Extreme Fighting Championship 93: Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa and Martin ‘The Punisher’ Van Staden Return to Action

• Martin 'The Punisher' van Staden and Igeu 'Smiley' Kabesa will both return to mixed martial arts action in EFC 93
• Martin 'The Punisher' van Staden takes on Congolese fighter, Ziko Makengele for the Welterweight title
• One of South Africa's greatest fighters, Igeu 'Smiley' Kabesa, looks to return to winning ways against Ashley Calvert

Africa’s flagship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), returns to action this weekend with another cracking fight card.

In the main event of EFC 93, South Africa’s Martin ‘The Punisher’ van Staden returns to the Octagon to take on Congolese fighter, Ziko Makengele.

The duo will be competing for the vacant Welterweight title. Van Staden last competed at EFC 85 in May 2021 when he beat Pietie Coxen.

In the co-main event, Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa looks to return to winning ways as he faces off against Ashley Calvert in a featherweight fight, MMASucka reported.

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Boxing

Smiley is a former featherweight champion and arguably one of the best MMA fighters the country has ever produced.

He lost the belt at EFC 86 in a surprise defeat to Reinaldo Ekson. It was only his second defeat in the Octagon, EFC confirmed on their website.

A 23-time National wrestling champion, Kabesa will be looking to prove why he’s a former champion. The other fights on the card are:

HP van Staden vs. Given Majuba (Welterweight Fight)

Peace Nguphane vs Bruno Mukulu (Welterweight Fight)

Robert Simbowe vs Boule Godogo (Lightweight Fight)

Vince Bembe vs Trezeguet Kanyinda (Featherweight Fight)

Katiso Matime vs Martin Gcinumkhondo (Bantamweight Fight)

Kevin Pretorius vs Tshepo Majuba (Lightweight Fight)

Lukhmaan Jhazbhay vs Johannes Rudolph (Bantamweight Fight)

Tumelo Manyamala vs Teboho Ntene (Flyweight Fight)

EFC 93 takes place tonight at 6pm CAT at the EFC Performance Institute, Johannesburg. You can watch it on DStv channel 208.

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Football

Cameroon's Francis Ngannou: UFC Heavyweight champ has gone from poverty to prison, to the world's most powerful puncher

Francis Ngannou is one of the most popular and feared fighters in the world but the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight titleholder didn't have the easiest road to get where he is.

Nicknamed The Predator, Ngannou was born in Batié, Cameroon, and grew up in poverty with no formal education. As he recalled in an interview with Joe Rogan, he had to search for food in bins as a youngster, often 'fighting' with rats for the scraps.

Ngannou's father was a known streetfighter in the area and also abused his wife and kids. His parents split when he was six and he was sent to live with his aunt. He returned to live with his mother, later on, ChildhoodBiography.Com reported.