Thursday, December 11, marks a crucial moment in the career of EFC Worldwide middleweight Gareth Sawyer.
When the former Benoni High School pupil enters the hexagon at the Coca Cola Dome, at EFC 36, he will be aiming for his third straight professional win — this time against submission expert Warren Allison.
The fight is the main event of the Ster-Kinekor prelims and has been dubbed as “a battle between natural athleticism and strength (Sawyer) versus slick technical submission skills (Allison)”.
The City Times caught up with Sawyer as his December D-Day fast approaches.
“I am expecting a good fight,” he said.
“He is definitely going to be good on the ground, but that is fine by me.
“I have been working a lot more on my fitness and have been working with the guys at CrossFit Urban Shack at Old Bens. ”As with like all of my fights, I just want be as strong and as fit as I can be.”
When asked what has changed since he defeated Jason Culverwell at the Durban International Convention Centre, at EFC 32, in August, the middleweight replied: “I have a lot more all-round confidence and the more fights that I have the more I gain in confidence.
“I have been working a lot with my back on the ground; I need to turn him over if he does take me down; I cannot be a slouch.”
Sawyer added that Allison is on a four-fight win streak, but that his opponent’s run is going to end at the Dome.
“I expect this one to go longer than my previous fights [which all ended in the first round via technical knock-outs],” he said.
“He is an extremely gritty fighter and is definitely going to grind it out.”
Sawyer is also aware that his opponent is vastly more experienced in the cage.
“I cannot give this guy an inch, there’s simply no room for error,” he said.
“If Allison gives me the opportunity I will submit him, but I am mainly going for the TKO again.
“I definitely won’t leave the decision in the hands of the judges.”
This massive fight will be shown live at Ster-Kinekor cinemas.
