EFC 110: Kabesa vs. Ekson 2 is an upcoming mixed martial arts event by Extreme Fighting Championship scheduled for December 7, 2023 at the EFC Performance Institute in Sandton, South Africa.
Fight Card
Main Card
Igeu Kabesa vs. Reinaldo Ekson 145 lbs Featherweight Championship
Mark Hulme vs. Peace Nguphane 170 lbs Welterweight Championship
Sindile Manengela vs. Sylvester Chipfumbu 135 lbs
Sholto Luiters vs. Anthony Morel 265 lbs
Nathanial Komana vs. Eduardo Barros 135 lbs
Preliminary Card
Steven Goncalves vs. Tapiwa Katikati 145 lbs
Mpumelelo Mngoma vs. Willie van Rooyen 125 lbs
Sithembiso Hadebe vs. Moses Mokhari 135 lbs
Nkosi Doyisa vs. Francis Martin 145 lbs
Willem Smith vs. Siyaku Dumiso 205 lbs
Given Majuba vs. Robert Swanepoel 170 lbs
Background
With two thrilling title fights and a host of former champions battling top contenders, EFC 110 is the biggest card in recent African MMA history, ensuring combat sports on the continent end the year with a bang!
The main event on Thursday 7th of December is the ultimate rematch, when a dominant champion finally gets a shot at revenge against the only man to have beaten him in over 6 years. The Brazilian brawler, Reinaldo Ekson, shocked the combat sports world when he took Igeu Kabesa’s 145lb belt at EFC 86 in the first round, and now the two go at it again to settle the score. The war of words between the two combatants has gone back and forth since the fight contracts were signed, and now the most anticipated clash of the year finally comes to fruition in the most violent fashion. With World Sports Betting firmly placing Kabesa as the favourite to take the gold, Ekson, as the significant outsider may have trouble repeating his historic feat.
In the co-main event, Dricus du Plessis’ main sparring partner Mark Hulme, will stage his first title defence against Potchefstroom’s welterweight wrecking-ball, Peace ‘X’ Nguphane, who is coming-off two spectacular knock-out finishes to cement his number one contender status and finally get a shot at glory. But Hulme is a 9-year veteran of the EFC having competed for top promotions around the world and having just secured the belt this year, will do whatever it takes to keep it around his waist. With Nguphane a massive 6.00 underdog going into the fight, R100 placed at World Sports Betting on the talented KO King will return a whopping R600!
In a fight that could be a main event on any other card anywhere in the world, two former bantamweight champions go to war. The Ghost of Zwide, Sindile Manengela takes on the man he was supposed to face at EFC 87, the Gweru Gladiator, Sylvester Chipfumbu. The Zimbabwean finishing machine returns to the Hex for the first time in two and a half years to remind the fans of his devastating finishing, yet he must now face a man determined to take the gold back to the Eastern Cape in 2024. Manengela, the hero of Gqeberha, lays claim, like Chipfumbu to be one of the greats, making this is a dont-blink fight between two former champions who finally get to meet after all this time, and begin the path back to the belt they both once wore with pride.
Two massive heavyweights collide in fight of the night candidate as Mokopane’s Sholto Luiters gets his first and last assignment of 2023 against French knockout sensation Anthony Morel. Training with Cedric Certenais on Reunion Island alongside teammate Francis Martin, Mr Big has had a stunning introduction to international mixed martial arts, with two jaw-dropping knockouts, one of which was of EFC fan-favourite Adama Diop in Orange earlier this year. The gallic giant faces an equally imposing gargantuan in Limpopo’s looming luteur, Sholto Luiters. Now training at the Hitman Academy with Cole Henning, Luiters entered the Hex with a first round finish of Simon Harle, before putting on a thrilling war against Nico Yamdjie and now these two monoliths will test the very foundation of the EFC Performance Institute in a scrap that is doubtful to go the distance.
Opening this incredible main card is House of Tinkerbell’s dynamic Nathaniel Komana who will be hoping to join his teammate Peace Nguphane in the winner’s circle with a victory over Angola’s gritty and powerful Eduardo Barros. The Bantamweight from Luanda has only ever lost to former champions and took Faeez Jacbos the distance in his last bout, after getting his hand raised over Orlando Machava and Bheki Ngcobo. He now faces ‘Kakarot’ who continues to thrive under the tutelage of JP Kruger and the impressive team he has assembled in Springs including current flyweight champion Gift Walker. With the continuing upheaval of the Bantamweight division, both these warriors will be looking to stake a strong claim for contendership with a sensational finish.
Setting the scene in the Hexagon is an undercard featuring 14 fighters competing in 7 bouts that combine a mash-up of veterans and contenders, desperate to put on finishing performances that not only garner Christmas bonuses but will also place them into title contention in 2024. EFC 110 is set to be the biggest event of the year for the promotion with 24 of the continent’s best fighters returning to Johannesburg, to remind combat sports fans around the world that the EFC remains one of the biggest and most-watched promotions in global MMA. And we’re only getting started!
EFC 110 Kabesa vs Ekson 2 is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on Thursday, 7 December 2023, live from the EFC Performance Institute in JHB, South Africa.
