On Friday 27 July
EFC Africa 15 will take over Carnival City
in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event will be headlined by the promotions
first ever light heavyweight title fight. With this and twelve other
professional MMA bouts on the cards, the event is all set to be another night
to remember. Here are my predictions for the fights:
EFC 15 fight predictions
Norman Wessels vs JP Joubert (Light heavyweight title
fight)
Winner: Norman Wessels via TKO
Both Norman Wessels and JP Joubert are big men who have
proved to be aggressive fighters at light heavyweight. Joubert has steamrolled
him last two opponents, Wessel’s his last one. As a result, I don’t think this
fight will take too long to get going.
Joubert will likely be the early aggressor, confident in his
knock-out power. Chef will be a little more cautious and will look to avoid
trading punches with The Bull while looking for the take down. Wessels has shown
impressive grappling skills in his MMA career and I believe that taking the
fight to the ground will greatly favour him.
I don’t see this fight going the distance. Either Joubert
will land a big shot, or Wessels will land a takedown and finish the fight on
the ground. With the wealth of experience and tactical brilliance that Norman
Wessels brings to the Hexagon, I predict he will be the sharper fighter on the
night and will end the fight in the second round via TKO.
Tyron Rightford vs Darren Daniel
Winner: Tyron Rightford via KO
Rightford vs Daniel is the most anticipated fight on this
card for sure. The two middleweights have had very different paths to this
point, but are both gunning for the same thing – a shot at the EFC Africa
middleweight title.
Darren Daniel has been absent from the Hexagon for so long
that he is somewhat of an unknown. He is however a seasoned professional
training with a professional fight team, so I expect him to be ready. How rusty
he may be, if at all, will only be evident on the night.
Conversely, Tyron Rightford is riding the crest of a wave
and will bring great momentum to this fight. The Rush has rattled through his
EFC opponents, winning his last two fights in mere minutes.
I believe that Darren Daniel will have the advantage on the
ground and will look to take the fight down as soon as possible, thus negating
Rightford’s clinical striking. Rightford in turn will look to be elusive and
pick his shots, keeping the fight standing and fighting from the outside. This
fight could go either way, but I predict Tyron Rightford will be able to take
advantage of a slightly rusty Daniel to land a few key strikes early on and
swing the fight in his favour. Rightford will be able to fight his fight and eventually
land a clean shot to finish Daniel late in the first round.
Garreth
McLellan vs Armand de Bruyn
Winner:
Garreth McLellan via TKO
Armand de Bruyn will be thrown into the deep end at EFC 15
against Garreth “Soldierboy” McLellan. The former Middleweight champion has
been on the warpath ever since he lost his title at EFC Africa 12. I predict
Garreth McLellan will be too good for Armand De Bruyn and finish the fight via TKO
in the second round.
Raymond Ahana vs Jason Culverwell
Winner: Jason Culverwell via Submission
Jason Culverwell impressed me at
EFC 13. He showed he can
take a punch and displayed great composure on the ground. Culverwell will want
to avoid Ahana’s reach and test him on the ground. I predict he will be able to do this and will win via second round submission.
Chett Meyer vs Donavin Hawkey
Winner: Donavin Hawkey via Submission
This is a tough fight to call as there are a lot of unknown
elements, the biggest of which is
Chett Meyer’s move to middleweight. Both fighters were formerly ranked light heavyweights, so they should
be comfortable with each other. Hawkey however has been the more active of the
two and has fought 4 more fights in the last two years.
Although Meyer is coming into this fight with a three fight
winning streak, I believe Hawkey will have the upper hand due to his abundance
of experience, his familiarity with fighting at middleweight and his hunger to
avenge his recent loss to Danie van Heerden.
I predict Donavin Hawkey will submit Chett Meyer in the second round.
Martin van
Staden vs Dino Bagattin
Winner: Martin van Staden via Submission
Martin van Staden and Dino Bagattin are both looking to
rebuild their way to welterweight title contention. Bagattin is the more
decorated striker but has looked a little vulnerable on the ground in his last
two fights and I believe Martin van Staden will exploit this effectively to win
the fight via first round submission.
Leon Mynhardt vs Alex Cheboub
Winner: Leon Mynhardt via KO
With no clear lightweight title contender in sight, Leon
Mynhardt vs Alex Cheboub will be watched very closely by the EFC Africa
matchmakers. Both fighters won their last bouts and will look to make a case
for a title shot.
This is a clear case of a striker versus a ground specialist
and should make for a very interesting fight. Alex Cheboub has submitted some
of the divisions best fighters and in recent times has only been bested by
Costa Ioannou. In contrasting style, Leon Mynhardt has knocked out some of the
best fighters from two different divisions. Mynhardt however has worked tirelessly
at his ground game and has improved dramatically. I believe that Mynhardt
therefore has the better chance of winning this fight as he is now a very well
rounded fighter.
I predict Leon Mynhardt will KO Alex Cheboub in the second
round.
Francois Kabulu vs David Buirski
Winner: David Buirski via Submission
In my opinion this fight favours David Buirski, who showed
impeccable ground control in his early professional bouts. While Kabulu has
shown good stand-up and great heart, his ground game has been rather ineffective. I predict that Buirksi will take this fight
to the ground at will, neutralise Kabulu and eventually submit him in the
second round.
Andrew van Zyl vs Mohmed Karim
Winner: Andrew van Zyl via Submission
I must admit I do not know much about Mohmed Karim, but in
general the EFC’s Egyptian exports have shown a deficiency in ground skills. I
predict that Andrew van Zyl will get Mohmed Karim to the ground and submit him
in the first round.
Boyd Allen vs Alain Ilunga
Winner: Boyd Allen via decision
Both Boyd Allen and Alain Ilunga impressed me in their last
fights. I do believe Boyd Allen is the more well rounded and technical fighter
and I think he will enough skill and experience to defeat the younger fighter
over the three rounds.
Liam Cleland vs Tumelo Maphutha
Winner: Liam Cleland via Submission
Liam Cleland is an extremely talented grappler and I believe
he will simply outclass Tumelo Maphutha on the ground. I predict Liam Cleland
to take this one via first round submission.
Hector Britts vs JC Lamprecht
Winner: Hector Britts via decision
I am not au fait with either of these fighters, having not
seen either of them fight, and have only their records to work off. Hector
Britts holds notable wins over Paul Vosloo and Boyd Allen, while JC Lamprecht
had an impressive 8-0 amateur record. Both fighters will be making their EFC Africa
debut.
Having already fought professionally, I think that Britts
will be a little less nervous and a little more composed in the
Hexagon. I predict that Hector Britts will win a unanimous decision victory,
though I really do have very little to base this on.
Lance Ceronio
vs Mahmoud Salama
Winner:
Mahmoud Salama via TKO
Mahmoud Salama is a specialist kickboxer, a department where
Ceronio has struggled in his last two fights. I predict Salama will be sharper
in the stand-up and will finish Ceronio in the first frame.
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