BUIRSKI BREAKS THE CURSE

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Johannesburg, South Africa - An electric Carnival City bore witness to history at EFC 46, the organisation’s final event of the year. After six years and seven different title holders, the infamous welterweight curse was broken.

In what can lay claim to be EFC’s fight of the year, David Buirski defied the odds to take victory over Martin van Staden after five rounds of epic action that left the Big Top Arena on their feet when the final hooter sounded.

Van Staden started the stronger of the two, showing more aggression than the champion. His advances were dealt with by Buirski until a barrage from the Punisher opened a cut above Buirski’s left eye late in the second round. Despite the cut and being behind at that stage, a gargantuan effort from the champion saw him take the fight to van Staden in the latter rounds, landing a series of combinations, takedowns and near submissions.

After five intense rounds, it was left to the judges to decide the victor, resulting in a split decision for Buirski. “I dug deep and the stars aligned for me tonight,” he said in the post fight press conference. A visibly disenchanted van Staden felt he won the fight but promised he would be back to take what he believes is rightfully his.

MMA legend Chris Bright completed a successful return to the Hexagon after a five-year absence by beating a plucky Adam Speechly in a highly technical lightweight encounter that was also decided by split decision. Bright shook off his self admitted ring rust to come back from a slow start. The Port Elizabeth native will now have a keen eye on the lightweight championship bout between Leon Mynhardt and Dave Mazany at EFC 47 in March 2016.

In a late replacement on the main card, Bruno Mukulu was given the chance to avenge his loss to Dricus Du Plessis after replacing Henry Fadipe. Although a much improved performance, a lapse in concentration from the DRC native let du Plessis assume control of his back and take the fight via rear naked choke after many agreed that Mukulu was ahead on the scorecards. Du Plessis is now clearly the number one contender in a division that holds many permutations, depending on whether an instant rematch is awarded to Martin van Staden or whether David Buirski moves to middleweight, something the champion alluded to in the post fight press conference.

Abdul Hassan got back in the win column with a victory over Oumpie Sebeko. In a fight that did not produce a lot of action, Sebeko seemed the aggressor without landing anything of substance. Hassan’s takedowns and wrestling seemed to sway the judges who awarded him the fight unanimously, much to the dismay of certain sections of the partisan crowd.

The main card was opened by the middleweight clash between Gordon Roodman and Keron Davies. The fact that the two had an epic amateur battle in the amateur ranks just over two years ago provided the perfect backdrop for the bout. The fight replicated the same pace and explosive striking they had produced two years ago, but this time an exposed Davies jaw was caught by a vicious overhand right which sent him to the canvas. Roodman had avenged his loss and firmly established himself as a legitimate middleweight.

‘Fight of the Night’ was awarded to the welterweight title bout between David Buirski and Martin van Staden. Performance bonuses were awarded to Bruno Mukulu, Dricus Du Plessis and Gordon Roodman.

EFC 46 Results:

Patrick Luindula defeated Didier Nyembwe via Guillotine choke 1:16 in round 1. Chad Hanekom defeated Ruben Groenewald via Arm Triangle 1:32 into round 1. Marino Cutendana defeated Jasen Van Der Merwe via TKO 4:07 in round 1. Barend Nienaber defeated Pierre Botha via Rear-Naked Choke 2:00 in round 1. Elvis Moyo defeated Vandam Mbuyi via KO 2:23 into round 2. Cedric Doyle defeated Gareth Buirski via unanimous. Gordon Roodman defeated Keron Davies via KO 1:30 in round 1. Abdul Hassan defeated Oumpie Sebeko via unanimous decision. Dricus Du Plessis defeated Bruno Mukulu via Rear-Naked Choke 2:50 into round 2. Chris BRight defeated Adam Speechly via split decision. David Buirski defeated Martin van Staden via split decision. EFC 47: Mynhardt vs. Mazany, Henry vs. Kabesa presented by BetXchange.com, and takes place at Carnival City, Johannesburg, on Saturday 05 March 2016. Tickets available at www.computicket.com.

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