EFC AFRICA Heavyweight Championship
NORMAN WESSELS vs. RUAN POTTS
Plus
JEREMY SMITH vs. LIAM CLELAND
LEO GLOSS vs. CHARLIE WEYER
And
BERNARDO MIKIXI (ANG) vs. ANDREW VAN ZYL
DANIEL STRAUSS vs. DEWALD BOTES
FRANCOIS KABULU (DRC) vs. LEON MYNHARDT
STEVEN MOMAH (NGR) vs. MARTIN VAN STADEN
WENTZEL NEL vs. MANNY DA SILVA
ASHLEY CALVERT vs. WADE GROTH
WADE HENDERSON vs. MAWANDE VAPI
TEZ MAKUEBO (DRC) vs. TYRON RIGHTFORD
RAYMOND AHANA (NGR) vs. JEREMY SCHEEPERS
TERRENCE GRIESSEL vs. DONALD NZIRAWA (ZIM)
Every species on earth has had to evolve to ensure that it remains on top of the food chain. Survival of the fittest is a cruel, but necessary, part of life and it is no different in the sport of mixed martial arts. The EFC AFRICA lightweight pack is filled with victory hungry warriors that will stop at nothing to get ahead. In order to regain his place as the division’s alpha male “The Animal” has evolved.
“What people are going to see from me on Thursday is a different breed of animal. I am more determined and hungry than ever to win. I want to show people that I am still a force to be reckoned with.”
A loss, especially of a title, often shapes fighters, or at least the great ones, more than their victories. Harder and longer lasting lessons are learned and Nel believes the defeat against Costa was no different.
“It has forced me to change the way I look at myself and the event. Against Costa I didn’t stick to the original game plan and it back fired. I didn’t fight the fight the way I should of and it cost me. Manny (Da Silva) is a very similar fighter to Costa, he also likes to fight coming forward and this time I am more than ready.”
It takes courage and determination to climb back into the cage after a loss, even more so at the very next event.
“It’s like falling off a bicycle; you have to get straight back on and keep going. I also want to keep active and fight often. After I won the title it was a long time before I got to fight again because of my opponents getting injured and the fights getting postponed. Now that I don’t have the belt I can fight whenever I want; and the sooner the better.”
Not one to dwell on the past, achievements or failures, The Animal has his predatory sights set on reclaiming what he believes is rightfully his; the lightweight belt.
“I want to take it fight by fight and I want to fight my way back into title contention.”
Come the 30th of June “The Animal” has the opportunity to claw his way back into the hunt for supremacy; and title glory. The only thing standing in his way is Manny “Locco” Da Silva.
EFC AFRICA 09 takes place at the Coca-Cola Dome on 30 June. Tickets for the live event are on sale now at Computicket www.computicket.com and tickets for the live broadcast to Nu Metro Cinemas are on sale at www.numetro.co.za.