Showing posts with label Jadyson Costa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jadyson Costa. Show all posts

Monday, 3 December 2012

2012 KO of the year - JP Joubert - MMASA Awards



There were relatively few knock-outs in the Hexagon this year, which made awarding the Knock out of the year simpler in some respects and a lot more difficult in others. However, when looking at 2012, there was one knockout which stood out, as it not only defined a career, but turned an entire division on its head – JP Joubert’s knockout of Norman Wessels at EFC Africa 15.

This knockout was anything but routine. After a brutal first round in which Wessels punished him with elbows on the ground, Joubert looked all but beaten. The second round however saw a change in fortunes for the Bull, who came out swinging, and after one of the most entertaining rounds of the year, managed to unload a plethora of punches on Wessels, knocking him out and earning himself the EFC Africa light heavyweight title.


KO of the year - Notable mentions

Jadyson Costa vs Dallas Jakobi

Jadyson Costa’s dominant performance over Dallas Jakobi at EFC 13 culminated in an impressive KO victory. With a vicious right hand Costa sent Jakobi sprawling to the canvas and earned himself the welterweight title.

Jeremy Smith vs Darren Daniel

Smith vs Daniel put two of the divisions most aggressive fighters into the Hexagon together. Daniel landed some good shots from range early on and looked in charge of the fight. Things changed when the fighters got close as Smith managed to land a left hook which sent Daniel to the mat. Smith would end the fight seconds later to retain his middleweight title.

Gareth Buirski vs Markus Taljaard

At EFC Africa 16, Gareth Buirski displayed his one punch knockout power as he finished Markus Taljaard with a monster right hand in the second round of their featherweight fight. Taljaard was carried out of the Hexagon on a stretcher.

To see all award winners, visit my 2012 MMASA Awards page


Thursday, 18 October 2012

EFC 16 Fight Predictions




Following a longer lay-period than usual, both between events and blog posts, EFC Africa 16 is now just around the corner. The event will play host to three title fights from across the weight division spectrum – featherweight, welterweight and heavyweight.

The much anticipated sixteenth edition of Africa’s biggest MMA spectacle has had many changes to the fight card since it was initially announced and there are many new names on the roster, here is the latest rendition and my predictions for the fights.

EFC 16 fight predictions

Ruan Potts vs Bernardo Mikixi (Heavyweight title fight)

Winner: Ruan Potts via Submission

If Bernardo Mikixi is going to win this fight, he has one way to do it – swing and swing hard. The Black Panther has shown impressive knock-out power in his last few fights, but his ground game appears to have some serious holes.

Though Ruan Potts has the tools to exploit this weakness in Mikixi, the undefeated champion has also shown a willingness to stand and trade, confident in his own abilities. Though likely still a favourite in the stand-up, should Potts choose to trade with Mikixi he will afford his opponent a much greater chance in this bout.

Ruan Potts is an experienced fighter, too experienced I feel to let Mikixi into the fight. Potts will close the distance early, get the fight to the ground and submit Bernardo Mikixi in the first round to retain his EFC Africa heavyweight title.

Jadyson Costa vs Michiel Opperman (Welterweight title fight)

Winner: Michiel Opperman via TKO

Jadyson Costa has proven his mettle in the EFC. The current welterweight champion is a wizard on the ground, has great striking skills and experience second to none in the promotion. Costa is on a three fight winning streak and has shown no signs of slowing down. The former Pride fighter has even begun to showboat and toy with his opponents, signs that his confidence is at an all time high.

Michiel Opperman is the polar opposite of Jadyson Costa - a technical striker who, over the last few years, has worked tirelessly improving his ground game. Opperman is methodical in the Hexagon and doesn't appear to show any emotion.

Jadyson Costa will be the hands down favourite going into this fight, but I believe that Opperman has the skillset to upset the Brazilian champion. Using his size, reach and ever improving wrestling skills, I believe Opperman will be able to keep the fight standing, a domain where he will likely hold the advantage. One can never write off the champion, but I am going to predict the Opperman wins via second round TKO.

Demarte Pena vs Terrence Griessel (Featherweight title fight)

Winner: Demarte Pena via Submission

Demarte Pena has shown that he knows how to win fights. The young champion has not had an easy run to the top, but has overcome adversity like a true champion, and gained a wealth of experience doing so. Pena looks better every time he steps into the Hexagon, a dangerous thought for featherweight division fighters.

Terrence Griessel’s recent drop to featherweight was a successful one, besting Gareth Buirski en route a title shot (after Nel was unable to fight). Griessel is a strong, tenacious featherweight, who has been given a great opportunity to make a statement.

Both fighters are grinders, and I don't expect this fight to end quickly. I believe Pena will be a little quicker in the stand-up and more fluid on the ground. I predict that, after a few long rounds on the mat, Demarte Pena will seize an opportunity to finish Griessel via submission in the later rounds.

EFC 16 Non–title fight predictions

Winner
Loser
Method
Round
Wade Henderson
Tumelo Maphuta
Submission
1
Markus Taljaard
Gareth Buirski
Decision
3
Francois Kabulu
Nicholas Radley
Decision
3
Andrew van Zyl
Ian Visser
Submission
1
JC Lamprecht
Daniel Sinclair
TKO
2
Danie van Heerden
Dain Neveling
Submission
2
Jean-Luc Kazadi
Francois Groenewald
TKO
2
Wade Groth
Khalil Akleker
TKO
1
Brendon Groenewald
Sors Grobbelaar
Submission
1

Friday, 15 June 2012

Jadyson Costa vs Michiel Opperman at EFC 16

Today the Extreme Fighting Championship announced that Jadyson Costa will defend his welterweight title against Michiel Opperman at EFC 16. The event, which has not officially been released by the EFC, is rumoured to be taking place in Cape Town in September 2012.

Jadyson "Little Wanderlei" Costa

Jadyson Costa (13-12-1) dominated Dallas Jakobi at EFC 13 to become the EFC Africa welterweight champion. Costa out-struck Jakobi and managed to finish him via fourth round TKO. Jadyson Costa now holds an impressive 3-0 record in the EFC and sits atop the welterweight rankings. 

Jadyson Costa

Michiel Opperman

Michiel Opperman (10-6) has grown immensely as a mixed martial artist over the last 18 months and now holds an impressive 7 fight win streak (3-0 EFC). The former kickboxer has also developed a dangerous ground game and has submitted all three of his EFC opponents. With notable wins over Dino Bagattin and Martin van Staden, Michiel Opperman is a genuine contender for the welterweight title.

Michiel Opperman

Jadyson Costa vs Michiel Opperman at EFC 16

Jadyson Costa and Michiel Opperman are very different fighters, both physically and stylistically, which makes for an interesting match-up. Costa brings a certain mystique to the Hexagon due to his impressive international resume, while Opperman brings a reputation for winnings fights that on paper he oughtn't to win.
Both men are also undefeated in the EFC and have notched up some impressive wins in their tenure with the promotion. This is a fight I am really looking forward to.

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

MMA Pound for Pound Rankings - April 2012



April brought with it some change to my pound for pound rankings. Firstly, fighters who have been inactive for too long a period were removed, this included local MMA legends Chris Bright, Rico Hattingh and Darren Daniel. EFC 13 too had an effect on the rankings as some fighters really put up their hands as top contenders in their respective divisions and pound for pound rankings. As a result this month’s ranking list is adorned by four new names. Here are my new South African MMA pound for pound rankings:

1. Jeremy “Pitbull” Smith (11-1)

Jeremy Smith has achieved more in his young MMA career than most South African MMA fighters. Currently on an 11 fight winning streak, the Pitbull has defeated local and international talent alike. On 2 March 2012, Jeremy Smith removed any doubt of him being the best fighter in the country by defeating a very game Garreth McLellan to earn the EFC Africa Middleweight title.

2. Costa Ioannou (4-0)

Costa Ioannou has been a dominant force in the EFC lightweight division since his debut in 2010,  manhandling his opponents en route the EFC Africa lightweight title. Ioannou was also the first fighter to successfully defend his EFC title in 2011, and still undefeated,  shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Costa Ioannou will face former welterweight champion Adam Speechly in a lightweight title fight at EFC Africa 14.

3. Jadyson “Little Wanderlei” Costa (13-12)

Jadyson Costa has looked all but unstoppable in the EFC Hexagon. African Top Team’s Brazilian BJJ black belt has won all three of his EFC fights, and has received two submission of the night awards. At EFC 13, Costa dominated Dallas Jakobi to win the EFC Africa welterweight title and earn himself a place as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the South Africa.

4. Ruan “Fangzz” Potts (14-0)

Ruan Potts has had a dream run in the EFC, finishing every fighter the promotion has put in his path. In 2011 Potts earned himself the coveted EFC Africa heavyweight title, and later that year became the second man to successfully defend his title, mere minutes after Ioannou. Ruan Potts has won an extraordinary 14 fights in a row and has yet to be defeated in professional MMA.

5. Garreth “Soldierboy” McLellan (6-2)

Garreth McLellan has evolved as a fighter over the past few years and now shows a completely well rounded game. McLellan, now 5-1 in the EFC, showed just why he is on this list in his titanic clash with Jeremy Smith at EFC 12, a fight in which he had the champion and P4P #1 in trouble on several occasions.

6. Michiel Opperman (10-6)

Riding an impressive 7 fight win streak against some of South Africa ‘s top MMA fighters, Opperman is on the brink of EFC Glory. At EFC 13, Opperman defeated Martin van Staden to become the number one welterweight contender. Opperman is a fighter who looks better each time he steps into the Hexagon and I look forward to seeing him challenging for the welterweight title in the near future.

7. Brendon Katz (7-1)

Brendon Katz’ sole professional loss was at the hands of Costa Ioannou in a fight of the night clash. Shy of that, Katz has racked up 7 wins, won an XFC title and has now made the jump to fighting internationally with great success. 

8. Demarte “The Wolf” Pena (3-0)

Reigning EFC Africa featherweight champion Demarte Pena is undefeated in the Hexagon and has defeated some of the top featherweights in the country. The wolf will face his greatest test when he meets dangerous contender Wesley Hawkey in his first title defence.

9. Wesley “The Young Assassin” Hawkey (7-2)

Wesley Hawkey has spent all of 5 minutes in the EFC Hexagon. In this time he has managed to string together 3 impressive wins, including a number one contender eliminator win against Denzil Wait. The Young Assassin will look to continue his impressive streak when he challenges Demarte Pena for the EFC featherweight title at EFC 14 in June.

10. Norman “Chef” Wessels (5-2)

Norman Wessels eradicated any doubts about his light heavyweight drop when he defeated Dain Neveling at EFC 13 in convincing fashion. Wessels, the former heavyweight champion, looked at his fighting best and sent a clear message of intent to the light heavyweight division. 

Sunday, 15 April 2012

MMA Welterweight rankings - April 2012



EFC 13 shook up the welterweight division, but in many ways added some definition and clarity. For the first time we have a definite champion, Jadyson Costa, and challenger, Michiel Opperman, and can look forward to another great welterweight title fight. The rest of the division is also stacked with top athletes who will ensure that the welterweight champion will have no shortage of great fights and the champion no shortage of quality opposition.

1. Jadyson Costa (13–12)

Jadyson “Little Wanderlei” Costa proved just how good he is at EFC 13. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt bested Dallas Jakobi in a predominantly stand-up affair to become the new EFC Africa welterweight champion. Having proved he has a very well rounded MMA game, Jadyson Costa (3-0 EFC) has the tools required for a long stint as champion.

2. Michiel Opperman (10-6)

Currently on a 7 fight winning streak (3-0 EFC), Michiel Opperman continued to impress at EFC 13 as he defeated Martin van Staden via standing Guillotine choke. With this victory Opperman put it beyond doubt as to who the number one welterweight contender is and will surely face Jadyson Costa for the title in the near future.

3. Martin “The Punisher” van Staden (18-6)

Martin van Staden was certainly not outclassed in his EFC 13 clash with Opperman. The Punisher spent the majority of the fight in a dominant position before being caught in a standing Guillotine. Still a threat to the welterweight division, van Staden will surely be back with a vengeance.  

4. Dallas Jakobi (12-5)

At EFC 13 Dallas Jakobi tasted defeat for the first time at welterweight. Jakobi (1-1 WW) still has plenty of great matches available in the division and will look to rebuild his way to the top .

5. Dino “The Lion” Bagattin (9-2)

Dino Bagattin returned to his winning ways with a controversial split decision win against Francois Kabulu at EFC 13. The Lion landed some nice shots but never really found a rhythm standing. He did however look to have improved on his ground game and managed to neutralise Kabulu effectively. Bagattin has some tough opponents ahead of him, but is still within sight of a title shot.

View more: MMA Rankings

Matches to make after EFC 13



Cape Town’s first Extreme Fighting Championship event is a thing of the past and it is time to use the results from EFC 13 to plan future great fights. Here are some fights which I think the EFC Matchmakers should make going forward.

Jadyson Costa vs Michiel Opperman (Welterweight title fight)

Having accomplished his goal of becoming the EFC Africa welterweight champion, Jadyson Costa will now have long list of fighters gunning for his title. First in line is Michiel Opperman, who defeated Martin van Staden at EFC 13 to become the number one welterweight contender. Opperman has looked impressive at welterweight and brings size, reach, dangerous striking and an ever improving ground game to the Hexagon. Jadyson Costa vs Michiel Opperman will be a very interesting contest.

Dallas Jakobi vs Nolan Swanepoel

Dallas Jakobi may have lost his welterweight title, but there is still plenty for him to do in the division. First up, a fight against Nolan Swanepoel, a fighter who has strung together a 3-3 record in the EFC. All of Swanepoel’s losses are at the hands of top 5 welterweights, Adam Speechly (twice) and Martin van Staden. Both Jakobi and Swanepoel could use this fight as the first step on the ladder towards a title shot.  

Don Madge vs Leon Mynhardt 2

EFC 13’s bout between Don Madge and Leon Mynhardt was a spectacular striking display. The lightweight clash was awarded the fight of the night by both MMA South Africa and EFC Africa. The fight ended with a controversial TKO victory in favour of Leon Mynhardt. Due to the fact that the fight was so good, so close and was not ended in a conventional manner, I can’t imagine any MMA fan who would not want to see this fight again and receive some final closure.

Martin van Staden vs Dino Bagattin

Martin van Staden and Dino Bagattin have both suffered setbacks in their quests to win the EFC Africa welterweight title. This matchup, which has been scheduled twice and cancelled twice, will be a great fight for the fans and help the winner edge closer to the coveted title shot.

Bernardo Mikixi vs Mahmoud Hassan

Both fighters are large men with heavy hands and Mikixi and Hassan promises to be a brutal affair. With both men coming off an EFC win, the winner of this bout would be a potential challenger for Ruan Potts, something that the heavyweight division desperately needs.

Norman Wessels vs Jeremy Scheepers

Norman Wessels’ notable win over Dain Neveling at EFC 13 has no doubt got the attention of the light heavyweight division. Jeremy Scheepers (2-1 EFC), has only lost to J.P. Joubert (#2 Light Heavyweight rankings) in the EFC. Both Chef and Scheepers will be eyeing a light heavyweight title shot in the near future and a win against another top tier fighter will certainly aid their cause.

Wade Henderson vs JP Kruger

Wade Henderson and JP Kruger would make for an exciting chess match, as both fighters have shown good all-round MMA games. Kruger and Henderson are also both coming off EFC wins and looking to work their way up the Middleweight ladder.  

Saturday, 14 April 2012

Cape Town's EFC 13 in retrospect



Cape Town has officially joined the ranks of cities to have hosted an Extreme Fighting Championship Event. Here is an overview of the event that was EFC 13.

My EFC 13 predictions

Once again some of my predictions were spot on, others completely wrong and a few accurate in terms of the nature of the fight but incorrect in terms of the result. Such is fighting. I did manage to win on BetXchange, so all things considered I am quite happy.
*I didn’t publish a result for Marais vs Vermeulen as it was added late. Van Staden vs Ilunga was cancelled.

My EFC 13 fight of the night

Don Madge vs Leon Mynhardt was a spectacular back and forth striking affair between two of South Africa’s top Muay Thai fighters. Madge dominated the first round and almost finished the fight there and then, but Mynhardt was saved by the bell. In round two, a bloodied Leon Mynhardt took the fight to Madge and the two fighters continued to exchange accurate strikes. The third round was another strike fest , until a miscommunication between Don Madge and referee Wikus Swart ended the fight in rather anticlimactic fashion. In my opinion Swart was spot on, and Mynhardt was awarded a hard fought victory. At the time of stoppage I had the scores level.

My EFC 13 submission of the night

There was no shortage of submissions to choose from at EFC 13. The best submission for me was Michiel Opperman’s standing Guillotine choke in his number one contender fight against Martin van Standen. Opperman showed great strength and technique to execute the submission perfectly and earn the tap from Van Staden.

My EFC 13 knockout of the night

My knockout of the night was Jadyson Costa’s knockout of Dallas Jakobi to become the new EFC Africa Welterweight Champion. Costa peppered the former champion with shots for the majority of their four round title fight, before landing a huge right which sent Dallas Jakobi sprawling into the cage and then the floor. As Jadyson Costa swarmed, the referee stopped the bout.

My EFC 13 fighter of the night

For me, Michiel Opperman was the most impressive fighter of the night. The kickboxer proved just how much he has improved in his ground game, by not only surviving an early onslaught from dangerous fighter Martin van Staden, but then turning the tides and submitting him. Opperman is now on a 7 fight winning streak, including huge wins over Dino Bagattin and Martin van Staden, who are both adorn my top 5 welterweight rankings list.

My EFC 13 Surprise fighter of the night

Jason Culverwell impressed me in his professional MMA debut. The former AFL champion took to the big stage with relative ease and looked calm and collected inside the Hexagon. Culverwell has a bright future ahead of him in the EFC. 

EFC 13 Fighter Analysis



Last night, the EFC Africa 13 Hexagon had a wide variety of fighters entering its gates. For some fighters it was a brand new experience, others were simply returning home. It takes a huge amount of hard work, dedication and courage to put it all on the line in the cage, and everyone of the 24 fighters who competed last night have my utmost respect.

Here is the list of fighters who impressed me with their performances.

Fighters who impressed at EFC 13

Jason Culverwell

Former AFL champion, Jason Culverwell, took to the big stage like a duck to water. The young light heavyweight was calm under fire and kept his head on the ground to submit a dangerous Mahmoud Salama in the first round. Culverwell also showed he can take a punch and is certainly someone to look out for the light heavyweight division.

Morne Marais

Durban-based heavyweight Morne Marais showed impressive take-down and ground skills in submitting Mike Vermeulen at EFC 13. This combination may be enough to earn him some wins in the heavyweight division, but if he can take his striking game to the next level and round off his MMA game, he may be a genuine threat to the division in the future.

Armand De Bruyn

Armand De Bruyn showed good composure, effective take downs and a fluid ground game against an aggressive Abie Valentine. De Bruyn has certainly earned himself a shot at some of the upper tier Middleweights in the EFC.

Wade Henderson

Returning to the middleweight division, Wade Henderson looked comfortable standing and off his back en route a submission victory against Cape Town’s James Le Roux. The G.O.A.T has made it clear he will fight anyone that stands in his way of a middleweight title shot.

Norman Wessels

Normal Wessels looked scary at Light Heavyweight. Chef blended his impressive skillset with passion and method to defeat Dain Neveling in brutal fashion. Wessels has definitely found a home at light heavyweight and is certainly a title contender in the division.

Michiel Opperman

Michiel Opperman continues to grow in my estimation with every fight. At EFC 13 Opperman weathered a serious storm from Martin van Staden, turned the tides and slapped on an impressive submission. Opperman has now defeated two of the welterweight divisions top fighters in impressive style and has left no doubt as to his legitimacy in the division. As the number one contender, Michiel Opperman will now face Jadyson Costa for the EFC Africa welterweight title.

Don Madge

EFC 13 gave fans a chance to see just how good Don Madge’s striking is. Madge also showed good take down defence and ground skills against Leon Mynhardt in a fight that not only lived up to all the hype, but created a stir with a somewhat unorthodox ending.

Leon Mynhardt

After taking a serious beating in round one, the Iron Lion showed serious resolve by taking the fight to Don Madge in rounds two and three. A much looser Mynhardt began to land shots in the second and showed why he is one of South Africa’s top strikers.

Dallas Jakobi

Dallas Jakobi was severely beaten in his Welterweight title defence. Jakobi however, showed the heart of a champion as he came out round after round and attempted to press the action. Dallas Jakobi is a warrior.

Jadyson Costa

Touted as a submission specialist, Jadyson Costa proved a point by outclassing Dallas Jakobi on the feet to become the new EFC Africa Welterweight champion. Costa showed impressive movement, hand speed and counterpunching ability en route a TKO victory.

EFC Africa 13 fight breakdown


With EFC 13 safely in the record books, he is a breakdown of the fights as they happened last night. For a full breakdown of the fight results and stats, ready my article: EFC 13 fight results

Mahmoud Salama vs Jason Culverwell

Light Heavyweight fight
Both Salama and Culverwell came to fight, there is no doubt about that. The fight got going quickly with some big exchanges and both fighters landed and took some heavy shots. Minutes in, Culverwell managed to drop Salama with a big shot and pounced upon his downed opponent. Culverwell secured half guard and began to work his ground game, landing big shots and knees until an arm presented itself. Culverwell was quick to take advantage of the opportunity and ended the bout via a first round Kimura.

Mike Vermeulen vs Morne Marais

Heavyweight fight
As expected, Vermeulen came out very aggressive, throwing some big punches. Marais looked calm and light on his feet. The two exchanged some minor shots, Vermeulen landing punches and Marais a couple of inconsequential kicks. Marais eventually landed a beautiful double leg take down on a pressing Vermeulen and began to work his high level grappling game. He quickly took Vermeulens back, then transitioned to mount and landed some heavy ground and pound, forcing Vermeulen to give up his back once more. This time Marais sunk in a rear-naked choke to end the bout in the first round.

Abdul Hassan vs Leo Gloss

Featherweight fight
Abdul Hassan managed to get the fight to the ground quickly in the first and here the fight would remain. Gloss tried tie up Hassan and get the fight stood up, but Hollywood kept busy. A few flurries saw some heavy shots landed on Gloss who was badly swollen at the end of round 1. Round 2 was fairly even, Gloss landed some big shots and Hassan a take down, could have gone either way on the judges’ cards. Round 3 was back and forward, eventually Hassan got Gloss to the canvas again and continued to work. With just over a minute on the clock, Gloss managed to sweep Hassan and land some late Ground and Pound. Abdul dictated the majority of the fight and won a split decision.

Armand De Bruyn vs Abrie Valentine

Middleweight fight
Abrie Valentine came out swinging haymakers, De Bruyn was a little more relaxed and worked his leg kicks well. De Bruyn showed great Judo takedowns, the first of which Valentine reversed nicely and ended up on top. De Bruyn managed to get up and the two resumed the standing battle. With seconds left on the clock, De Bruyn landed another beautiful take down, secured top position and whipped on a very impressive armbar to take the first round submission win.

Mahmoud Hassan vs Ricky Misholas

Heavyweight fight
Both fighters came to brawl and started swinging wildly from the start. After a takedown by Hassan which saw a brief stint on the ground, the two juggernaughts were back on their feet swinging. Hassan managed to clip Misholas with a big right which sent him to the canvas. Hassan then swarmed the downed Misholas who verbally submitted.

Wade Henderson vs James Le Roux

Middleweight fight
After a few minor exchanges standing, the fight was taken to the ground. Henderson worked well off his back to secure and armbar, but Le Roux reacted quickly and slammed him head first into the canvas. Henderson quickly recovered and worked his way back to another armbar and this time finished the fight via submission.

Norman Wessels vs Dain Neveling

Light Heavyweight fight
The two fighters had exchanged shots on the feet for a short period before Wessels landed a takedown and took top mount. Neveling managed to escape rather impressively and regain his feet. This did not last long however, as Wessels secured another take down, secured his position and became to land some vicious elbows. A bloodied Neveling eventually gave up his back, which Wessels took and sunk in a deep rear-naked choke to win via first round submission.

Dino Bagattin vs Francois Kabulu

Welterweight fight
Dino Bagattin looked impressive on the feet once more, and managed to drop Kabulu in the first round. Kabulu was quickly back on his feet and used some good wrestling to take Bagattin down and maintain a dominant position. Bagattin managed to avoid much damage on the ground, but did tire from his defensive work. The rest of the fight consisted of occasional immaterial flurries and the odd punch landing intermittently. Kabulu did land another take down or two, but was unable to press this advantage. Bagattin was awarded a split decision victory.

Martin van Staden vs Michiel Opperman

Welterweight fight
Martin van Staden closed the distance quickly and got the clinch. Opperman looked impressive in the clinch though, and landed some good knees while Van Staden looked for the takedown, which he finally got in impressive style, slamming Opperman into the mat. Opperman immediately looked for a Guillotine, but couldn’t close his guard and van Staden passed into side control. Opperman defended well of his back and worked his way back to his feet. The two fighers tie up again and Opperman sinks in a standing Guillotine. Van Staden attempts another slam unsuccessfully and Opperman cranks his Guillotine to force the tap from Van Staden in the first round.

Don Madge vs Leon Mynhardt

Lightweight fight
Madge found his range quickly and looked clinical in the first round, landing shots almost at will. A dominant Madge almost finished the fight in the first, landing huge punches on a fallen Mynhardt, who was saved by the bell. Mynhardts face was a bloody mess. Round two however saw Madge slow and Mynhardt took the fight too him, landing impressive shots of his own. The third was more of the same, as Mynhardt continued to land the better shots. A punch to the face forced Madge to back off complaining of an eye gouge and signalling to the ref to call a timeout. The referee did just that, ending the fight and awarding Mynhardt a verbal submission victory, much to the dismay of Madge and the Cape Town crowd.

Bernardo Mikixi vs Calven Robinson

Heavyweight fight
Mikixi and Robinson spent most of the first round pressed against the cage. Robinson landed some knees, but was eventually taken down and brutalised by some big Mikixi hammerfists. The referee quickly stopped the beating to earn Mikixi a first round TKO victory.

Dallas Jakobi vs Jadyson Costa

Welterweight fitle fight
Jadyson Costa dominated the four round title fight from the get go, using clinical counter punching to score almost at will. Costa looked like he was really enjoying himself as he taunted the former champion and continued to land punches and kicks throughout the fight. In the first and third rounds Dallas Jakobi was saved by the bell. The fourth round saw Costa drop a busted Jakobi and quickly finish him to become the new EFC Africa Welterweight champion

Jadyson Costa is the new EFC Africa Welterweight Champion



Moments ago Jadyson "Little Wanderlei" Costa (13-12-1) defeated Dallas Jakobi to become the new EFC Africa Welterweight Champion. Jadyson Costa, who is now 3-0 in the EFC, dominated the four round title fight from the get go, using clinical counter punching to score almost at will. Costa looked like he was really enjoying himself as he taunted the former champion and continued to land punches and kicks throughout the fight. In the first and third rounds Dallas Jakobi was saved by the bell. The fourth round saw Costa drop a busted Jakobi and quickly finish him to become the new EFC Africa Welterweight champion.

Jadyson Costa, renowned for his high level ground game, said prior to the bout that he wanted to prove to the South African audience that he could stand with the best of them. Throughout the fight, Little Wanderlei did not attempt a sign take down or submission, and certainly achieved his goal with an impressive striking performance.

Costa was extremely happy to win the title, but more so to have down it in his newly adopted home city of Cape Town. The Cape Town crowd in turn rallied behind their fighter and were extremely vocal in their support of their local African Top Team fighter.

Jadyson Costa is now set to defend his newly earned welterweight strap against fellow EFC 13 victor Michiel Opperman, who managed to defeat Martin van Staden in their number one contender bout earlier tonight.

Saturday, 7 April 2012

EFC Africa 13 fight predictions



With EFC Africa 13 less than a week away, I have taken the time to put my official EFC 13 fight predictions down on paper.  As is customary with predicting fights, this was no easy task. There are many close fights and many new fighters and I was often left in two minds as to who I thought would win. Still, like a true warrior I have managed to overcome said obstacles. Here are my EFC 13 predictions:

Dallas Jakobi vs Jadyson Costa (Welterweight title fight)

Dallas Jakobi will come out the aggressor and want to play to his strengths and keep the fight standing. Jadyson Costa will exchange with the champion, but always look for an opportunity to take the fight to ground. Short of a big Jakobi bomb landing, the fight will eventually go to ground and here is where it gets real. Jakobi has shown brutal ground and pound and will look to work the top position en route a TKO stoppage. Costa however, is just that much sharper off his back than Jakobi’s previous opponents, opponents who have put the champ in precarious situations. I believe Jadyson Costa will sneak in a triangle choke in the closing moments of the first frame to become the new EFC Africa Welterweight champion.


Bernardo Mikixi vs Calven Robinson (Heavyweight)

Bernardo Mikixi and Calven Robinson are huge, powerful athletes and both possess knock out power. This fight could go either way, but I predict a fair amount of time will be spent in the clinch where  Robinson will be the more effective fighter. I have Robinson by TKO in the first.

Don Madge vs Leon Mynhardt (Lightweight)

Both Mynhardt and Madge will fancy their chances standing and this promises to be a striking match out of the top drawer. It is possible that either fighter adopts a  tactical ground-based game plan to counter the other, but somehow the likelihood of this fight going to the ground seems slim and the chances of it finishing there even slimmer. I predict an action packed fight, with both fighters landing some power shots. It really could go either way, but I think Don Madge will use his height and reach to take the fight away from Leon Mynhardt in the second round en route a TKO victory.


Martin van Staden vs Michiel Opperman (Welterweight)

Michiel Opperman is not the most aggressive striker, which plays into Martin van Staden’s hands, as given time he is an expert at identifying and exploiting weaknesses. As the fight progresses,  I believe van Staden will begin to dictate the pace and look to take it to the mat. A lot will depend on Opperman’s ability to land counter strikes while defending the take down. I believe Van Staden will have a tough time getting him down, but will eventually succeed in the second round, secure his position and end the fight via ground and pound TKO.

Dino Bagattin vs Francois Kabulu (Welterweight)

There is no doubt in my mind that this fight will take place predominantly on the feet. Francois Kabulu will likely push forward and throw his trademark bombs, while Bagattin will look to find his range and counter his somewhat wilder opponent. Such a bout could end with a single punch, but I believe Bagattin will keep his composure, use good movement and pick his shots to simply outbox Kabulu. After landing several shots throughout the fight, I believe Dino Bagattin with floor Kabulu in the second round to earn a TKO victory.

Norman Wessels vs Dain Neveling (Light Heavyweight)

I must admit, I have not seen Dain Neveling fight, but from what I have read he has a solid ground game and knockout power – a deadly combination. Wessels however, is a master tactician with an all round MMA game and a wealth of experience in the EFC Hexagon. I believe Norman Wessels will come into the fight well prepared, likely take the fight to the ground and end it in the first round.

Wade Henderson vs James Le Roux (Middleweight)

Wade Henderson has been extremely active against high level opposition of late. This will give him a huge advantage against Le Roux, who has not fought in the EFC since 2010.  Henderson will dictate this fight from the onset and win via TKO in the first round.

Ricky Misholas vs Mahmoud Hassn (Heavyweight)

This will likely be a heavyweight slugfest. Mahmoud Hassn is a very dangerous professional boxer, but  Misholas will fancy his stand-up skills after his knockout victory at EFC 12. I think Hassn will be crisper and finish Misholas via first round KO.

Abdul Hassan vs Leo Gloss (Featherweight)

Hassan and Gloss are two of the most experienced featherweights in the EFC. Both men are coming off losses and will want to return to their winning ways. I believe Gloss will be the stronger fighting on his feet, and with his improving take down defence and ground skills, will be able to eke out a unanimous decision victory.

Mahmoud Salama vs Jason Culverwell (Light Heavyweight)

I don’t know either of these fighters, but off records alone, I have to bet on Mahmoud Salama to take the win. As debutants I imagine they will start slowly and we will likely see the second round. I predict Salama will use his kickboxing and MMA experience to earn himself  a TKO stoppage in the second round.

Johan van Staden vs Alain Ilunga (Lightweight)

Johan van Staden should defeat the debutante Ilunga without too many problems. Van Staden, who recently moved to the FightFit Militia camp, looks in great shape and has a wealth of experience. I believe he will win via first round submission.

Armand De Bruyn vs Abrie Valentine (Middleweight)

Armand De Bruyn has not seen the second round in the EFC Hexagon, I don’t believe things will change at EFC 13. I believe De Bruyn will dictate the fight and defeat Valentine via first round TKO.  

Friday, 6 April 2012

EFC Africa 13 - Jakobi vs Costa: New Promo Video



The Extreme Fighting Championship has released a new promotional video for the main event of their upcoming  event - EFC Africa 13. The headline event sees reigning EFC Africa welterweight champion Dallas Jakobi (#1 Welterweight Rankings) defend his title against dangerous Brazilian fighter Jadyson Costa.

The new promo video takes the viewer into the mind of the fighters as the prepare for the upcoming fight. For more information on this fight, read my preview article: Dallas Jakobi vs Jadyson Costa fight preview

Dallas Jakobi vs Jadyson Costa Promo Video

Thursday, 5 April 2012

EFC 13 - Meet the fighters


The EFC 13 gladiators will be making public appearances in Johannesburg and Cape Town this weekend. The fighters will be on hand at various shopping centres to demonstrate their skills, meet fans, sign autographs and have photos taken. The EFC will also be giving away EFC Africa merchandise and EFC 13 tickets.

When to meet the EFC fighters

Date: Saturday, 7 April 2012
Time: 1pm - 6pm 

Where to meet the EFC fighters

The following fighters will be at  the Nu Metro Cinemas in Clearwater Mall, Roodepoort:


The following fighters will be at the Nu Metro Cinemas in Canal Walk, Cape Town:


Sunday, 1 April 2012

EFC 13 fight results



Here are the fight results from EFC Africa 13, held at Grand West Casino on 13 April 2012.

EFC 13 fight results

Fight
Winner
Opponent
Round
Method
1
Cancelled: Medical reasons


2
Jason Culverwell Mahmoud Salama
1
Submission (Kimura)
3
Morne Marais Michael Vermeulen 
1
Submission (Rear-naked choke)
4
Abdul Hassan Leo Gloss
3
Decision (Split)
5
Mahmoud Hassn Ricky Misholas
1
Verbal Submission (Punches)
6
Armand De Bruyn Abrie Valentine
1
Submission (Armbar)
7
Wade Henderson  James Le Roux
1
Submission (Armbar)
8
Norman Wessels Dain Neveling
1
Submission (Rear naked choke)
9
Dino Bagattin   Francois Kabulu
3
Decision (Split)
10
Michiel Opperman Martin van Staden
1
Submission (Guillotine choke)
11
Leon Mynhardt Don Madge
3
Verbal Submission (Attempted timeout for eye poke)
12
Bernardo Mikixi Calven Robinson
1
TKO (Punches)
13
Jadyson Costa Dallas Jakobi
4
TKO (Punches)

EFC 13 fight analysis

How EFC 13 fights ended

Fights won by KO/TKO
2
Fights won by Submission
8
Fights won by Decision
2

When EFC 13 fights ended

Fights ended in the first round
8
Fights ended in the second round
0
Fights ended in the third round
1
Fights ended in the fourth round
1
Fights that went the distance
2

Who won EFC 13 fights

Fights won by BetXchange favourite
7
Fights won by BetXchange underdog
4