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Cape Town - The official weigh in for EFC35 played out to a boisterous crowd at GrandWest on Wednesday. The electric room was filled with Cape Town’s loyal MMA fans anticipating the biggest fight night of the year.
The event is headlined by the EFC light heavyweight title fight between the undefeated champion Gideon ‘Juggernaut’ Drotschie and the intense challenger, Norman ‘Chef’ Wessels. During the face-off, EFC president Cairo Howarth had to break up what was a heated stare down between the two athletes. This is a bout that has clearly become personal, and fans can expect an all out war when they step into the Hexagon on Thursday.
“I am just glad that Gideon doesn’t smell of alcohol from the bar,” Wessels taunted the champion in his interview. Drotschie did not mince his words, urging the people of Cape Town to get to GrandWest and support their hometown hero.
Co-headlining the event is the anticipated heavyweight title fight between the enigmatic Christophe ‘Bomaye’ Walravens and Cape Town native, Brendon Groenewald. This bout will see the explosive Walravens test himself against the highly technical BJJ specialist. The heavyweight division has been absent of a champion since EFC27, and both are eager to claim the organisation’s most prestigious title.
Also featured on the main card, Muay Thai world champion Irshaad ‘White Tiger’ Sayed faced off against Durban’s Abdul ‘Hollywood’ Hassan at bantamweight. Hassan brought his pre-fight antics onto the stage, and pushed his face right into his Sayed’s, fishing for a reaction.
Irishman Peter Queally, making his EFC debut, squared off against DRC’s Francois ‘Frenchman’ Kabulu, who is returning to the Hexagon after a one-year absence. The DRC native could be seen whispering aggressively at his opponent as they faced off. Queally seemed unaffected, but eager to get in the Hexagon.
Three fighters initially failed to make weight. Sizwe Mnikathi and Sydney Mokgolo, who were 3.2kg and 1.8kg over respectively, were subjected to a financial penalty. Chad Hepburn arrived late for weigh-ins, but proceeded to make weight.
EFC35 weigh-in results were as follows:
Bout 1 : Lightweight bout
Sydney Mokgolo 71.80kg
Chad Hepburn 70.00kg
Bout 2 : Bantamweight bout
Peter Nyide 60.95kg
Boney Bukaka 60.90kg
Bout 3 : Welterweight bout
Pupanga Tresor 77.00kg
Tyron Bester 75.00kg
Bout 4 : Featherweight bout
Anthony Mailer 65.80kg
Sizwe Mnikathi 69.20kg
Bout 5 : Lightweight bout
Luke Michael 69.30kg
Regis Muyambo 69.30kg
Bout 6 : Heavyweight bout
Knife Didier 102.55kg
Elvis Moyo 115.00kg
Bout 7 : Light Heavyweight bout
Champion Dalcha 90.15kg
Danie van Heerden 93.00kg
Bout 8 : Welterweight bout
Shaun de Lange 77.00kg
Bruno Mukulu 76.95kg
Bout 9 : Welterweight bout
Francois Kabulu 77.00kg
Peter Queally 76.60kg
Bout 9 : Bantamweight bout
Irshaad Sayed 60.80kg
Abdul Hassan 60.45kg
Bout 11 : Heavyweight title bout
Christophe Walravens 106.65kg
Brendon Groenewald 109.35kg
Bout 12 : Light Heavyweight title bout
Gideon Drotschie 92.60kg
Norman Wessels 92.75kg
EFC35: Drotschie v Wessels, Walravens v Groenewald is presented by BetXchange.com, and takes place at the GrandWest, Cape Town, on Thursday, November 6, 2014. 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. Watch the entire event live, from anywhere on the globe, via online streaming at efcworldwide.tv.
