With five incredible prelim bouts opening the action on Saturday, take a look at the protagonists ready to throw down and uplift their records and rankings at EFC 93!
Tumelo Manyamala vs. Teboho Ntene
Tumelo ‘Bones of Steel’ Manyamala is an unfamiliar name to many but the young fighter is ready to change that completely at EFC 93 with his pro debut. Manyamala started his combat career in kickboxing before crossing over to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he has earnt his blue belt. Now, Manyamala looks to make his professional debut at just 23 years old and hopes that his high intensity and physical strength will lead to a successful debut. Manyamala trains at Pride Fighting Academy in Cape Town under well-respected coach Mike Mouneimne, and is currently studying towards a diploma in construction.
Across from Manyamala will stand Teboho ‘M16’ Ntene (0-1-0). Following a 6-fight amateur career, Ntene made his debut at EFC 88 against Julio Plaatjies. That fight did not go Ntene’s way but with this next fight, he’s hoping to redeem himself in emphatic fashion. Ntene began MMA training when Brothers in Arms’ coach Conrad Seabi invited him to train with him in Pretoria though his current fight camp is based at Mamelodi Fight Fit. Ntene is a self-taught web designer/developer but, apart from that, his sole focus is on his craft as a fighter. M16 has proven himself to be a fierce striker who is able to use the Hex well, and will look to get the finish in this fight.
Lukhmaan Jhazbhay vs. Johannes Rudolph
Johannes Rudolph is another name set to make his professional debut at EFC 93. On the amateur circuit, Rudolph raked up a 4-5-0 record, with all his wins coming by way of either KO/TKO or submission. Following his two-year amateur career, Rudolph stepped away from the cage and now, five years later, is ready to make his professional debut. Outside of the Hex, Rudolph has attained two diplomas, one in sport nutrition and the other in diet planning. Currently, he works as a sales rep and key account manager. His source of inspiration is his son Jax Raegen Rudolph and, with this debut fight, he looks to put on a show and wants fans to expect fireworks from start to finish.
Lukhmaan Jhazbhay (0-1-0) got his start in martial arts at age 7 when he started Kyokushin karate then, following his crowning as the SA Kickboxing champion in 2010, he made his transition over to MMA. Jhazbhay notes that becoming a professional MMA fighter has been the biggest achievement in his life. Jhazbhay stays with his mother but lives by the code that he does not step into the Hex to make friends but rather to prove why he says he will be the best fighter someday in the future.
Kevin Pretorius vs. Tshepo Majuba
Kevin Pretorius has already stated that he will one day capture the EFC Lightweight Championship and ahead of his pro debut fight at EFC 93, has promised fight fans around the world thrilling and constantly improving fights. When he’s not training, ‘Snakes’ works as a line operator and has a strong supportive family backing him in his MMA career, with his girlfriend, Michaela Ross, serving as his manager.
Tshepo Majuba (0-1-0) has a black belt in kickboxing and was formerly the South African K-1 Champion. Tshepo is an exercise science graduate with a laser-like focus on his opponent and he had just one word to describe the action fight fans could expect from him: “Marvelous”.
Katiso Matime vs. Martin Gcinumkhondo
Katiso Matime credits his brother, Thabiso Matime, for getting him into MMA and has gone on to compete at the IMMAF World Championships in Bahrain as a part of the MMASA team, where he won one bronze and two silver medals. Matime is giving back to the place that started it all for him by being a junior instructor at Mixed Martial Arts & Action Kickboxing, and is constantly working and looking to improve himself as a fighter.
Martin ‘Top Dog’ Gcinumkhondo (0-1-0) was set to have his second fight at EFC 91 against Lukhmaan Jhazbhay but, following being a victim in a mugging incident, could not compete at that event. Four months later, at EFC 93, Gcinumkhondo looks to make his return to the Hex in memorable fashion. ‘Top Dog’ got his start in kickboxing, where he earnt his second Dan black belt, before making the transition to MMA, where he gained an incredible amount of experience as an amateur. Outside of the Hex, the kickboxer holds certificates in personal training and agriculture, the former being his chosen profession but hopes to ultimately become a champion in the EFC and serve as a good role model for the youth.
Matime and Gcinumkhondo are both very motivated and looking to change their communities, and this fight could serve as the starting point for either of them.
Vince Bembe vs. Trezeguet Kanyinda
Vince Bembe (2-1-0) walks into EFC 93 oozing confidence, and considers himself to be his own hero. Bembe looks to be the best featherweight that the promotion has ever seen, and hopes to be a source of inspiration for fight fans around the world. As opposed to studying his opponent, Bembe opts to study himself so as to improve himself for future fights. Coming off the first loss of his professional career at EFC 92 against Bradley Swanepoel, his coach Cedric Doyle will look to improve his protogé’s submission defence against the lanky 2-Pac.
Trezeguet Kanyinda (3-5-0) says that watching the EFC served as inspiration for the beginning of his MMA career and with that motivation, he looks to work towards becoming a household name for the promotion. The tough and durable veteran is surely looking at the clock for the amount of time he has left in the top-flight of the featherweights, though he hasn’t been to a decision in over five years and always looks to put on a show for the fans. 2 Pac will surely be looking to keep his head up and resist the temptation to go to the ground and instead use his reach advantage to get his third first-round KO.
This feature prelim bout offering from the featherweight division promises to bring about an electrifying ending to the prelims that might have implications for the entire division.