Has ambitions to rule the roost in the Chosen series

RISING Mixed Martial Arts talent Sipho Fodo produced the fight of his life to claim the Chosen Fighting Championship light-heavyweight title in a fierce battle with African light-heavyweight champion Frikkie Bendeman in Port Elizabeth over the past weekend.

It was the fourth showing of the fledgling Chosen Championship and Mthatha-based Fodo produced a stunning effort to shock EL’s Bendeman with a guillotine choke hold in the first round to seal his first ever title.

“I was expecting a huge fight, I was expecting it to go pound for pound, Frikkie is tough as nails and he just made a mistake and I caught it and utilised it,” explained Fodo.

“I am thrilled to have won my first title, I put in a lot of hard work for it and it finally paid off.”

Fodo has been fighting for the last seven years, but a serious injury saw him out for about two years, with him making his return last year.

He went on to win six fights in a row which then got him his title shot against Bendeman, who himself was on a solid winning streak including picking up the light-heavyweight title at the African champs a few months ago.

Fodo however was in top form to beat Bendeman and he will now be a marked man as the Chosen Fighting light-heavyweight champ.

“I would like to keep hold of this title for a while before someone takes it from me,” said Fodo. “I will be defending the title early next year at