:

12 December 2024





CLASH OF THE TITANS

Final EFC of the year unleashes a battle for glory!





Johannesburg, 12 December 2024: EFC 120 was an action-packed night of
mixed martial arts, closing out the year with an unforgettable series of
bouts that had fans on the edge of their seats. From title changes to
grudge matches and debut victories, this event had it all. Here's a closer
look at the key moments of the night:

The night ended with a thrilling title fight in the welterweight division
between Luke Michael and Zaakir Badat. Michael came out aggressive,
looking for a takedown early on, but Badat's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and
physical strength were on full display. Despite Michael's efforts, Badat
was able to quickly regain control and reverse the position before
unleashing a hellacious onslaught of ground and pound. The Champ then
locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing Michael to tap out in the first
round, securing Badat's victory and remain as the Welterweight Champion.
His successful title defence marked his reign as the king of the
welterweight division, further solidifying his elite status in EFC.

Though Michael came up short in this fight, he remains a formidable athlete
in the middleweight division, holding onto his title in that division,
setting-up intriguing future matchups in 2025.

The co-main event was a highly anticipated clash between Igeu Smiley
Kabesa and Martin The Punisher Van Staden for the lightweight title.
Both athletes were well aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses, and
the fight played out with a sense of calculated strategy and intense
action. The bout delivered exactly what fans were hoping for, with both men
showcasing their skills and heart. However, it was Martin Van Staden who
emerged victorious, staggering the champion with short but powerful shots
and dethroning the most decorated EFC champion in history by sinking in a
second-round rear-naked choke and claiming the Lightweight Championship.
His performance was a testament to his resilience and tactical approach in
the fight. Igeu Kabesa needed immediate medical attention post bout and was
subsequently transported and admitted to hospital for urgent care. The EFC
team is hoping to hear positive news regarding the situation and our
thoughts are with him.

The grudge match between Musa Setwape and Shannon Van Tonder was full
of bad blood, and as a result it did not disappoint. At the culmination of
a heated fight week, Van Tonder proved to be the superior athlete on the
night, outclassing Setwape on the feet to claim victory. His win answered
the question of who the better athlete on the night was, with Van Tonder
securing bragging rights in the rivalry though the record between the two
foes now remain one a-piece. The result was a definitive win for Shannon
Van Tonder, who cemented his place as a top contender in the division
despite agreeing to the trilogy fight to decide who will have the ultimate
bragging rights.

The prelims were filled with exciting prospects and raw talent,
showcasing some of the best athletes South Africa has to offer.

Jaden Van der Merwe, a newly signed athlete, lived up to the hype by
defeating seasoned competitor Christopher Matukane. Van der Merwe
displayed his potential with a dominant performance, and the referee
stopped the fight due to a TKO, signalling a bright future for Van der
Merwe in the organization.

JT Botha made a sensational comeback after a tough streak, and with a
deadly right hand, he took out his opponent in just 39 seconds, marking a
quick and dominant victory.

Terrence Born, also making his professional debut in the heavyweight
division, had a spectacular first outing. He faced Jeremie Tshibala, and
the fight was a spectacle from start to finish. Born won his pro debut via
a rear-naked choke, earning a Technical Decision after the referee
intervened, adding another promising prospect to the EFC roster.

Overall, EFC 120 lived up to its billing as a showcase of South African
MMA, with exciting matchups, brutal finishes, and title fights that will be
remembered for years to come. The event not only crowned new champions but
also featured the rise of fresh talent, making it a thrilling night for MMA
fans. With so many storylines in play, there's no doubt that the future of
the EFC looks brighter than ever!





OFFICIAL EFC 120 RESULTS:



Main Card

WELTERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Zaakir Badat def Luke Michael via Tapout due to rear naked Choke Round 1
(3:55)

LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Martin van Staden def Igeu Kabesa via Tapout due to Rear Naked Choke Round
2 (3:24)

BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT

Shannon van Tonder def Musa Sethwape via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds

FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT

Ken Sekeletu def Vince Bembe via TKO due to Strikes in Round 1 (3:50)

BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT

Sibusiso Sovendle def Ntando Zondi via Split Decision after 3 rounds



Prelim Card

MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT

JT Botha def Khulekani Hlongwa via TKO due to Strikes in Round 1 (0:39)

BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT

Moses Mokhari def Rian Dunn via TKO due to Strikes in Round 2 (1:10)

HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT

Terrence Born def Jeremie Tshibala via TKO due to Strikes in Round 2 (1:57)

BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT

Thimna Mhlauli def David Mambo via TKO due to Strikes in Round 1 (3:19)

MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT

Jaden Van Der Merwe def Christopher Matukane via TKO due to Rear Naked
Choke in Round 1 (2:40)





Photos from the EFC 120 Fight Night can be found here
<https://efc.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/FIGHT-NIGHT/C0000lOeZLgXFZp8>



PERFORMANCE BONUSES:

Jaden van Der Merwe

Thimna Mhlauli

Moses Mokhari

JT Botha

Shannon Van Tonder



FIGHT OF THE NIGHT:

Zondi vs Sovendle



EFC 121 is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on
Thursday, 6 March 2025, live from the World Sports Betting EFC Arena in
JHB, South Africa.

Broadcast information at www.efcworldwide.com
<http://www.efcworldwide.com/>







About EFC – The Extreme Fighting Championship

Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, EFC is a world leading mixed
martial arts (MMA) organisation. EFC produces 10 live events annually. With
over 200 athletes exclusively contracted to the organisation, EFC showcases
the greatest warriors on the planet.



EFC events are broadcast in over 120 countries around the world on numerous
television networks in multiple languages. EFC programming is available
weekly in 600+ million TV households globally, making it one of the most
recognisable MMA brands in the world.



For more information visit efcworldwide.com, or follow us on social media.

Facebook: facebook.com/EFCworldwide

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EFC 120: THE MOST ANTICIPATED MMA EVENT OF THE YEAR!



9 December 2024 Johannesburg, South Africa- With two Championship titles
on the line and a stacked fight card, EFC 120 is set to end the 2024 combat
sports calendar in dramatic fashion.



Current Middleweight champion Luke Michael will challenge Zaakir Badat for
the welterweight title to secure his name in the history books with the
likes of other double champ status elite members like Dricus du Plessis.
Durban's grappling phenom Zaakir Badat goes head to head with Michael as he
mounts his very first title defence in a main event that pitches his
jiu-jitsu excellence against Michaels' dominant wrestling in a tantalising
clash of grappling styles. That being said, both athletes boast of massive
highlight reel knockouts having fists that can finish a bout in a
millisecond. The stakes for both fighters have never been higher.



Current double champ Igeu"Smiley" Kabesa is set to defend one of his belts
in a lightweight championship bout against the formidable Martin 'The
Punisher" Van Staden, who recently made his eager return to the hex. This
matchup carries a rich history that adds weight to its significance. Kabesa
and Van Staden are not just two of the most accomplished fighters ever to
come out of Africa - but they are also friends and former training
partners. Their rivalry will now be ignited under the bright lights of the
EFC hexagon, where camaraderie makes way for championship ambition. This
matchup promises to be one of the most thrilling and emotionally charged
fights in EFC history.

The drama surrounding Musa "Bad News" Sethwape and Shannon Van Tonder adds
yet another layer of intrigue to this already stacked card. Last year, Van
Tonder was forced to withdraw from their scheduled bantamweight title fight
and rematch just a day before the event due to health issues. Sethwape,
ever the warrior, agreed to face last-minute replacement Terence "Black
Panther" Balelo, who went on to defeat Sethwape and claim the Bantamweight
Championship. Having fought previously at the landmark EFC 100 event, which
Sethwape won by the judge's decision, Van Tonder is out for revenge, but
'Bad News' still has his eyes on the ultimate prize and is eager to get
back on track toward a future showdown with the current bantamweight
champion, Faeez Jacobs. With their bad blood yet to be settled, the grudge
match between Sethwape and Van Tonder is sure to deliver fireworks.

With a fight card featuring some of the best up-and-coming talent, EFC 120
will be a night full of explosive action, unexpected twists, and the
crowning of new champions or the defence of titles by some of the greatest
names in the history of African MMA. Mark your calendars for December 12,
2024,Whether you're watching from home or in the stands, this event will
have something for every MMA fan. Don't miss your chance to witness history
in the making!