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Johannesburg - The official weigh-in for the milestone EFC 40 event took place in front of a tension filled room at Carnival City on Friday. Fans bore witness to their favourite athletes exchanging heated face-offs ahead of Saturday's main event.
Headlining EFC 40 is the explosive match-up between the former welterweight champion Dino ‘The Lion’ Bagattin and the young MMA sensation Dricus ‘Stillknocks’ du Plessis. Seconds after weighing-in, the adrenaline got the better of the two as they faced off. After a heated exchange, which saw Du Plessis grab Bagattin by the throat, they had to be separated by security and calmed down before their interviews with Dirk Steenekamp. Both athletes promised the fans to expect fireworks when they finally step into the Hexagon.
In the penultimate bout of the evening, Ruan ‘Fangzz’ Potts returns to the Hexagon to face the impressive Frenchman Cyril ‘Silverback’ Asker, who dismantled Ricky Misholas in his EFC debut. Both athletes were supremely confident stepping onto the scale ahead of a titanic heavyweight clash that is sure to enthrall the crowd.
Also on the main card is the second fight in EFC for Irishman Peter ‘Showstopper Queally, who faces off against Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa. Queally looked comfortable in his new weight class, having dropped from welterweight to square off against Kabesa who is yet to be defeated in five fights for the organisation.
Former team-mates Wade Groth and Brendan Katz shared a friendly exchange after comfortably making weight. A visibly bulked Groth is looking to get back to winning ways after his loss to Boyd Allen, while Katz is looking for redemption after succumbing to Wesley Hawkey. In a match-up between two athletes with a penchant for throwing serious leather, this has been mooted by many as a potential fight of the night.
Rounding off the main card is the ever-exciting Hanru Botha, who welcomes Scottish debutant Danny Henry into the Hexagon at featherweight. Botha, a wrestling specialist with a predilection for huge knockouts, has his hands full in Henry who holds a pro MMA record of 4-1 coming into the organisation.
Five athletes initially failed to make weight. Stefan Pretorius, Nelson Feiteira, Anicet Kanyeba and Pietie Coxen opted to receive fines while Dricus du Plessis made weight within the allotted extra time.
The full EFC 40 weigh-in results were as follows:
Bout 1 : Lightweight bout
Stefan Pretorius 72.30kg
Robert Simbowe 69.95kg
Bout 2 : Welterweight bout
Gorilla Okosso 75.70 kg
Pietie Coxen 77.55kg
Bout 3 : Bantamweight bout
Bill Thusi 60.50kg
Jasen van Merwe 60.10kg
Bout 4 : Featherweight bout
Anicet Kanyeba 67.95kg
Anthony Mailer 66.00kg
Bout 5 : Heavyweight bout
Steve Nwosu 108.55kg
Wilhelm Strauss 120.00kg
Bout 6 : Bantamweight bout
Nelson Feiteira 62.30kg
Marino Cutendana 61.00kg
Bout 7 : Heavyweight bout
Tomasz Kowalkowski 108.15kg
Elvis Moyo 120.00kg
Bout 8 : Featherweight bout
Danny Henry 66.00kg
Hanru Botha 66.00kg
Bout 9 : Featherweight bout
Wade Groth 65.60kg
Brendon Katz 66.00kg
Bout 9 : Lightweight bout
Peter Queally 69.95kg
Igeu Kabesa 69.95kg
Bout 11 : Heavyweight bout
Cyril Asker 112.10kg
Ruan Potts 112.25kg
Bout 12 : Welterweight bout
Dricus du Plessis 77.00kg
Dino Bagattin 76.70kg
EFC 40: Bagattin v Du Plessis, presented by BetXchange.com, and takes place at Carnival City, Johannesburg, on Saturday, June 6, 2015. Tickets on sale at www.computicket.com. Book your cinema ticket to all fights live and in state of the art digital projection at www.sterkinekor.com.
