All 26 athletes successfully made weight as EFC 109 is officially ready to rock the African continent including the main event which features the devastating knock-out artist Cole ‘The Hitman’ Henning and the Zambian phenomenon Humphrey ‘King Cobra’ Mulenga.
Despite Mulenga finishing all of his fights in the first round and never having been knocked out or submitted, Henning displayed his usual stoic confidence at the scale in front of a grinning opponent who refused to break his gaze and is the marginal favourite at World Sports Betting.
Regardless of the braggadocio on display in front of the baying crowd, both fighters are fully aware that a victory in the EFC Performance Institute on Thursday night secures them a title shot in their next booking.
Senegalese star Demba Seck returned to the stage after his stunning upset win over Stephan de la Rey last year, and faced down his opponent, Mpumalanga’s Vince Bembe, who has been vocal in his deadly intent to make another run for the featherweight title, as evidenced by him being a massive favourite at World Sports Betting, while a R100 wager on Seck would payout R400 to the lucky punter.
INTENSE FACE-OFF
The most intense face-off of the day occurred between two EFC legends, Dino ‘The Lion’ Bagattin and Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen, who will now rematch a fight that took place over four years ago and which ended prematurely in a controversial clash of heads. The bad blood between the two is still spilling over from that night at Carnival City and was evident as they were separated by Night Guard security.
A more respectful distance was maintained in the other two main-card face-offs as the BJJ wizard Zaakir Badat makes a welcome return against the imposing Christopher Matukane and fellow jits master Jailson Sousa was the epitome of cool as he gazed into the laser-eyed stare of the highly dangerous Khulekani ‘Cold Steel’ Hlongwa.
Eight preliminary bouts were also rubber-stamped as one of the largest fight cards in recent EFC history is set to explode on Thursday night, culminating in that stunning main event where anything can happen!
Main Card
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Cole Henning (SA) 153.1lbs v Humphrey Mulenga (ZMB) 155lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Vince Bembe (SA) 145lbs v Demba Seck (SEN) 145lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Jailson De Sousa Rodrigues (BRA) 184.8lbs v Khulekani Hlongwa (SA) 184.9lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Dino Bagattin (SA) 185lbs v Pietie Coxen (SA) 183.8lbs
WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT
Christopher Matukane (SA) 170lbs v Zaakir Badat (SA) 170lbs
Prelim Card
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Adrian Sanchez (SA) 155lbs v Sizwe Mnikathi (SA) 154.7lbs
BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT
Godknows Ndlovu (ZWE) 134.1lbs v Edson Machavane (MOZ) 131.8lbs
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Luke Hendrikz (SA) 125lbs v Vincent Nakana (SA) 125lbs
CATCHWEIGHT FIGHT
Johannes Rudolph (SA) 127.6lbs v Vuyo Jula (SA) 125.2lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Johan Pfahl (SA) 183.5lbs v Jeremie Tshibala (DRC) 184.4lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Guide Moyo (ZWE) 145lbs v David Mambo (DRC) 143.1lbs
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Guelor Sondi (DRC) 153.2lbs v Patrick Ocheme (NGA) 155lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Allistar Kunene (SA) 145lbs v Magekha Lucky (SA) 143.6lbs