A six-year-long dream has finally come true for a local professional mixed martial arts fighter, Hein Pavier, who will compete in his first professional fight at EFC 71 in Carnival City, Johannesburg.
The Warrior Sports Potchefstroom-based fighter will take on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s, Mutuale ‘Suicide Machine’ Basambombo in a welterweight fight this Saturday, 23 June.

Pavier, who is known as ‘The Viking Warrior’ due to his never-say-die attitude and fierce training mentality is ready to put it all on the line in his debut.
‘This is a six-year plan that is finally coming to fruition. The goal has always been to reach the EFC (Extreme Fighting Championship) and now, after receiving my pro licence, I can get the opportunity to fight in my first fight. When I signed my contract, things finally started to get real,’ said an excited Pavier.
‘My opponent, Basambombo, has experience in professional fights, having been involved in eight of them but I will not stand back just because he has more experience,’ he vowed.

Pavier added that he and his team have studied his opponent carefully and seen that pressure situations are one of his major downfalls.
‘He tries to put the pressure on you from the start but, as soon as you reverse that pressure, you can get the upper hand. I am going to try and capitalise on the conditioning and endurance I have built up while training at Crossfit Potchefstroom.
According to Pavier, his kickboxing, hand speed and groundwork on the mat have improved immensely over the past couple of months.

‘My strength is still stand-up but if the fight goes to the ground, I will be able to put up a good fight,’ he added.

Pavier explained that the road to EFC is a long one and that various factors contribute to being awarded an EFC contract.
‘My amateur fighting record is 7–3 (7 wins and 3 losses) and I have lost only one fight in the weight class that I am competing in this Saturday. The fighters who perform well and win get to move up on the fight card and build a reputation. My goal is to win this one and fight again on 11 August. EFC will send me contracts on a fight-to-fight basis,’ he added.

‘Another goal is to at least put in five fights per year, depending on whether I stay injury free.
I am 31 and the key for me will be to consistently improve over the next five years of fighting I have left in me. My focus has also been on coaching and training up-and-coming fighters at Warrior Sports with the goal of getting them into the professional fighting arena, too.’
Pavier says his support team at Warrior Sports Potchefstroom has been instrumental in getting him 100 per cent ready for his fight.

‘Mickey Cloete, my sparring partner, has helped me tremendously with my preparation, specifically on the ground and with stand-up. My head coach, Brett Clarke, has pushed me over the past six years and has been my mentor from the start. Lafras Dan, the head coach at Crossfit Potchefstroom, will also be in my corner for the fight,’ said Pavier.

* Pavier is the second local who will fight in the EFC after Roevan de Beer, who became the first resident of Potchefstroom to fight professionally.