Soldierboy on top at the Big Top

Thirteen bouts were fought, that culminated in two epic title bouts.

Jeremy “Pitbull” Smith put his middleweight belt on the line against Garreth “Soldierboy” McLellan, and Demarte “The Wolf” Pena his featherweight title against Alain “Commander Boy” Ilunga.

Smith versus McLellan two was the main event of the evening, and arguably the most spectacular.

The two men last fought in March 2012, when McLellan relinquished his middleweight title to the Pitbull.

On the night, the challenger took the fight to the champ in a close and aggressive battle that had both landing numerous strikes.

The bout went to ground, where McLellan managed to secure top position and land a devastating elbow strike that caused Smith’s nose to gush blood.

McLellan then took the champion’s back and applied a rear naked choke, ending the bout in the first round.

The evening’s co-main event was an EFC Africa milestone where for the first time two non-South Africans were competing for the title.

DRC-born challenger Alain Ilunga faced Angola’s own, and undefeated, Demarte Pena. It was billed as a certain strike fest, but instead was technical and drawn out.

Pena took the fight by unanimous decision, in the process setting a new record of an incredible five title defences.

In the only heavyweight bout of the evening, Ekurhuleni’s Ruan Potts finally got to face Ricky Misholas, after he was denied the chance at EFC AFRICA 20, when Misholas pulled out of their scheduled fight only hours before it was due to take place.

The bout went as most expected.

Potts rushed Misholas, took him down, and tied him up with a sophisticated ground game.

Cedric Doyle, who trains at Brakpan’s Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies (XKT), defeated Sibulele Swekilevia via TKO 04:08 into round one.

EFC AFRICA 24 full results:

• Anicet Kanyeba defeated Amos Hlatswayo via submission (rear naked choke) 3:44 into round three.

• Pietie Coxen defeated Steven Momah via TKO2:33 into round one.

• Cedric Doyle defeated Sibulele Swekilevia via TKO 4:08 into round one.

• Darell Moodley defeated Victor Anyoagu via submission (RNC) 2:05 into round two.

• Mbulelo Swekile defeated Pierre Botha via submission (triangle) 2:34 into round one. Nkazimulo Zulu defeated Craig Ninow via unanimous decision.

• Morne Prinsloo defeated Josh Muller via verbal submission 2:41 into round one.

• David Buirski defeated Wade Henderson via TKO 1:35 into round one.

• Dricus du Plessis defeated JC Lamprecht via submission (RNC) 1:54 into round three.

• Brendon Katz defeated Gareth Buirski via unanimous decision.

• Ruan Potts defeated Ricky Misholas via submission (triangle) 4:05 into round one.

• Demarte Pena defeated Alain Ilunga via unanimous decision.n Garreth McLellan defeated Jeremy Smith via submission (RNC) 4:38 into round one.