JP ‘Tinkerbell’ Kruger submitted fellow veteran Conrad ‘Cagewise’ Seabi in the first round of their interim title fight to set a date with current middleweight champion, Luke Michael. After a brief exchange on the feet and in the clinch, Kruger placed his foe on the canvas and immediately set about taking the back and slapping on the rear-naked choke to take the tap. In his post-fight interview, after an incredible record of service to African MMA, Seabi announced his retirement, citing the need to continue his mentorship of the BIA Fight Team he has so successfully established in Pretoria. Kruger faced-off with Michael in anticipation of what will undoubtedly be an incredible title unification bout.
In the co-main event, Roedie ‘Relentless’ Roots utilised his superior grappling to control his opponent August Kayambala on the ground, and though cut from a well-placed elbow from ‘The Barista’ inside the clinch, continued his onslaught into the second round during which Kayambala verbally submitted to the referee. After illness curtailed the Polokwane grapplers’ stunning rise up the rankings a few years ago, his victorious return was an emotional one for him and his coach and father with the promise of many more years of action from the exciting young featherweight.
Terence ‘The Black Panther’ Balelo has seemingly booked a date with the legendary former champion, Nkazimulo Zulu, to determine who will face current flyweight champion Luthando Biko, by besting fellow top prospect, Kgaugelo Moitshela in impressive fashion by TKO in the second stanza.
21-year old Nicole van Wyk weather a tough storm in her debut against Kenyan power-striker Felista Mugo who refused to tap to several deep submission attempts in the first round, during which the Nairobi athlete took the fight to JP Kruger’s young protogée. Undeterred, ‘Lil Miss Feisty’ continued to bring her jiu-jitsu to the fore which she used to mount Mugo and rain down the ground and pound to force the stoppage.
The opening main card bout ended in controversial fashion after Angolan standout Eduardo Barros piled on the pressure against his opponent Christian Mulamba. After a knee to the midriff downed him, Mulamba complained of a low blow which whilst appeared to be legal, prevented him from continuing and was ruled a no-contest. As a frustrated Barros left the cage, his opponent was unceremoniously booed out of the cage on a stretcher.
Below are the full results and performance bonuses.
OFFICIAL EFC 103 RESULTS:
INTERIM MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
JP Kruger def Conrad Seabi by Tapout due to Rear Naked Choke – Round 1 (2.31)
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Roedie Roets def August Kayambala by Verbal Submission – Round 2 (1.09)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Terence Balelo def Kgaugelo Moitshela by TKO due to Strikes – Round 1 (2.07)
WOMENS STRAWWEIGHT FIGHT
Nicole van Wyk def Felista Mugo by TKO due to Strikes – Round 2 (2.34)
BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT
Eduardo Barros vs Christian Mulamba this bout was declared No Contest due to an unintentional foul which caused the fighter not to be able to continue – Round 1 (3.01)
CATCHWEIGHT BOUT
Tumelo Manyamala def Dauda Rajabu by Tapout due to Strikes – Round 3 (2.48)
HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT
Juan Bezuidenhout def Boyka Kabanga by TKO due to Strikes – Round 1 (4.47)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Godknows Ndlovu def Vuyo Jula by Disqualification due to Illegal Knee to the Head of a Grounded Opponent – Round 1 (1.34)
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Mickey Cloete def Mpumelelo Mngoma by TKO due to Strikes – Round 2 (4.20)
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Lecture Gumbi def David Mambo by Disqualification due to Illegal Strike – Round 3 (2:01)
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Simbarashe Hokonya def Ayanda Zwane by Split Decision after 3 Rounds
Photos from the EFC 103 Fight Night can be found here
PERFORMANCE BONUSES:
Roedie Roets
Terence Balelo
Juan Bezuidenhout
Fight of the Night:
Nicole van Wyk and Felista Mugo
EFC 104 is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on Thursday, 15 June 2023, live from the EFC Performance Institute in JHB, South Africa.