Lino destroys Quaile at EFC 38

Ballito Bulldogs professional MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter, Amanda “Mad Dog” Lino made a sensational EFC flyweight debut against Irish fighter, Stephanie Quaile on Saturday night at the EFC 38 (Extreme Fighting Championship) at the Durban ICC.

Lino went out like a rocket propelled grenade, eyes locked on Quaile and not breaking eye contact until mission accomplished by means of a devastating technical knock-out only a minute and two seconds into the first round.

It took Lino only seconds to send Quaile into a backward motion, landing punch after punch, quickly having her pinned with her back to the fence where Lino kept her for a good part of the fight.

Once Quaile was released from the fence it would only be a few short moments before Lino brought her down with a solid right hook that would also earn her ‘knock-out of the evening’.

“My game plan was to stick to what I know best and stand up and go hard, so that is where I went,” said Lino who is in the best shape of her life.

Lino had the EFC television commentators on the edge of their seats. They could not believe what they were seeing, describing her as “intense” and “taking names” and said they did not want to face her in the hexagon.

“It looked like she wanted to take Quaile’s head off,” said one of the commentators after the fight.

Lino said she felt excited, adrenalin was pumping through her veins and nerves also played a role.

“I wanted to make my debut with a bang and it just happened,” she said.

Quaile walked away with a swollen eyebrow and stitches to her cheek.

“She is a tough cookie,” said Lino, who showed nothing but respect for her opponent.

Lino said in a message to Quaile on March 27 that she was looking forward to giving her a warm Durban welcome.

“There will not be a Blarney stone to kiss in the cage, so my gloves will have to do. Your face and my gloves are definitely going to connect,” said Lino in a message to Quaile.

*This article has been corrected.