EFC 115 delivered a thrilling night of mixed martial arts action, showcasing incredible performances and dramatic outcomes that left fans on the edge of their seats at the World Sports Betting EFC Arena where Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa kept his lightweight belt with another astonishing display of dominance by finishing his opponent, Humphrey Mulenga with a scintillating first-round submission victory.
With a packed undercard of seven bouts of which only one went the distance, the stage was set for an adrenaline-fueled main card that featured relentless action from start to finish.
The outstanding flyweight bout between Edson Machavane and Salahuddin Plastjies was the lone fight to go the distance, showcasing a display of technical prowess and determination on the canvas. Edson Machavane emerged victorious by unanimous decision, proving his mettle in a closely contested match which garnered the fight of the night honours and concomitant performance bonuses for both protagonists.
Billy ‘The Kid’ Oosthuizen continued to display an ever-improving skillset by dominating his opponent Sibusiso Sovendle on the ground, working into a position through his striking to sink in the rear-naked choke to take the tap after exciting new CIT heavyweight Justin Clarke made equally short work of his opponent after the massive Boyka Kabangu verbally submitted to strikes in the first.
The heavies continued to thrill as Anthony ‘Big’ Morel made history as the first mixed-martial arts champion in the history of Réunion Island, emerging victorious to claim the vacant Heavyweight title after a battle against Joffie Houlton. The French standout took the TKO win after a period of hellacious ground and pound from which his English opponent found no respite, forcing the referee’s stoppage in the very first round.
But the evening belonged to Kabesa who retains his champ-champ status as the king of both the featherweight and lightweight divisions, with the latter title on the line against the previously unstoppable Zambian, Humphrey Mulenga. After a series of throws and takedowns from which the Lusakan attempted yet failed to escape, the Limpopo-based continental goat sank in the choke to take an almost immediate tap. It continues to bewilder and dismay fight fans across the continent that his opportunity to compete in Las Vegas remains unfulfilled even though it undoubtedly continues to be a privilege to witness greatness every time he enters the Hexagon.
In a pin-dropping moment, an intense face-off between Luke Michael and Jaco du Plessis set the stage for their upcoming clash at EFC 116 on the 8th of August, where they will vie for the Middleweight championship left vacant by the retiring JP Kruger. The anticipation for this showdown is palpable among fans and pundits alike.
EFC 115 was a testament to the athleticism and spirit of MMA, showcasing the best of South African talent on a global stage. As the promotion looks ahead to future events, excitement continues to build for what promises to be another thrilling chapter in EFC history.
OFFICIAL EFC 115 RESULTS:
Main Card
LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT
Igeu Kabesa def Humphrey Mulenga via Tapout due to Rear Naked Choke in Round 1 (1:51)
HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT
Anthony Morel def Joffie Houlton via TKO due to Strikes in Round 1 (4:49)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Edson Machavane def Salahuddin Plaatjies via Unanimous Decision after 3 Rounds
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Billy Oosthuizen def Sibusiso Sovendle via Tapout due to Rear Naked Choke in Round 1 (3:50)
HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT
Justin Clarke def Boyka Kabangu via Tapout due to Verbal Submission in Round 2 (1:53)
Prelim Card
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Ken Sekeletu def Nkosi Doyisa via TKO due to Strikes in Round 1 (4:53)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Ntando Zondi def Bheki Ngcobo via Tapout due to Ninja Choke in Round 1 (3:17)
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Patrick Ocheme def Guide Moyo via TKO due to Strikes in Round 2 (4:04)
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Siyakudumisa Nomvemve def Christopher Matukane via Unanimous Decision after 3 Rounds
BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT
Rian Dunn def Tshepo Majuba via Tapout due to Rear Naked Choke in Round 1 (2:59)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Kelvin Smit def David Makane via Tap Out due to Heel Hook Submission in Round 1 (1:02)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Siyanda Vilakazi def Tebatso Matlhobowane via TKO in Round 1 (0:10)
Photos from the EFC 115 Fight Night can be found here
PERFORMANCE BONUSES:
Siyanda Vilakazi
Kelvin Smit
Rian Dunn
Billy Oosthuizen
Igeu Kabesa
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT:
Edson Machavane and Salahuddin Plaatjies
EFC 116 is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on Thursday, 8 August 2024, live from the World Sports Betting EFC Arena in JHB, South Africa.