EFC 14 in retrospect

The Extreme Fighting Championship returned to Johannesburg with a stacked fight card featuring 5 current or former champions. The high profile event featured 2 title fights and managed to live up to all the hype.

My EFC 14 predictions

My predictions were pretty useless this EFC. There were many close fights, which could have gone either way and in most cases went the other way. Of those I did get correct in terms of winner, I was largely out in terms of manner, though I take comfort in getting the middleweight clash between Garreth McLellan and Danie van Heerden pretty much spot on. It seems even a blind squirrel finds the occasional nut.

Correct predictions: 6/13

Correct title fight predictions: 1/2

My EFC 14 fight of the night

The EFC 14 fight of the night has to go to Costa Ioannou and Adam Speechly for their 5 round lightweight title war. The technical grappling match was insane to watch and both fighters showed why they are so well respected in this discipline. Add to this the humility and respect with which both fighters approached this fight and it is a deserved winner.

My EFC 14 submission of the night

Demarte Pena’s rear-naked choke against Wesley Hawkey in their featherweight title fight is my submission of the night. Given the gravity of the situation, Pena’s ability to quickly and effortlessly transition to back mount and sink in a title winning submission was beautiful to watch.

My EFC 14 knockout of the night

Knock-outs were in short supply at EFC 14. David Buirski’s head kick on Kelvin Mwale was about as close to a clean KO as we got. The kick, which sent Mwale to the canvas was followed up with punches to earn a TKO victory.

My EFC 14 fighter of the night

Garreth McLellan was the most impressive fighter for me at EFC 14. The former middleweight champion looked focussed from the get go in his clash with Danie van Heerden and finished the fight in a very clinical manner to earn himself another shot at Jeremy Smith.

My EFC 14 surprise fighter of the night

Markus Taljaard was my surprise fighter of the night. Having seen him trade strikes with Ryan van Niekerk at EFC 12, Taljaard surprised  and impressed me with his ground game at EFC 14. Taljaard had a very active guard, but it was his composure while on his back which ultimately earned him his submission victory over Wade Groth.

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EFC Africa 14: David Buirski vs Kelvin Mwale welterweight fight

EFC Africa has announced a fantastic addition to their EFC 14 fight card. Shido fighter David Buirski will clash with World of Warriors' Kelvin "Mr Humble" Mwale in a welterweight fight. Both fighters have fought on the amateur circuit and professionally, but will be making their EFC Africa debuts.

David Buirski

David Buirski

David Buirski (2-0) has already proved his worth in the cage. Fighting out of the Shido fight team in Centurion, Buirski was undefeated in his amateur career and has taken this dominance into the professional sphere. David Buirski recently defeated Sydney Mokgolo at ROW XI which caught the attention of the EFC matchmakers. Buirski will now look to continue his impressive form when he steps into the EFC Hexagon, the continents biggest MMA stage, for the first time. 

Kelvin Mwale

Kelvin "Mr Humble" Mwale

Kelvin Mwale (1-2) used his freakish strength, solid stand-up and ever improving ground game to complete a stellar undefeated amateur career. The professional circuit however, has not been as easy for Mwale, who has been defeated twice, once via Disqualification against Johan van Staden and once via TKO against Michiel Opperman. Kelvin Mwale's sole professional win was a TKO victory against Paul Cunningham. The humble fighter, who has not fought in the last year, will return to the cage with something to prove. 

David Buirski vs Kelvin Mwale at EFC 14

David Buirski and Kelvin Mwale have achieved success in their MMA careers and are respected fighters. Both fighters have also been touted as future EFC title contenders and this fight will give them the perfect stage to live up to the hype. With very different styles, but the same goal, it will be a very interesting fight indeed, the winner of which will surely stand in good stead in a stacked welterweight division.

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David Buirski vs Sydney Mokgolo - Rise of the Warrior XI

Shido's latest MMA event, Rise of the Warrior XI, took place at the Graceland Casino in Secunda last weekend. The fight card featured a mix of both amateur and professional MMA bouts. One of the big fights of the evening was a professional Middleweight MMA fight between undefeated prospect David Buirski and Sydney Mokgolo.

David Buirski vs Sydney Mokgolo ROW XI Fight Video

What next for David Buirski

There has been much talk about David Buirski fighting in the EFC. David, one of the infamous Buirski brothers, will look to follow in the footsteps of his brother Gareth Buirski who made his EFC debut at EFC Africa 12. 

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