EFC 111 Preliminary Bouts a Display of Continental Reach for African Talent

• EFC 111 featured eight prelim bouts before the televised main card
• Nkazimulo 'King Shaka' Zulu won the Flyweight title in the main event
• The evening featured several fighters from across the African continent

EFC 111 opened 2024's fight calendar with another outstanding promotion of MMA excellence.

The main card fights were electric, with Nkazimulo Zulu dethroning the East Rand's Gift 'The Day' Walker to earn the Flyweight title.

The televised fights were a Mixed Martial Arts advertisement, but the preliminary bouts through the early afternoon are where fight careers are launched.

The opening fight between David Makane and Lihle Ngamntwini was a grapple fest from the outset. Makane had the ascendancy throughout, landing clean strikes to the body and head in round 2.

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Ngamntwini held on for all three rounds, but the judges were unanimous in awarding Makane the fight.

Teboho Ntene recovered from an early hook by Siyanda Vilakazi to land a sweet left foot to Vilakazi's face in round one to end the second fight.

The first of Ghana's two fighters, Charles Lamptey, had a short spell in the hexagon as Godfrey Mkwanazi forced the referee to call the fight due to strikes in the first round. The dejected Lamptey lay inconsolable in the middle of the hex, crushed by the missed opportunity.

Nicolaas Vermaak came out guns blazing in the fourth fight, looking a sure winner in round one. He continued his dominance in the opening stages of round two, landing several good kicks and punches.

Rian Dunn absorbed the punishment well, and Vermaak's fitness seemed to drop off a cliff. Dunn pounced on his lack of energy, securing a keylock submission late in round two.

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Mozambican, Emerson Pedro was initially awarded his fight with Tshepo Majuba, delivering several heal-stomps followed by a kick to the head that would not be out of place in a scrap outside a tavern in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A huddle grew at the television monitors before the referee raised any hands, even roping in presenter and former champion Gareth McLellan. Pedro was disqualified, with the experts arguing the kick was illegal. Post-fight, Majuba screamed:

"I need a proper win to get my name out there."

Micky 'The Mouse' Cloete and Lukhmaan Jhazbhay painted the ring crimson in a bloody sixth fight. Cloete suffered a cut in round one, and the two were covered in blood as they grappled throughout rounds one and two.

Jhazbhay looked to have the upper hand, but Cloete wormed his way into his opponent to apply a rear naked choke.

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Ghana's second representative, Edmond Akator, suffered a strikes stoppage early in round one to Lucky Magekha.

The final prelim fight was a light-heavyweight contest between Siya Nomvemve and DR Congo's Jeremie Tshibala.

The anti-climactic finish saw an angry Nomvemve berate Tshibala as the Congolese refused to continue after an accidental low blow. The fight was declared a no contest, much to the South African's displeasure.

Nkazimulo Zulu claims Flyweight title

Sports Brief recently reported on 'King Shaka' becoming a double weight division champion at EFC 111.

Zulu defeated Gift Walker in round three of their main event at EFC 111 to become the Flyweight champion.

The KZN-born fighter produced a masterclass and added Gift Walker's belt to his Bantamweight crown.