Flyweight title fight between Ballito’s Lino and Power cancelled
Lino said if she had a choice, she would like to fight Isabelle Pare who beat her at EFC 43 by means of a rear naked choke.
The highly anticipated female flyweight title fight between Ballito’s Amanda Lino and Shana Power from Johannesburg had to be taken off the EFC 54 fight card because Power could not make the weight cut.
The fight was to be the co-main event at Saturday night’s big EFC 54 fight card at Sun City, but due to having her period, Power was unable to shake off the last 800 grams.
“Being a professional athlete I have always made weight… but women’s menstruation cycles play a massive part especially in weight cutting,” said Power.
Power woke up on Friday morning at 57.8 kilograms and said 800 grams was not a lot of weight to cut but unfortunately, after ten baths and six hours of cutting, the weight would not budge and she was advised by the doctor to withdraw from the fight due to health risks.
Power had suffered a pulmonary embolism four years ago and with her being so dehydrated, as most athletes are at weigh-in, the risk of another clot forming that would shoot to her lungs or heart and kill her in the cage, was too high.
Lino handled the disappointment with the grace and professionalism that fans have become accustomed to.
“I was very disappointed that I did not get to fight; anyone who has prepped for a title fight knows the sacrifice and work that goes behind it,” said Lino.
“But God has a reason for everything and I’m just going to keep positive and move forward. At the end of the day I have become a better fighter and have learned so much going through this camp and only benefited from the experience.”
No decisions have been made yet by the EFC on what happens next but Lino said if she had a choice, she would like to fight Isabelle Pare who beat her at EFC 43 by means of a rear naked choke.
“I would like to fight Pare as it would be a great grudge match and I feel that would be a good fight for fans to see; we are both tough fighters and worthy of a title.”
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