EFC 68: 'The Punisher' walks away with title of the night

GrandWest served top-drawer combat action for EFC68

Cape Town was treated to a delightful evening of combat action when EFC68 made its way to Grand West after a long while since we had seen some blood, sweat and sometimes tears. It was certainly top-drawer action from the fighters - something they never fail to deliver for the crowds.

Martin 'The Punisher' van Staden was the man of the night, walking away with the EFC Lightweigh title, this comes after having asked to be put on the title main card fight for the third time. He's not called 'The Punisher' for no reason after he sent the Englishman, Gavin 'Big Tasty' Hughes packing with a well-timed knee to his jaw in the second round. It was the end of the road for 'Big Tasty' after his hopes of taking the title back to the UK were shattered.

Another fight card which was thoroughly anticipated was that of American Dave 'Pain Train' Mazany who was frothing to give EFC veteran, Chris Bright his first ever loss which he succeeded. Bright's knee was his weak point on the night which the American took advantage of but not too say it was for him. The Port Elizabeth native was in his best shape for a 44-year-old and gave Mazany a fight for his money up until he couldn't recover from a left hook and that was his first loss of his EFC career. It was an entertaining fight without a doubt. Bright still remains one of the most humble fighters in the ring and you can see his passion right through his fights. He fights will all heart no matter what the result will be in the end. The Alaskan was rather chuffed with himself to have been able to defeat the veteran, but he still remained with the utmost respect for him. In the EFC Worldwide grapevine, it seems that Mazany will take on Van Staden for the Lightweight title sometime in August and could be coming to Cape Town. Well if that's true then the Cape Town MMA fans will be in for one hell of a treat. 

Roedie Roets (4-0) who fights out of FFM in Johannesburg was handed Zimbabwean Regis 'Frostie' Muyambo (6-6) for a bout of three rounds. Roet's speed was rather commendable in the way he managed to come back from every strike he got from Regis but Frostie was too tough for him on the night. Muyambo is young, talented with a great fight camp right behind to support him - the world is his oyster in this sport, he is at a point where nothing can stop him.

England’s Cal ‘Pacino’ Ellenor (7-1) thankfully kept it out of the judges’ hands by putting the rather cocky Faeez ‘Troublemaker’ Jacobs (3-2) to sleep with a sweet semi-standing guillotine. The Capetonian came out with his usual energy that he is well known for, scoring the takedown but quickly lost position to the fluid jits of Ellenor who summoned the sandman with seconds left in the first round. 

The main-card curtain saw Durban’s Martin ‘The Diamond’ de Beer (6-4) face Gary ‘Relentless’ Joshua (4-0) in what was always bound to be decided by either lad’s superior matitude. After some decent kickboxing exchanges, the fight hit the canvas and culminated in de Beer submitting to a heel-hook, a submission that's always a feast for the MMA fans respectively - well if you are really keen on that type of thing. 

The official EFC 68 results:

Martin van Staden defeated Gavin Hughes via KO 0:20 into round 2, to take the EFC lightweight title.

Dave Mazany defeated Chris Bright via TKO 2:19 into round 2.

Roedie Roets defeated Regis Muyambo via unanimous decision.

Cal Ellenor defeated Faeez Jacobs via tapout 4:52 into round 1.

Gary Joshua defeated Martin de Beer via tapout 4:37 into round 1.

Luke Michael defeated Francois Cundari via tapout 1:31 into round 1.

Luthando Biko defeated Warren Richards via TKO 4:40 into round 1.

Torjbjøn Madsen defeated Bruno Mukulu via tapout 2:03 into round 2

Caleb Ridely defeated August Kayambal via tapout 2:04 into round 2.

Juan Bezuidenhout defeated Matunga Djikasa via tapout  4:38 into round 2.

Wade Kerspuy defeated Hishaam Kamish via tapout 2:31 into round 1.

Justin Smith defeated Robo Ambamba via TKO  3:13 into round 1.