Dino Bagattin celebrates after winning the Welterweight title

Heavyweight challenger Sors Grobbelaar went into his bout billed as the underdog, a label he had worn in his last four outings and proved wrong every time. On Thursday night, though, it was a bridge too far. Despite a strike flurry at the start of the second round where the ‘Guru’ rocked the champion, Van Zyl’s all round game was simply too good. He took Grobbelaar’s back and battered him into submission with ground and pound strikes.

The welterweight title bout between champion Michiel Opperman and Dino Bagattin was a scintillating display of pure MMA. Opperman attempted to take the fight to his traditional strength, the ground, on numerous occasions, but the challenger was well prepared and defended smoothly. Over five rounds Bagattin tore the champion apart, landing uncountable elbows. By the end, both were bleeding heavily and Bagattin was undoubtedly the new champion.

Boyd Allen entered his top contender featherweight fight looking for the perfect war. He had asked for the toughest opponent out there and been given MMA legend Wesley Hawkey. Allen peppered the man from Durban with a variety of strikes, followed him to the ground, and finished by guillotine submission. Allen has yet to lose a round in the Hexagon, never mind a bout.

Martin van Staden and Henry Fadipe were first scheduled to face each other at EFC AFRICA 19. Two postponements and a storm of smack talk later they finally met on EFC AFRICA 23’s main card. The saying goes that violence doesn’t lie, and Fadipe proved that. Tagging Van Staden early with a big right hand knock down, the Nigerian born Irishman continued to apply pressure, finally snagging a deep ankle lock.

Wilhelm Strauss and Vandam Mbuyi had all the hallmarks of a classic heavyweight war in its lead up. Strauss was coming off of a fight of the night performance and win, Mbuyi also on a win and calling for a bigger test. Their encounter opened with a blizzard of strikes from both, until Mbuyi landed a straight, sledgehammer right, dropping Strauss. A KO victory for Mbuyi earned him the knock out of the night award.

The other awards of the evening went to Pierre Botha for his impressive arm triangle victory over Baldwin Mdlalose, and the epic welterweight title clash between Michiel Opperman and Dino Bagattin was awarded fight of the night.

Check out the gallery of the fight here

EFC AFRICA 23 full results:

Nelson Feiteira defeated Anicet Kanyeba via submission (heel hook), 3:50 into round 1. 

Pierre Botha defeated Baldwin Mdlalose via submission (arm triangle), 3:44 into round 2. (Winning the submission of the night award.)
Dricus du Plessis defeated Bruno Mukulu via submission (RNC) 2:34 into Round 1.

Hanru Botha defeated Peter Nyide via unanimous decision.
Francois Groenewald defeated Craig Ninow via submission (RNC), 3:50 into round 3.
Brendan Groenewald defeated Roelof Scheepers via submission (RNC), 4:10 into round 1.
Sibusiso Mdoku defeated Johan van Staden via submission (RNC), 1:01 into round 3.
Alexander Cheboub defeated Kalil Akleker via unanimous decision.
Vandam Mbuyi defeated Wilhelm Strauss via KO, 0:28 into round 1.(Winning the knock out of the night award.)

Henry Fadipe defeated Martin van Staden via submission (ankle lock), 2:18 into round 1.
Boyd Allen defeated Wesley Hawkey by submission, 1:59 into round 1.
Dino Bagattin defeated Michiel Opperman via unanimous decision, becoming the new EFC AFRICA welterweight champion. (Winning the fight of the night award.)

Andrew van Zyl defeated Sors Grobbelaar via TKO (punches), 1:51 into round 2. He remains the EFC AFRICA heavyweight champion.

EFC AFRICA returns to Carnival City for EFC AFRICA 24, presented by MusclePharm, taking place at the Carnival City Big Top Arena on 10 October 2013. Tickets on sale now at www.computicket.com. Tickets for the live broadcast to Nu Metro Cinemas available soon at www.numetro.com.

Broadcast information and full fight card available at efcafrica.com