Sekeletu Stuns Roets to Become Zambia’s First MMA Champion
Zambia’s Ken ‘The Takeover’ Sekeletu on Thursday emerged victorious in the main event at EFC 121, remaining undefeated to snatch the featherweight title from South Africa’s Roedie Roets in one spectacular round.
Roets came out fast from the bell with the aim of grappling Sekeletu, but the Zambian was able to maneuver, subsequently landing heavy elbow shots to the side his opponent’s head, leaving the champion worse for wear at the bell.
It was immediately evident that Roets, who indicated that his opponent dealt illegal blows to the back of his head despite the replays showing otherwise, was concussed. The South African was unable to continue into the second round, forcing him to hand his belt to Sekeletu, who makes history as the first MMA champion from Zambia.
The new champion will not be allowed to rest upon his laurels however, as the co-main event was staged to select his next challenger between Ayanda Zwane and Billy ‘The Kid’ Oosthuizen.
Over two rounds, Zwane looked the favourite, forcing his opponent to bleed profusely from his wounds. But Oosthuizen pulled out the spectacular in the third as he took Zwane to the canvas and sank in a rear-naked choke to take the tap in a sensational come-from-behind victory.
Meanwhile, the bout between Musa Sethwape defeated Lucky Magekha thanks to a split decision call from the judges. The EFC 121 card opener between Congo’s Diego Bandu and Senegalese debutant Mouhamid Tafsir Ba, ended with the former winning by unanimous decision.
Performance bonuses were, however, awarded to Lihle Ngamntwini, Nicolaas Vermaak, Mlungisi Mbizane, Oosthuizen, and Zwane, while the “Fight of the Night” bonus was given to Bandu and Tafsir Ba
All eyes now turn to the heavyweight title fight on 10 April between French Champion Anthony Morel and Zimbabwean challenger Elvis Moyo.
The Official EFC 121 Results are:
Mfanafuthi Ngobese bt Tebatso Matlhobowane (Rd 2 by Guillotine)
Ash Zola bt Godfrey Mkhwanazi (Rd 2 by RNC)
Nicolaas Vermaak bt Mlungisi Mbizane (Split Decision)
Mark Kamba bt Jaden van der Merwe (Rd 1 Knockout)
Jesse Schaper bt Nkosi Doyisa (Rd 1 by RNC)
Chadrack Yemba bt Tapiwa Katikati (Rd 1 by Anaconda)
Gasmire Diatta bt Sizwe Mnikathi (Unanimous Decision)
Lihle Ngamntwini bt Salahuddin Plaatjies (Split Decision)
Diego Bandu bt Mouhamed Tafsir Ba (Unanimous Decision)
Musa Sethwape bt Lucky Magekha (Split Decision)
Kaleka Kabanda bt Hanru Botha (Rd 1 by TKO)
Billy Oosthuizen bt Ayanda Zwane (Rd 3 by RNC)
Ken Sekeletu bt Roedie Roets (Rd 2 by Verbal Submission)