Frankenstein returns to dethrone the Gorilla at EFC 102

Following a stunning evening of action at EFC 101 where only one fight went to the judges, EFC continues its 2023 trend with another jaw-dropping card featuring current, past and future champions all vying for gold in the ultimate proving arena of human combat. Headlined by the sensational 170lb champion, Ziko ‘The Gorilla’ Makengele who upset the bookies by knocking-out the favourite Martin van Staden last year to take the title, the main event contender is none other than submission wizard Mark ‘Frankenstein’ Hulme, who began his EFC career 9 years ago before amassing an impressive resumé of international scalps and returning north of the Jukskei as the BJJ coach at CIT. With teammates Dricus du Plessis and Cameron Saaiman continuing their meteoric rise up the UFC rankings, Hulme will be similarly keen to add a title to the Hatfield trophy cabinet to push his case for a Vegas contract whilst Makengele, having previous knockout wins over two of Hulmes teammates will be equally determined to become the first ever BIA fighter on the red-eye to Clark County. 

This mouth-watering all-Pretoria clash punctuates a superlative main card dripping with malevolence as former Bantamweight Champion Sindile Manangela makes his first foray back to the Performance Institute with a tough assignment against the Angolan wrecking-ball Eduardo Barros, whose only ever loss was to current champ Nicholas Hwende before coming-off a hellacious first-round knockout victory in his last outing. With the Luanda lad having the momentum, the PESFA grappler is going to need all of his wily skills and superior experience to outfox and outwit. The life-changing golden carrot dangling in front of both of these outstanding fighters is the number one contendership of the 135lb division with the aforementioned and undefeated Zimbabwean star Nicholas Hwende awaiting the night’s victor following his stunning inheritance of the belt due its vacation by former wearer and ascending UFC phenom Cameron Saaiman, with many claiming Hwende to be hot on ‘MSP’s heels to the T-Mobile. There can be no doubt whatsoever that Manengela and Barros are all too aware of the stark consequences of victory and defeat on the 13th of April.

530lbs of humanity will collide in the Hex as the beloved brawler Vandam Mbuyi restarts his title campaign with a guaranteed war against fellow headhunter Ivan Strydom. Following his gruesome injury against current champ Matunga Djikasa, the fully-healed Port Elizabeth juggernaut will come forward and start to swing in the fan-friendly style for which he is famous. Mbuyi is determined to return to grace with the promotion after serving a six-month suspension and forking-out a severe financial penalty for his poor display of sportsmanship at the controversial dénoument of his title shot against Djikasa last year. 

Fights are like London buses for CIT’s JC Lamprecht, who stepped away from the sport for over 9 years, only to return at EFC 100 with a first round KO and receives a fast turnaround for his reward. Facing him is the highly-experienced Khulekani ‘Cold Steel’ Hlongwa who has yet to win by decision and has fought only the best in the light heavyweight division, a weight category that looks to reignite its own championship debate this year. Lamprecht’s last loss was to current teammate and UFC star Dricus du Plessis, a bout which the latter still refers to as his toughest fight to date, and a win over the gritty veteran Hlongwa will surely ignite Lamprecht’s turbo-boosters toward world titles and fast-approaching global stardom.

The proverbial starting gun for this astounding main card is a featherweight explosion between the old school and the new, as the resurgent veteran Ashley Calvert continues his quest for contendership at the top of the featherweight rankings with a scrap against the East Rand’s young grappling phenom Shannon van Tonder who also needs a speedy reset following his first and only ever loss at EFC 100 in December. Bitterly disappointed by that lacklustre display and its subsequent withdrawal of a title shot, SVT is desperately motivated to re-insert his name into the 145lb title conversation with a convincing win over the Padre, a task that is as difficult and perilous as it sounds.

With 9 prelim fights setting the stage for another action-crammed evening of the best mixed-martial arts action on the African continent, EFC 102 should be an event fight fans across the world can ill-afford to miss! 

EFC 102 Main Card

Ziko Makengele (C) vs. Mark Hulme [Welterweight Championship Fight]

Sindile Manengela vs Eduardo Barros [Bantamweight Fight]

Ivan Strydom vs Vandam Mbuyi [Heavyweight Fight]

JC Lamprecht vs Khulekani Hlongwa [Light Heavyweight Fight]

Shannon van Tonder vs Ashley Calvert [Featherweight Fight]

EFC 102 Prelim Card

Stephan de la Rey vs. Emmanuel Sita [Featherweight Fight]

Crystal van Wyk vs Juliet Ukah [Womens Strawweight Fight]

Peace Nguphane vs Given Majuba [Welterweight Fight]

Godknows Ndlovu vs Vuyo Jula [Flyweight Fight]

Christopher Matukane vs Francois Cundari [Middleweight Fight]

Luke Hendrikz vs Christian Mulamba [Flyweight Fight]