The Ballito Convention Centre is the chosen battle ground for the first cage fighting event to be held on Ballito soil.
On Friday, October 31 tenacious combat athletes from all over KZN and Gauteng will converge to fight for glory in 11 cage fights and seven kick boxing bouts in the AFL 22.
Ballito’s own current female amateur MMA world champion, Amanda Lino will take on Durban’s Nqobile Hadebe in South Africa’s first ever AFL ladies title fight. They will bout in the feather weight division for the TGT title belt.
“It is going to be a grudge match because I beat Hadebe last time we fought in Empangeni and she wants to get some revenge, I reckon, so it is going to be a good fight,” said Lino.
Thanks to her sponsors Lino can now afford to work half day and spend more time training. She will soon start training with Dwain Swiegers and Dylan Moran at IMF gym to supplement her current training regime.
Lino prepares for any situation. She does not watch her opponents to find their weakness because she believes that leaves holes in her own armour.
“I hit hard, that is it. I am confident in my training and prepared for any situation. I look forward to testing out my new custom made Goonch training kit that allows me to move better in the cage,” said Lino.
Lino’s coach Guy Sheenan said she packs one of the biggest punches he has ever felt from a woman and she can take a punch too.
“In her last fight Lino knocked out her opponent eight seconds into the bout and in the amateur MMA world championship final in Las Vegas she won in style with a 27 second knockout of her opponent from Sweden in the first round,” said Sheenan.
Sheenan said Lino will show Hadebe maximum respect by hitting as hard as she can.
Other Ballito fighters that will be in action are Chad Minnaar, Justin Parsons and Clifton Bartholomew.
Standing and 10 seater table tickets are available from Guy Sheenan and he can be contacted at 082 655 5664.
“This is a big event for Ballito and we want to get as many people there as possible,” said Sheenan.
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