Pandamonium Fitness Centre’s very own Iviwe Msuthu and Jefferson Khumalo are set to light up the main card at Versus Fight Night 16, a thrilling event featuring 16 bouts, including two title fights.

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Trained under coaches like Dwain Meredith, these South African fighters are prepared to showcase their talent and represent their country with honour.

Msuthu, nicknamed the ‘South Side Ninja’, steps into his professional MMA debut against Zambia’s Mwele Nkatha. With an 18–9 amateur record, and a recent EFC Contender Series victory, he’s adapted his training at Pandamonium for the pro level. “The change from amateur to pro MMA is nothing much. We knew that I would eventually go pro, due to my experience. Coach Dwain Meredith has been sharpening my skills with the help of my teammates. Going to this fight, we just want to perform, because we are doing what we love, performing for the crowd.”

His nickname, inspired by anime and coined by high school friends, reflects a disciplined yet entertaining style. Msuthu is excited to be back in the cage, not only with new techniques but also with a new surname. “Changing my surname is a new path that we are taking, and I’m excited that I can finally put my family name on the map. By stepping on that cage on November 1, it will be a blessing for me and my family.”

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Khumalo, meanwhile, takes on JJ Karagiannidis for the amateur featherweight title. With a 9–4 amateur record, he’s evolved from a chaotic ‘mob’ fighter, to a strategic ‘sage’, through sparring with Msuthu. “I was mostly self-taught. I had no discipline in my approach to fighting. I used to just go by mob, but guys like Iviwe saw right through it. He made me pay for my reckless style, but still pointed out its potential. I humbled myself to the lowest point, so I could learn as much as I could.”

A split-decision loss in Zambia shaped his mindset. “I hate losing, but the best you can do when it happens is learn from it. This fight helped develop a killer’s instinct.”

Both thrive at Pandamonium alongside Patrick Ocheme, with Msuthu aspiring to bring a major event to Cape Town, inspired by Conor McGregor. “I got inspired by that, and I kind of want to do the same, to bring one of the best organisations and main events to Cape Town.”

Khumalo aims to pioneer MMA in middle-class communities. “I’ll also, specifically, call on the middle-class communities to consider adopting this art into our culture. It would do a lot for us and our kids.”

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