The weigh-in event of the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) 104 that went down on Wednesday was a fun one as reigning featherweight champion Igeu ‘Smiley’ Kabesa threw a dig at his challenger, Vince Bembe, ahead of their title fight on Thursday.
The 30-year-old, who is currently unbeaten in the EFC, questioned the importance of his opponent to the mixed martial arts world, asking about his credentials and what he “brought to the table” to deserve such importance.
“First, I respect Vince, but something about him has changed for me,” he said. “What does he bring to the table that’s new? He is not good at grappling, he is not good at striking, but he’s got a heart to fight, and we’ve all also got that.”
“I respect him as an athlete; he could even decide to jump in the cage with me [tomorrow], but I don’t see much threat in terms of him as a person.
“He’s still got a lot of growth to do; six years isn’t enough, and he isn’t even a full-time fighter; he’s a part-time guy.
“There are a lot of struggles on his end, and he’s going to find out what it means to fight me tomorrow. They don’t always believe me when I say it, but the result always tells the story,” Kabesa added.
Bembe, who looked unperturbed by Kabesa’s unwavering confidence, downplayed any form of fear despite his more experienced opponent’s incendiary comments and praised his trainers ahead of the much-anticipated bout.
“I can only say that he was a legend before me; that’s all I can say,” he said. “My training camp was very good; we put in the work, and I’m waiting for tomorrow so we can show what we’ve done.”
Kabesa weighed in at 144.4 pounds, while his South African challenger Bembe clocked in at 143.5 pounds, as the two fighters gear up for a title clash at the EFC Performance Institute in Johannesburg.
The other fighters in the remaining four main card events weighed in in the correct categories and ensured they riled up their opposition as tensions and emotions were flying all through the event.
The 20 athletes ready for the bouts later today were all available for the weigh-in process, including the ten fighters that will contest the preliminary card, which is headlined by a fight between Zambia’s Humphrey Mulenga and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Guelor Sondi.
FULL WEIGHT AND CATEGORIES FOR EFC 104 EVENT
Main Card
FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
Igeu Kabesa (SA) 144.4lbs vs Vince Bembe (SA) 143.5lbs
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Tapiwa Katikati (ZIM) 155lbs vs Cole Henning (SA)155lbs
BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHT
Bheki Ngcobo (SA) 134,9lbs vs Roevan De Beer 135lbs (SA)
LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT
Adrian Sanchez (SA) 154.4lbs vs Glody Kanzeko (DRC) 152.8lbs
FLYWEIGHT FIGHT
Luke Hendrikz (SA) 125lbs vs Mpumelelo Mngoma (SA) 124.2lbs
Preliminary Card
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
Guelor Sondi (DRC) 152.8lbs vs Humphrey Mulenga (ZIM) 155lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT
Christopher Matukane (SA) 185lbs vs Jeremie Tshibala (SA) 183.9lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Divin Bosomi (SA) 143.9lbs vs Sibusiso Sovendle (SA) 143.3lbs
FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT
Danie Swart (SA) * vs Valere Ilenda (SA) 144.7lbs
CATCHWEIGHT FIGHT
Robert Swanepoel (SA) 178.3lbs vs Lisaka Landoyi (SA) 179.8lbs
*Athletes failed to make weight at time of writing
You can catch the EFC 104 bouts LIVE on the go on Afrosport TV on Free TV channel 730 and on VIDIVU from 8:00pm WAT, today, Thursday, June 15.
