A truly monumental clash headlines a stellar EFC 106 card on the 10th of August in Johannesburg, bringing to conclusion a variety of compelling storylines as the light-heavyweight division will finally anoint a new champion. In November 2018, social media around the planet exploded with the spread of an online video which showed Mzwandile ‘Snakebone’ Hlongwa knocking out Torbjørn Madsen cold with the most hellacious spinning back-elbow in MMA history. A viral moment that launched an international career now reaches its nadir with the Durban hero’s four-year promotional absence resulting in a shot at golden glory against the man who sent Hlongwa’s own brother to sleep this past April – JC Lamprecht.
As UFC star Dricus du Plessis prepares for his title shot against Israel Adesanya, he does so alongside a CIT teammate in Lamprecht whom he fought against a decade ago and to this day, despite victories over the likes of Darren Till, Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis claims that Lamprecht was his toughest fight ever. Now training partners in Pretoria, both will be sharing fight camps in the quest for EFC and UFC gold. Lamprecht took a 9-year sabbatical from the sport after his loss to ‘Stillknocks’ at EFC 24, only to return a completely renovated athlete once under the renowned tutelage of Morné Visser. With two fights resulting in two stunning first round knock-outs, including the aforementioned of Khulekani Hlongwa, his 11-year association with EFC finally culminates in a title shot in the hope that another golden buckle can find space in the heaving Hatfield trophy cabinet.
But Snakebone’s will to win is legendary, and throughout his ronin travels has undeniably fought a high-calibre of fighters, including UFC standout Khamzat Chimaev on top of some sensational early finishes. Furthermore to add extra spice to this title clash, the same man his opponent dismantled a few months ago, his brother, fights on the same card in a soon-to-be announced 185lb matchup.
That being said, the entire main card at EFC 106 is something special, as featherweight firecracker Emmanual Sita will go toe-to-toe against sharpshooter Billy ‘The Kid’ Oosthuizen after the two hottest prospects in women’s MMA, Mischka Laubscher and Dayne van Wyk battle it out at catchweight. Opening the main card are the top flyweight contenders in an all-Jozi blink-and-miss clash between Johannes Rudolph and Godknows Ndlovu but only after seven action-packed preliminary bouts that are all worthy of main-card status, including some of the divisional top-contenders and the biggest current and future stars of African mixed martial arts competing in the world today. With the 185lb title set, and 24 athletes in total having inked contracts, EFC 106 is set to be one of the most unmissable sports event of 2023.
EFC 106 Hlongwa vs. Lamprecht is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on Thursday, 10 August 2023, live from the EFC Performance Institute in JHB, South Africa.
Broadcast information can be found at www.efcworldwide.com
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