Cape Town - SABC Sport announced a multi-year broadcast
partnership with the EFC, the leading mixed
martial arts (MMA) organisation on the African continent, on Tuesday.
The conclusion of
the agreement is a groundbreaking and historic moment for MMA in South Africa.
The EFC has had continued
growth since its inception, from a local MMA promotion to one of the world
leaders, reaching over 600 million homes in 110 countries around the world
daily. SABC Sport has partnered with EFC to bring the sport even closer to
South African fans.
“Over the years, SABC
Sport has been committed to bringing top local and international sports
properties to viewers across South Africa,” stated SABC Sport’s Group Executive,
Sully Motsweni.
Motsweni continued, “I am proud to announce that SABC Sport has
partnered with EFC, a home-grown world-leading Mixed Martial Arts organisation.”
The
new partnership will see hours of dedicated EFC programming every week on SABC
3, as well as 10 live EFC event broadcasts per year.
Starting on Saturday, February 11,
SABC 3 will broadcast two hours of EFC programming every Saturday
evening from 21:00. The best bouts from the Extreme Fighting Championship will
be featured along with premium programming building up to each new live EFC
event. On the evening of every EFC event, SABC 3 will broadcast the full 3-hour
live event, featuring the five main-card bouts.
“This is a massive day
for mixed martial arts and EFC fans across South Africa,” stated EFC President
Cairo Howarth.
“Now Saturday nights have got a whole lot more exciting thanks
to SABC Sport!” Howarth added.
“This is a huge milestone for EFC, its partners
and the EFC athletes, who will all be showcased to millions of SABC 3 viewers
every Saturday night and repeated on Monday afternoon. Exciting times for MMA!”
Notable highlights of
the new broadcast partnership include:
• EFC’s 10 annual live event broadcasts will feature all five main card bouts, aired live between 21:00 and 00:00 CAT on SABC 3
• The first live event broadcast will be EFC 57 on March 4, 2017
• Dedicated repeat broadcasts will take place the following Monday at 14:00
• A weekly two-hour broadcast of EFC Premium Fight episodes, Countdown Shows and other exciting EFC content from 21:00-23:00 every Saturday on SABC 3.
“The SABC has always
prided itself in producing and promoting the best home-grown television
productions as well as bringing the best international sport and entertainment
to local viewers,” stated SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
He continued, “EFC
events are hosted across South Africa, and appeal to a wide local audience. We
are very proud to be promoting the sport in the different provinces and bringing
all the top-quality EFC programming to SABC.”
Kganyago concluded, “Starting on February 11, Saturday nights will never be the same again!”
Sport personality, Sias
du Plessis, announced the co-main event for the highly anticipated EFC 57 event
on March 4.
Reigning flyweight champion, Nkazimulo Zulu, will face interim
flyweight champion JP Buys in a title unification bout. The two champions, both
hungry for victory, stood face-to-face for an intense stand-off.
The fight
announcement was followed by an open workout with the EFC 57 main event athletes,
the undefeated featherweight champion, Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa, and the former
champion and challenger, Boyd Allen.
All eyes now turn to EFC 57: Kabesa v Allen, Zulu v Buys on
Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Carnival City, Johannesburg.
Tickets are on sale soon at computicket.com. Full broadcast details available on www.efcworldwide.com