After the shock announcement on social media that interim title contender Tumelo Manyamala had sustained a knee injury in sparring and is subsequently no longer able to compete for the interim125lb belt against fellow Capetonian, Terence ‘The Black Panther’Balelo this Thursday in the main event of EFC 114. Yet before the news spread, the promotion announced an immediate replacement that has dropped jaws on two separate continents.

Flying out from Belgium, Liridon Ramani intends to take advantage of an opportunity to take a title in Africa’s big show, Liridon Ramani is a bronze medallist at the IMMAF World Championship and several times Belgian Champion in different disciplines, he has just been crowned Flyweight Champion at the European BeatDown and is ranked 7th best P4P fighter in the neighbouring hotbed of MMA, France. Upon accepting the new opponent without hesitation, the mercurially-talented Balelo welcomed the opportunity to test himself against one of Europe’s’ best and has already sent a message to his opponent on social media, demanding a frenetic pace to their title encounter.

With Africa’s fastest flyweight against the Wallonian warrior, the main event this Thursday a truly fitting climax to an astonishing card of legislated hand-to-hand violence which also features a killer co-main event with another title hanging over the Hex!

Fighting for the right to face the imperious goat, Igeu Kabesa in a cage is certainly not on most people’s to-do list this Thursday, unless you are Ayanda ‘The Power’ Zwane and Simbarashe Hokonya as the two duke it out for the contendership of the 145lb division. Even though Zwane is a relative newcomer to the EFC, this massive young prospect has always been vocal about his intent to fight for a title. Now he gets his chance to compete for a number one contender spot, as a reward for running through some of the biggest names in the featherweight division. His most notable victory was against the superb Steven Goncalves who at the time, had three times as many fights as ‘The Power’.

Showing over three rounds how he has grown under the tutelage of renowned wrestling coach Attilla Barna, Zwane was able to negate Stevens grappling prowess and also show why he’s highly regarded in his stand-up. The judges recognised this as such, putting Ayanda on a four-fight winning streak, to now face Simbarashe Hokonya for the number one spot at 145lbs. But Hokonya from Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe has had an almost flawless beginning to his EFC career with four superb victories, which showed his outstanding boxing pedigree and a willingness to go toe-to-toe with even the most accomplished of opponents.

The man they call ‘The Hawk’ was flying high as he entered EFC 112 against one of the most feared strikers on the entire EFC roster, the knockout artist and bookies favourite Billy ‘The Kid’ Oosthuizen. But Hokonya was keen to pull-off an upset and silenced the doubters with an incredible finish with the fists in the first to continue his undefeated professional record and book an appointment in the Hexagon against Zwane.

Even though the Zimbo is favoured to win at World Sports Betting, the path to gold is clear for both of these two massive prospects and they will do battle on Thursday night with everything at stake! With three other stupendous main card bouts featuring stars of strife, striking and struggles like Peace ‘X’ Nguphane, Hanru Botha, Vuyo Jula and Osvaldo Benedito, Africa’s Big 5 is set to detonate the World Sports Betting Arena into an explosion of combat sports and shower fight fans with the best action available anywhere on the planet! But that’s only after an unprecedented undercard of 8 preliminary bouts and furthermore, you can catch all the incredible action on efcworldwide.tv as well as EFC’s countless broadcast partners across the globe.

For many years, The EFC Performance Institute in Paulshof, Johannesburg, played an indelible role in the heady nascent years of African combat sports. Created as an exclusive space where athletes could both train and compete, fighters from across the world affectionately called the ‘PI’ their home and with 20 EFC fighters having now competed in the UFC, the program has been a phenomenal success. Playing host to EFC’s worldwide broadcasts as well as intercontinental championships and international boxing tournaments, it has also welcomed a range of fledgling amateur promotions as part of EFC’s unique contribution to the ecosystem of combat sports on the continent.

But a revolution is coming. A revolution that builds upon the shoulders of such vaunted history to create a brighter future, as now, ‘The EFC Performance Institute’ recedes into the storied mists of history.

Today, the EFC is delighted to announce the renaming of this South African sporting landmark to ‘The World Sports Betting Arena’, securing the venue as a place where glory is fought for and won, for decades to come. Athletes, fans, broadcasters, businesses, and teams from across the world will continue to enjoy the Arena, bigger, better and more action-packed than ever before!

This renaming will be across all platforms, including:

Prominent World Sports Betting branding inside the venue will be streamed live around the world, not just in EFC broadcasts, but for the entire panoply of live sporting events that it hosts
All EFC live event marketing will be ‘live at the World Sports Betting Arena’
All EFC live broadcasts will be situated as ‘here at the World Sports Betting Arena’
Prominent World Sports Betting branding outside the venue will be visible from the air as well as surrounding major transport hubs
All media/press releases will say ‘taking place at the World Sports Betting Arena’
The World Sports Betting Arena will be listed on Google Maps, Uber and other address platforms
EFC President Cairo Howarth: “WSB has been a fantastic partner of EFC for many years, and we continue to grow together. This addition to the partnership goes beyond EFC, and we look forward to exciting months ahead.”

World Sports Betting CEO Warren Tannous: “This partnership emulates a majestic force between 2 strong brands, a partnership that has become renowned for its success within the EFC sphere. Renaming this remarkable venue truly emphasizes our vision and commitment to the sport and we look forward to seeing this alliance further manifest into a world renown franchise”

Throughout its 15-year history, EFC has revolutionized combat sports in Africa. But today’s announcement is not about history, it’s about creating a legacy of greatness that undeniably proves that Africans are world champions and global leaders, not just in sport, but in any field of endeavor they damn well choose. So welcome to the World Sports Betting Arena, and welcome to the future. We’ll see you there!

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A truly sensational night of fights blew the roof off the EFC Performance Institute in Johannesburg with an unprecedented amount of finishes with only two fights out of 13 barn-burners that went to the judges’ scorecards, in what many cageside pundits are calling the greatest event in the 15-year history of the EFC.

In the main event, the welterweight title went to Durban’s Zaakir Badat who knocked-out Cape Town’s Jailson Sousa with a lightning-quick combination of power-punches in the opening exchanges of the first round. Whilst calling for peace on the post-victory microphone he simultaneously declared himself ready for any welterweight prepared to take his shiny new belt buckle away from the East Coast.

The co-main event, a number one contender fight for the bantamweight title was an equally alacritous yet sensational affair, with two former champions going toe-to-toe in search of halcyon glories. Former Cape Town Uber driver Faeez ‘Troublemaker’ Jacobs, upset the World Sports Betting odds by knocking-out the favourite Sylvester ‘Gladiator’ Chipfumbu, also in the first-round, to set-up a showdown with Nkazimulo Zulu further down the line.

The flyweights were not to be outshone however, as another Cape Town phenom, Tumelo ‘Bones of Steel’ Manyamala scored a third round TKO victory of Micky Cloete to take the top ranking spot and also set-up a title shot, with the PFA standout displaying mercurial kickboxing and footwork to flummox the Potchefstroom vet and force the referees stoppage.

Returning Nigerian welterweight, Ndidi Horatious ‘Rage’ Alonu added a new threat to the 170lb division by placing a divisional marker with a hellacious TKO of Cole Henning in the second round, in a weight category that is beginning to explode with talent. The main card was opened by a lightweight scrap, that was over before it had even begun, with Mpumalanga’s Vince Bembe separating Adrian Sanchez from his consciousness a mere 13 seconds into the first round and send the crowd into delirium. With 6 equally thrilling stoppages, the prelims could have been on any main card anywhere in the world as the EFC continues to prove why its considered by many in the entertainment industry to be the most valuable sports promotion on the African continent today!

OFFICIAL EFC 113 RESULTS:

Main Card

WELTERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Zaakir Badat def Jailson Sousa, the ref called a stop to the contest in Round1 due to Knock Out (1:56)

BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Faeez Jacobs def Sylvester Chipfumbu, the ref called a stop to the contest in Round 1 due to Knock Out (1:15)

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Tumelo Manyamala def Micky Cloete, the ref called a stop to the contest in Round 3 due to Strikes (0:30)

WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT

Horatious Alonu def Cole Henning via TKO due to Strikes Round 2 (1:58)

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Vince Bembe def Adrian Sanchez, the ref called a stop to the contest in Round 1 due to Knock Out (0:13)

Prelim Card

FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT

Guide Moyo def Sizwe Mnikathi after 3 Rounds via Unanimous Decision

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Edson Machavane def Kgaugelo Moitshela

via tapout due to Triangle Choke Round 2 (3:04)

HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT

Justin Clarke def Willem Smit via Knock Out Round 1 (0:34)

BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT

Lucky Magekha def Jesse Schaper via Unanimous decision after 3 Rounds

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Salahuddin Plaatjies def Godknows Ndlovu due to rear naked choke Round 1 (3:22)

WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT

British Boloyoang def Given Majuba via tapout due to Americana armlock Round 1 (1:46)

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Patrick Ocheme def Glody Kanzeko, the ref called a stop to the contest in Round 2 due to Knock Out (0:20)

FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT

Allistar Kunene def Kenan Hornabrook via TKO due to strikes Round 1 (4:24)

PERFORMANCE BONUSES:

Patrick Ocheme

British Boloyoang

Edson Machavane

Guide Moyo

Vince Bembe

Tumelo Manyamala

Faeez Jacobs

Zaakir Badat

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT:

Lucky Magekha vs. Jesse Schaper

The anticipation for EFC 113 reached fever pitch today, as all 26 athletes stepped onto the scales for the official weigh-ins, setting the stage for an electrifying night of mixed martial arts action. With a jam-packed card featuring thrilling matchups, tomorrow night promises to deliver edge-of-your-seat excitement to fans worldwide.

In the main event, Zaakir Badat and Jailson De Sousa are set to collide for the welterweight title in a battle of titans, with both fighters vying for victory in what is sure to be an epic showdown. After both hit the scale in front of a raucous crowd, they acknowledged the respect and esteem in which they hold each other, but with the understanding that when the Hex door closes, they will engage in the biggest fight of their lives.

Zimbabwean hero Sylvester Chipfumbu faced off against the formidable Faeez Jacobs, as both seek to reclaim their former bantamweight glory in a fight for number one contendership. With Chipfumbu having beaten the Capetonian before, it was Jacobs who has prematurely claimed a revengeful victory tomorrow night, yet it was the Zimbabwean who was not short of words for his opponent at the face-off in a highly-charged atmosphere that just elicited a grin of excitement from Jacobs.

The race for the flyweight gold also heats up tomorrow night, with Micky ‘The Mouse’ Cloete squaring off against Tumelo ‘Bones of Steel’ Manyamala to contest who earns the right to face the imperious Nkazimulo Zulu. Fan favourite Cole ‘The Hitman’ Henning welcomed Ndidi Alonu from Nigeria back to the EFC welterweight division after perennial contenders Vince Bembe and Adrian Sanchez continue their search for advancement up the lightweight rankings.

With every single fighter successfully making weight and each bout now rubber-stamped, EFC 113 will have 13 thrilling fights in one of the most stacked cards witnessed at the EFC Performance Institute.

Main Card

WELTERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Zaakir Badat (SA) 168.9lbs vs. Jailson De Sousa (BRA) 169.4lbs

CATCHWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Faeez Jacobs (SA) 137.7lbs vs. Sylvester Chipfumbu (ZWE) 138.9lbs

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Tumelo Manyamala (SA) 125.5lbs vs. Micky Cloete (SA) 124.8lbs

WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT

Ndidi Alonu (NGA) 168.5lbs vs. Cole Henning (SA)169.8 lbs

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Adrian Sanchez (SA) 155.5lbs vs. Vince Bembe (SA) 153.4lbs

Prelim Card

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Sizwe Mnikathi (SA) 154.4lbs vs. Guide Moyo (SA) 154.9lbs

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Edson Machavane (MOZ) 124.5lbs vs. Kgaugelo Moitshela (SA) 125.6lbs

HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT

Willem Smit (SA) 227.2lbs vs. Justin Clarke (SA) 243.7lbs

CATCHWEIGHT FIGHT

Jesse Schaper (SA) 140.8lbs vs. Lucky Magekha (SA) 137.8lbs

FLYWEIGHT FIGHT

Salahuddin Plaatjies (SA) 124lbs vs. Godknows Ndlovu (ZWE) 125.4lbs

WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT

British Boloyoang (DRC) 170.1lbs vs. Given Majuba(SA) 169.1lbs

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Glody Kanzeko (DRC) 154.4lbs vs. Patrick Ocheme (NGA) 155.5lbs

FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT

Kenan Hornabrook (SA) 145lbs vs. Allistar Kunene (SA) 144.3lbs

Prelim bouts start at 14:30 CAT

Main card bouts start at 19:00 CAT