All 26 athletes successfully made weight as EFC 109 is officially ready to rock the African continent including the main event which features the devastating knock-out artist Cole ‘The Hitman’ Henning and the Zambian phenomenon Humphrey ‘King Cobra’ Mulenga.
Despite Mulenga finishing all of his fights in the first round and never having been knocked-out or submitted, Henning displayed his usual stoic confidence at the scale in front of a grinning opponent who refused to break his gaze and is the marginal favourite at World Sports Betting. Regardless of the braggadocio on display in front of the baying crowd, both fighters are fully aware that a victory in the EFC Performance Institute tomorrow night secures them a title shot in their next booking.
Senegalese star Demba Seck returned to the stage after his stunning upset win over Stephan de la Rey last year, and faced down his opponent, Mpumalanga’s Vince Bembe, who has been vocal in his deadly intent to make another run for the featherweight title, as evidenced by him being a massive favourite at World Sports Betting while a R100 wager on Seck would payout R400 to the lucky punter.
The most intense face-off of the day occurred between two EFC legends, Dino ‘The Lion’ Bagattin and Pietie ‘Thunder’ Coxen who will now rematch a fight that took place over four years ago and which ended prematurely in a controversial clash of heads. The bad blood between the two still spilling over from that night at Carnival City was still evident as they were separated by Night Guard security.
A more respectful distance was maintained in the other two main-card face-offs as the BJJ wizard Zaakir Badat makes a welcome return against the imposing Christopher Matukane and fellow jits master Jailson Sousa was the epitome of cool as he gazed into the laser-eyed stare of the highly dangerous Khulekani ‘Cold Steel’ Hlongwa.
Eight preliminary bouts were also rubber-stamped as one of the largest fight cards in recent EFC history is set to explode tomorrow night culminating in that stunning main event where anything can happen!
Main Card
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Cole Henning (SA) 153.1lbs vs. Humphrey Mulenga (ZMB) 155lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Vince Bembe (SA) 145lbs vs. Demba Seck (SEN) 145lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Jailson De Sousa Rodrigues (BRA) 184.8lbs vs. Khulekani Hlongwa (SA) 184.9lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Dino Bagattin (SA) 185lbs vs. Pietie Coxen (SA) 183.8lbs
WELTERWEIGHT FIGHT
Christopher Matukane (SA) 170lbs vs. Zaakir Badat (SA) 170lbs
Prelim Card
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Adrian Sanchez (SA) 155lbs vs. Sizwe Mnikathi (SA) 154.7lbs
BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT
Godknows Ndlovu (ZWE) 134.1lbs vs. Edson Machavane (MOZ) 131.8lbs
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Luke Hendrikz (SA) 125lbs vs. Vincent Nakana (SA) 125lbs
CATCHWEIGHT FIGHT
Johannes Rudolph (SA) 127.6lbs vs. Vuyo Jula (SA) 125.2lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Johan Pfahl (SA) 183.5lbs vs. Jeremie Tshibala (DRC) 184.4lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Guide Moyo (ZWE) 145lbs vs. David Mambo (DRC) 143.1lbs
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Guelor Sondi (DRC) 153.2lbs vs. Patrick Ocheme (NGA) 155lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Allistar Kunene (SA) 145lbs vs. Magekha Lucky (SA) 143.6lbs
Prelim bouts start at 14:30 CAT
Main card bouts start at 19:00 CAT
EFC 109 Henning vs Mulenga flyweight bout is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on Thursday, 9 November 2023, live from the EFC Performance Institute in JHB, South Africa.