Van Zyl can take the licks

Andrew Van Zyl Photo: Roarke Bouffe

Andrew Van Zyl Photo: Roarke Bouffe

Published Oct 6, 2016

Share

Cape Town - One-punch knockout power is a game-changer in mixed martial arts. When a single blow can end a fight, a single error or miscalculation can result in defeat. But for EFC heavyweight title challenger Andrew van Zyl, facing an opponent with that kind of power is just another day at the office.

Van Zyl will take on Elvis Moyo for the vacant EFC heavyweight title next Saturday, and he says the former professional boxer’s heavy hands aren’t that big an issue. “Every single fighter I’ve faced in South Africa, bar maybe two or three, has come out and tried to knock my head off, so it’s not anything new to me,” Van Zyl said.

“One Gear”, as he’s known, is one of South Africa’s true MMA veterans and his participation in the sport almost predates its existence. Van Zyl began training while still at high school under Rodney King, who’s widely recognised as the founder of the sport in the country.

Van Zyl has competed in five EFC title fights, won two, and regularly fought the most dangerous fighters to step inside a cage on the continent. It’s a testament to his iron chin, consummate skill and tactical nous that none of his opponents have ever stopped him with strikes.

The 34-year-old had just come off a one-week break, following a quick TKO win over the Briton Tony Mustard at EFC 53, when he was offered a title fight against Moyo.

Former heavyweight champion Danie van Heerden had just been stripped of the title and suspended for a racist social media post aimed at his opponent, Moyo. Despite having less time than usual to prepare for the bout, Van Zyl didn’t hesitate to sign on.

“It was probably good for my mental capacity to have that week off and then I got straight back into training. I didn’t really lose much in terms of fitness. It was just a case of sharpening up and being ready for fight night. I’m on track and there are no problems,” he said.

“As I’ve been involved in the fight game, I’ve learned that a camp that’s too long is sometimes not as good as something that is intense and shorter. I wasn’t really too worried about it. I’m competing against a very similar type of athlete.

“With Tony he may have wanted to challenge on the feet a little bit more, so with Elvis you have to change the game plan. We altered our game plan and carried on.”

Van Zyl and his camp will be aware of the threat posed by Moyo, having faced and defeated him in July 2014. On that occasion, Van Zyl needed almost four minutes to lock in an arm bar and tap out his opponent.

While he acknowledges that Moyo was a “novice” at the time - just two fights into his professional career and still learning the combat sport’s wrestling and grappling aspects - Van Zyl believes he still has the superior non-percussive skills.

“Not to let too many cats out of the bag, but I think he knows what I want to do on the night and he has to try and stop me,” Van Zyl said. “He is a stand-up fighter so I’m going to try use my ground game to my advantage and not let him throw any bombs and try to beat him in that way.

“You would imagine that his trainers have thought about that and that he would be working on that. In the two years (since our last fight) his game has advanced, my game has also advanced.”

If Van Zyl’s estimation that he will be the better grappler once again is accurate, the outcome of next weekend’s bout rests on whether he can actually take Moyo to the ground. If not, the stocky Zimbabwean could be the first man to knockout his South African rival.

The fight takes place at EFC 54 next Saturday at Sun City and also features a flyweight title bout between Baldwin Mdlalose and JP Buys and a women’s flyweight title fight between Shana Power and Amanda Lino.

Cape Time

Related Topics: