#EFC71 Super Fight sees Van Zyl take on Lungiambula

Julian Kiewietz previews the Van Zyl vs Lungiambula Super Fight.

Julian Kiewietz previews the Van Zyl vs Lungiambula Super Fight.

Published Jun 21, 2018

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CAPE TOWN – When I take a walk down EFC's big-fight memory lane, headliners such as Pena against Sayed (both 1 and 2), Boyd against Madge and Lino against Zouak come to mind.

But when the Cape Town sun rises outside my window come Sunday morning, I am almost sure I'll be adding VanZyl against Lungiambula to that list.

On Saturday night at Carnival City, MMA fans will have the privilege of witnessing the biggest fight in the Extreme Fighting Championship when the Heavyweight champion - Andrew van Zyl - puts his title on the line against an equally dangerous warrior and the Light Heavyweight champion, Dalcha Lungiambula in a Super Fight at EFC71.

Aside from the fancy feels that come with the title of this match, the event itself is enough to get purists excited.

It sees a three-time heavyweight champion and a calculating Mixed Martial Arts icon throw down against a vicious and powerful warrior with a high level of Judo.

They don't come more grizzled than Mr Heavyweight, Andrew. His record speaks for itself with 19 wins (two of which have gone the distance) and only 3 losses.

It is clear that many have come, and many have fallen before him. He has earned the respect of fighters from across the globe, saluting the man fighting out of Randburg Ridge BJMMA gym in Johannesburg.

After watching Andrew's dominance, Dalcha made the move up to heavyweight with one objective in mind: "Andrew van Zyl must fall".

Dalcha, an incredibly powerful and explosive fighter has rocked quite a few ships in the MMA waters. With his lightning-fast clinch movement, tough skin and log-like limbs, the Cape Town-based fighter is on a four-match winning streak, and sports eight wins and just one loss in the EFC thus far.

Just like Andrew, Dalcha, too, is a man who enjoys finishing his business before the judges can call it, which makes for an even more tantalizing match-up. 

But Andrew is not too concerned.

"He is very athletic and a very good Judoku, he's not more powerful or more technical with his striking in comparison to Elvis Moyo or Jared Vanderaa, so I guess we will see. It will be tough but business as usual," referencing two matches which he won recently.

If Dalcha does not stick to his strengths, I can't see him making history in Johannesburg.

He will need to activate a strong Judo game and tire the Heavyweight champion with numerous take-downs before initiating a guard-breaking ground and pound or simply find the button and put Andrew to sleep. 

If it does not go this way, I see the man they call 'One Gear' picking away at the Cape Town warrior racking up points with each round. Or, should Dalcha fail to follow his natural game, the increase in wait could also be his downfall and see 'One Gear' dominate with his heavy hands and drop Dalcha to the canvas.

"It's a heavyweight fight, so he must be at 105kgs, so he needs to deal with the extra weight," says Andrew. 

Dalcha's explosive power will certainly be put to the test, if it holds out, incredibly, things could get very interesting. Either way, we can play all the scenarios out in our heads and on our pcs. But only these two authors will be able to write a warrior-novel come Saturday night.

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Main card bouts – 21:30 CAT (live on SABC3)

Andrew van Zyl vs Dalcha Lungiambula

Nkazimulo Zulu vs Magno Alves

Steven Goncalves vs Luthando Biko

Cedric Doyle vs Trezegeut Kanyinda

Pietie Coxen vs Conrad Seabi

PrelimBouts– 17:30 CAT (Live broadcast on the EFC FaceBook page) 

Anicet Kanyinda vs Sindile Manengela

Billy Oosthuizen vs Jasen van der Merwe

TC Khusu vs Warren King

Marcel Els vs Rocky Ilunga

Mark Kamba vs Elvis Ngwalangwala

Fafa Dwama vs Asiashu Tshitamba

Mutuale Basambamba vs Hein Pavier

@juliankiewietz

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