garreth McLellan at the recent EFC Africa 20.<\/p>\n

Kabulu is currently sitting on four wins and will be looking to dismantle the Irishman in search of his own title shot.
\nEkurhuleni\u2019s former heavyweight champion, Ruan Potts, will face Mahmoud Hassan as he tries to climb back to the top.<\/p>\n

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