The greatest 145lb mixed martial artist to have ever competed in Africa, Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa successfully made weight alongside his confident challenger, Vince Bembe, to rubberstamp their title clash tomorrow night which tops yet another card of violent intent containing the best combat sports talent on the continent. Competing in his 18th bout in the Hexagon, the wrestling standout may be defending his featherweight buckle one final time as the competing contracts for his signature from a variety of global promotions are placed before him. Despite the champion questioning his challenger’s credentials, Bembe refused to let the pressure on the eve of this biggest fight of his impressive career show, by exuding confidence and calmness at the scales in front of a vocal crowd at the EFC Performance Institute. All main card athletes moved the needle on the correct side of their weight categories and wasted little time in getting stuck into their opponents faces and subsequently having to be separated by Night Guard security personnel. Furthermore, ten hungry contenders fill out the stacked undercard with the featured prelim fight between Zambia’s Humphrey Mulenga and the DRC’s Guelor Sondi, a standout ‘Fight Of The Night’ candidate. 20 athletes in total will battle in the Hexagon tomorrow night live across the world, on one of the best cards of African combat sports this year!
Main Card
FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
Igeu Kabesa (SA) 144.4lbs vs Vince Bembe (SA) 143.5lbs
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Tapiwa Katikati (ZIM) 155lbs vs Cole Henning (SA)155lbs
BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT
Bheki Ngcobo (SA) 134,9lbs vs Roevan De Beer 135lbs (SA)
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Adrian Sanchez (SA) 154.4lbs vs Glody Kanzeko (DRC) 152.8lbs
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Luke Hendrikz (SA) 125lbs vs Mpumelelo Mngoma (SA) 124.2lbs
Prelim Card
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
Guelor Sondi (DRC) 152.8lbs vs Humphrey Mulenga (ZIM) 155lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Christopher Matukane (SA) 185lbs vs Jeremie Tshibala (SA) 183.9lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Divin Bosomi (SA) 143.9lbs vs Sibusiso Sovendle (SA) 143.3lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Danie Swart (SA) * vs Valere Ilenda (SA) 144.7lbs
CATCHWEIGHT FIGHT
Robert Swanepoel (SA) 178.3lbs vs Lisaka Landoyi (SA) 179.8lbs
* Athletes failed to make weight at time of writing
Watch the EFC 104 Weigh-Ins here
Photos from the EFC 104 Weigh-Ins here
Prelim bouts start at 16:00 CAT
Main card bouts start at 19:00 CAT
EFC 104 Kabesa versus Bembe is presented by World Sports Betting and takes place on Thursday 15 June 2023 live from the EFC Performance Institute in JHB, South Africa.