NEW: Hwende successfully defends EFC crown 

 

Online Reporter 

ZIMBABWEAN mixed martial arts fighter Nicholas “Gokwe Boy” Hwende successfully defended his Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) bantamweight crown against South African Roevan de Beer at last week’s EFC 101 event.

Roevan de Beer – subbing in for the injured number one contender Musa Sethwape – was clearly outmatched, as Hwende won by verbal submission due to shoulder dislocation barely two minutes and 30 seconds into the fight.

It was Hwende’s second successful title and the second time he has earned the hot main-event slot.

The 26-year-old’s bantamweight title was one of two straps up for grabs, as Alice Ardelean and Jessica Mouneimne slugged it out for the vacant women’s EFC strawweight title.

And, much like Hwende before her, Ardelean made light work of her opponent as she won by doctor’s stoppage at the end of the first round.

She left her opponent bruised and bloodied.

The win saw her lay claim to the previously vacant strawweight title.

In other key results, Vince Bembe beat Sizwe Mnikathi by unanimous decision during the featherweight fight, while Kevin Pretorius knocked out Elvis Ngwalangwala in their lightweight bout.

Nathaniel Komana saw off Takunda Gorimbo by way of a rear naked choke during their catchweight fight, while Bheki Ngcobo submitted Vincent Nakana using an ankle lock during their non-title featherweight bout.

Mickey Cloete choked out Tyral Louw in the first round of their flyweight fight.

Both Hwende and Ardelean will have to wait before the identities of their next opponents are revealed, although a match-up against South Africa’s Sethwape remains very much on the cards for the Zimbabwean bantamweight champion.