Dricus has huge test in Brazilian
REPLACEMENT FIGHTER BOASTS IMPRESSIVE CV SA champion says he wants to be the greatest of all time.
The influx of international Mixed Martial Arts athletes coming to test local fighters reaches boiling point at Carnival City tonight. South Africa’s pride Dricus du Plessis will go up against what can only be described as the toughest challenge he has come across so far.
The Extreme Fight Championship (EFC) is back in Johannesburg for its 59th instalment and SA’s welterweight champion defends his title against unknown Brazilian Jose da Rocha.
Da Rocha is Brazil’s Limo Fight middleweight champion and has also won the state and national Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai championships at various levels and enters EFC with seven international MMA victories to his name.
The Brazilian is another late replacement after Ireland’s Henry Fadipe was unable to make the trip to South Africa.
But Du Plessis – who is arguably South Africa’s best MMA athlete – refused to accept an opponent just to fill the numbers. He wants to test his ability against the world’s best.
“I want to fight the world’s top athletes, I want to defend my title and I want to prove I can be the greatest of all time.”
There are some mouthwatering clashes to complete the main card with up-and-coming youngster Shaun de Lange taking on Birmingham kickboxer Joe Cummins.
Unknown Frenchman Phillippe Rouch meets local journeyman Francois Groenewald.
The main card opens with Pierre Botha taking on Welshman Azi Thomas in a featherweight encounter.
The 27-year-old Botha has a new lease on life after moving to former EFC heavyweight champion Ruan Potts’ gym and will be looking to continue his impressive run.
The outspoken Thomas sparked a verbal war with Botha last week, saying the South African was afraid of him.
“If he thinks he is going to beat me he is deluded. I am going to deal with him. I am on a different level to his last opponent.”
The Big Top arena is certainly going to be the place for fight fans to be, come tonight.