Soldierboy to return for EFC 80 warfare
Rival ‘The Fighter 2’ (#TF2) coaches are set to collide in the main event of EFC 80 at Carnival City on June 29.
Former champion and former UFC middleweight Garreth McLellan will go head-to-head with ‘The Fighter 1’ (#TF1) winner Brendan Lesar for the interim EFC middleweight championship.
Plus, the #TF2 finale sees the culmination of a 10-week-long journey for two female warriors who fought their way to the finals of the hit reality sports show.
It has been just under five years since EFC fans saw McLellan fight under the bright lights in the hexagon, the arena where he built his world-renowned craft and where his name became synonymous with the sport on the continent.
Half a decade ago, ‘Soldierboy’ faced the surging Dricus du Plessis in a back-and-forth battle that will be remembered for ages to come.
It was a fight he ultimately won via submission and which handed du Plessis his only loss in the hexagon.
Shortly after that historic night, McLellan was scouted by Las Vegas-based promotion UFC and fought around the world.
Now, the legendary African soldier is back, more tactical and better than ever.
Having earned his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in his absence, he has returned to claim the title he never lost.
Lesar rose from obscurity on #TF1.
Read: Get ready for EFC 80
Chosen last in the team selections, he fought and won more than anyone else in the house to claim the title of The Fighter, season 1 champion.
With a guaranteed title and a six-figure EFC contract in the bag, he battled his way through some of the world’s best undefeated prospects, beating the odds time and time again.
In the finale against Ibrahima Mané from France, he made it a dogfight, controlling the action for almost all the bout, before catching a devastating shin to the face.
He survived the onslaught to claim the unanimous decision.
His tenacity to overcome has been the leading characteristic of his career.
No matter how overwhelmed he has seemed, Lesar has found a way.
In the words of fans and pundits: “He is not a man you want to bet against.”
The building battle between ‘Soldierboy’ and the ‘Descendant’ is going to be huge.
Added to this epic title fight, two of the women who spent six weeks living and training together under the watchful eye of McLellan and Lesar will collide.
Out of the 10 contestants, these female fighters conquered all who stood in their way and have one final hurdle left before claiming the title of #TF2 champion, the six-figure EFC contract and a guaranteed shot at EFC women’s flyweight gold against reigning double-division champ, Amanda ‘Maddog’ Lino.
On the same night, the second fight in the EFC welterweight Grand Prix takes place between Luke Michael and Conrad Seabi.
The fight was initially scheduled for EFC 78 in Cape Town, but it was postponed with less than 24 hours to go as Seabi injured himself during his weight cut.
With Themba Gorimbo claiming the first spot in the finals in a dramatic battle against Jose da Rocha at EFC 79, fans are about to find out who will face the Zimbabwean in the finals for the vacant EFC welterweight championship.
These fights headline the top of a 12-bout fight card featuring some of the best of the organisation.
Tickets are on sale soon at www.computicket.com
Full broadcast details are available at www.efcworldwide.com
Also read: Intense knock-out action at EFC 79
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