Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC)
Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) is a South African mixed martial arts promotion company established since 2009. It is the largest MMA promotion company on the continent of Africa[1] and features on its roster professional fighters from across the world including the United States, Europe, South America, the UK, Australia, and Africa. The organization produces 10 live events annually. They currently have over 120 athletes exclusively contracted to the organisation.[2] EFC events are currently broadcast in over 120 countries around the world on numerous television networks in multiple languages.[3] To date, EFC has held 85 events and presided over approximately 982 matches.[4]
Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
---|---|
Founded | September 2009 |
Founders | Cairo Howarth Silas Howarth Calvin Howarth |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Cairo Howarth Silas Howarth Calvin Howarth Graeme Cartmell |
Website | http://www.efcworldwide.com/ |
History
EFC was founded in 2009 by brothers Cairo Howarth, Silas Howarth, and Calvin Howarth[5] who are the present owners and along with Graeme Cartmell, who is the Vice President of Talent and Matchmaker, are the key people in the company. Prior to 2009, the Howarth brothers were great admirers of the UFC and would regularly watch UFC events through pay per view channels. This inspired them to create an African-based MMA promotion company modelled on the UFC which they named Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC). EFC's inaugural event took place at the Ticketpro Dome (formerly the Coca-Cola Dome) in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 10, 2009.[6][7] The first 7 events took place at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg. From the 8th event in 2011 onwards, the organization held events in other major cities throughout South Africa which to date includes Cape Town, Durban, Carnival City Casino, Sun City Casino, Pretoria and Johannesburg. When the demand to watch EFC events grew, they signed television broadcasting and streaming deals with a number of media organizations throughout the world. Today EFC has broadcasting deals in place with Multichoice Supersport, SABC Sport, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, CSI Sports, DAZN, Best4Sport, and IB Sports.[8]
Rules
Extreme Fighting Championship's rules are based upon the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. All bouts are contested over three, five-minute rounds, with the exception of five-round championship bouts. There is a one-minute rest period between rounds. As per the Unified Rules of MMA, Extreme Fighting Championship only allows competitors to fight in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. Fighters must use approved light gloves (4-6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab. The referee has the right to stop the fighters and stand them up if they reach a stalemate on the ground (where neither are in a dominant position nor working toward one) after a verbal warning.
Match outcome
Matches usually end via:
- Submission: a fighter taps on the mat or his opponent three times (or more) or verbally submits.
- Knockout: a fighter falls from a legal blow and is either unconscious or unable to immediately continue.
- Technical Knockout: stoppage of the fight by the referee if it is determined a fighter cannot "intelligently defend" himself or by ringside doctor due to injury.
- Judges' Decision: Depending on scoring, a match may end as:
- unanimous decision (all three judges score a win for one fighter),
- split decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with the third for the other),
- majority decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with one for a draw),
- unanimous draw (all three judges score a draw),
- majority draw (two judges score a draw).
- split draw (the total points for each fighter is equal)
A fight can also end in a technical decision, technical draw, disqualification, forfeit or no contest.
Judging criteria
The ten-point must system is used for all EFC bouts; three judges score each round and the winner of each receives ten points, the loser nine points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. The decision is announced at the end of the match, but the judge's scorecards are not announced.
Fouls
The following are considered fouls in EFC bouts:
- Butting with the head.
- Eye gouging of any kind.
- Biting.
- Hair pulling.
- Groin attacks of any kind.
- Fish hooking, gouging as in self-defense and some martial arts.
- Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
- Small joint manipulation.
- Striking to the spine or the back of the head. (see Rabbit punch)
- Striking downward using the point of the elbow. (see Elbow (strike))
- Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
- Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
- Grabbing the clavicle.
- Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
- Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
- Stomping a grounded opponent.
- Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
- Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck. (see piledriver (professional wrestling))
- Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
- Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
- Spitting at an opponent.
- Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
- Holding the ropes or the fence.
- Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
- Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
- Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
- Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
- Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
- Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
- Interference by the corner.
- Throwing in the towel during competition.
When a foul is charged, the referee in their discretion may deduct one or more points as a penalty. If a foul incapacitates a fighter, then the match may end in a disqualification if the foul was intentional, or a no contest if unintentional. If a foul causes a fighter to be unable to continue later in the bout, it ends with a technical decision win to the injured fighter if the injured fighter is ahead on points, otherwise it is a technical draw.
EFC champions
Class | Upper weight limit | Champion | Event | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heavyweight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) | Vacant | |||
Light Heavyweight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) | Vacant | |||
Middleweight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) | Vacant | |||
Welterweight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | Themba Gorimbo def. Luke Michael | EFC 82 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa | September 28, 2019 | [9][10] |
Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) | Vacant | |||
Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) | Igeu Kabesa def. Pierre Botha | EFC 62 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa | August 19, 2017 | [11][12] |
Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) | Vacant | |||
Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) | Vacant | |||
Women's Bantamweight | 134 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) | Vacant | |||
Women's Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) | Vacant | |||
Women's Strawweight | 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st) | Vacant |
Championship history
Heavyweight World Championship
206 to 265 lbs (93 to 120 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ruan Potts def. Norman Wessels |
EFC 9 Johannesburg, South Africa |
July 30, 2011 |
1. def. Andrew Van Zyl at EFC 11 on November 10, 2011 | |
2 | Andrew Van Zyl | EFC 18 Johannesburg, South Africa |
March 01, 2013 |
1. def. Sors Grobbelaar at EFC 23 on September 12, 2013 | |
3 | Ruan Potts (2) | EFC 26 Johannesburg, South Africa |
December 12, 2013 | ||
Potts vacated the title on May 10, 2014 after signing with the UFC | |||||
4 | Brendon Groenewald def. Christophe Walravens |
EFC 35 Cape Town, South Africa |
November 06, 2014 | ||
5 | Andrew Van Zyl (2) | EFC 39 Cape Town, South Africa |
May 07, 2015 | ||
6 | Cyril Asker | EFC 44 Johannesburg, South Africa |
October 03, 2015 | ||
Asker vacated the title on April 10, 2016 after signing with the UFC | |||||
7 | Danie van Heerden def. Brendon Groenewald |
EFC 48 Cape Town, South Africa |
April 22, 2016 | ||
van Heerden vacated the title on October 15, 2016 after leaving EFC | |||||
8 | Andrew Van Zyl (3) def. Elvis Moyo |
EFC 54 Sun City, South Africa |
October 15, 2016 |
1. def. Wessel Mostert at EFC 61 on July 08, 2017 | |
9 | Dalcha Lungiambula | EFC 71 Johannesburg, South Africa |
June 23, 2018 | ||
Lungiambula vacated the title on April 10, 2016 after signing with the UFC | |||||
- | Jared Vanderaa def. Ruan Potts for interim title |
EFC 76 Pretoria, South Africa |
December 08, 2018 | ||
10 | Jared Vanderaa def. Ricky Misholas |
EFC 77 Pretoria, South Africa |
March 16, 2019 | ||
Vanderaa vacated the title on November 4, 2020 after signing with the UFC | |||||
Light Heavyweight World Championship
186 to 205 lbs (84 to 93 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | J.P. Joubert def. Norman Wessels |
EFC 15 Johannesburg, South Africa |
July 27, 2012 | ||
Joubert vacated the title after retiring. | |||||
2 | Gideon Drotschie def. Danie van Heerden |
EFC 20 Johannesburg, South Africa |
June 27, 2013 | 1. def. Fraser Opie at EFC 25 on November 07, 2013 | |
3 | Norman Wessels | EFC 35 Cape Town, South Africa |
November 06, 2014 |
1. def. Dalcha Lungiambula at EFC 42 on August 08, 2015 | |
- | Dalcha Lungiambula def. Tumelo Maphutha for interim title |
EFC 52 Cape Town, South Africa |
August 05, 2016 | ||
Title was vacated on March 4, 2017 when Wessels retired. The interim champion Dalcha Lungiambula become the champion. | |||||
4 | Dalcha Lungiambula promoted to undisputed champion |
EFC 52 Cape Town, South Africa |
August 05, 2016 |
1. def. Alan Baudot at EFC 61 on July 08, 2017 | |
Lungiambula vacated the title on June 29, 2019 after signing with the UFC | |||||
5 | Simon Biyong def. Quinton Roussow |
EFC 82 Brakpan, South Africa |
September 28, 2019 | ||
Biyong vacated the title on October 10, 2020 after signing with the Bellator MMA | |||||
Middleweight World Championship
171 to 185 lbs (77 to 84 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Garreth McLellan def. Jacques Joubert |
EFC 8 Johannesburg, South Africa |
April 14, 2011 | ||
2 | Jeremy Smith | EFC 12 Johannesburg, South Africa |
March 02, 2012 |
1. def. Darren Daniel at EFC 17 on November 23, 2012 | |
3 | Garreth McLellan | EFC 24 Johannesburg, South Africa |
October 10, 2013 |
1. def. JP Kruger at EFC 28 on March 27, 2014 | |
McLellan vacated the title on April 11, 2015 when he signed with the UFC | |||||
4 | Liam Cleland def. Michiel Opperman |
EFC 41 Johannesburg, South Africa |
July 11, 2015 | ||
Cleland vacated the title on May 13, 2016 after he retired | |||||
5 | Yannick Bahati def. JP Kruger |
EFC 49 Johannesburg, South Africa |
May 13, 2016 |
1. def. David Buirski at EFC 56 on December 09, 2016 | |
6 | Dricus Du Plessis | EFC 61 Johannesburg, South Africa |
August 19, 2017 | ||
- | Brendan Lesar def. Garreth McLellan for interim title |
EFC 80 Sibaya, South Africa |
June 29, 2019 | ||
Du Plessis vacated on April 14, 2018 he signed with KSW | |||||
Welterweight World Championship
156 to 170 lbs (70 to 77 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dallas Jakobi def. Adam Speechly |
EFC 10 Johannesburg, South Africa |
September 01, 2011 | ||
2 | Jadyson Costa | EFC 13 Johannesburg, South Africa |
April 13, 2012 | ||
3 | Michiel Opperman | EFC 16 Johannesburg, South Africa |
October 19, 2012 | ||
4 | Dino Bagattin | EFC 23 Johannesburg, South Africa |
September 12, 2013 | ||
5 | Henry Fadipe | EFC 29 Johannesburg, South Africa |
May 01, 2014 | ||
6 | Adam Speechly | EFC 32 Johannesburg, South Africa |
August 07, 2014 | ||
7 | David Buirski | EFC 37 Boksburg, South Africa |
February 21, 2015 |
1. def. Martin van Staden at EFC 46 on December 12, 2015 | |
Title was vacated on July 03, 2014 when Burisku moved up to Middleweight. | |||||
8 | Dricus Du Plessis def. Martin van Staden |
EFC 50 Sun City, South Africa |
June 17, 2016 | ||
Du Plessis vacated on April 14, 2018 he signed with KSW | |||||
9 | Gunter Kalunda Ngunza def. Maurício da Rocha Jr. |
EFC 73 Sun City, South Africa |
September 07, 2018 |
1. def. Martin van Staden at EFC 46 on December 12, 2015 | |
Ngunza vacated on April 25, 2019 he signed with ONE | |||||
10 | Themba Gorimbo def. Luke Michael |
EFC 82 Brakpan, South Africa |
September 28, 2019 |
1. def. Lyle Karam at EFC 84 on March 14, 2020 | |
Lightweight World Championship
146 to 155 lbs (66 to 70 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wentzel Nel def. Leo Gloss |
EFC 3 Johannesburg, South Africa |
May 08, 2010 | ||
2 | Costa Ioannou | EFC 8 Johannesburg, South Africa |
April 14, 2011 |
1. def. Alex Cheboub at EFC 11 on November 10, 2011 | |
3 | Don Madge | EFC 20 Johannesburg, South Africa |
June 27, 2013 | ||
3 | Leon Mynhardt | EFC 25 Johannesburg, South Africa |
November 07, 2013 |
1. def. Frederich Naumann at EFC 27 on February 27, 2014 | |
4 | Dave Mazany | EFC 51 Johannesburg, South Africa |
July 15, 2016 |
1. def. Leon Mynhardt at EFC 55 on November 11, 2016 | |
5 | Don Madge (2) | EFC 58 Cape Town, South Africa |
April 08, 2017 | ||
Title was vacated on October 27, 2018 when Madge signed with the UFC. | |||||
6 | Martin van Staden def. Gavin Hughes |
EFC 68 Cape Town, South Africa |
March 31, 2018 | ||
7 | Dave Mazany (2) | EFC 72 Cape Town, South Africa |
August 11, 2018 | ||
Title was vacated on March 16, 2019 when Mazany retired. | |||||
8 | Joe Cummins def. Martin van Staden |
EFC 77 Pretoria, South Africa |
March 16, 2019 |
Featherweight World Championship
136 to 145 lbs (61 to 66 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Demarte Pena def. Leo Gloss |
EFC 10 Johannesburg, South Africa |
September 01, 2011 |
1. def. Wesley Hawkey at EFC 14 on June 01, 2012 | |
Title was vacated on July 03, 2014 when Pena moved down to Bantamweight. | |||||
2 | Boyd Allen def. Barend Nienaber |
EFC 32 Johannesburg, South Africa |
August 07, 2014 |
1. def. Wade Groth at EFC 36 on December 11, 2014 | |
3 | Danny Henry | EFC 44 Johannesburg, South Africa |
October 03, 2015 | ||
4 | Igeu Kabesa | EFC 47 Johannesburg, South Africa |
March 05, 2016 |
1. def. Hanru Botha at EFC 56 on December 09, 2016 | |
5 | Danny Henry (2) | EFC 57 Johannesburg, South Africa |
March 04, 2017 | ||
Title was vacated on July 16, 2017 when Henry signed with the UFC. | |||||
6 | Igeu Kabesa (2) def. Pierre Botha |
EFC 62 Johannesburg, South Africa |
August 19, 2017 |
1. def. Calum Murrie at EFC 74 on October 06, 2018 | |
Bantamweight World Championship
126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nkazimulo Zulu def. Charlie Weyer |
EFC 27 Johannesburg, South Africa |
February 27, 2014 | ||
2 | Demarte Pena | EFC 31 Johannesburg, South Africa |
July 03, 2014 |
1. def. Francois Groenewald at EFC 34 on October 2, 2014 | |
- | Irshaad Sayed def. Cedric Doyle for interim title |
EFC 48 Cape Town, South Africa |
April 22, 2016 | ||
Title was vacated on December 16, 2017 when Pena was suspended 4 years by WADA for testing positive for steroids at EFC 55. The results of his two bouts were changed to No Contest[13] | |||||
3 | JP Buys def. Philippe Rouch |
EFC 69 Johannesburg, South Africa |
April 28, 2018 |
1. def. Luthando Biko at EFC 78 on April 13, 2019 | |
- | Luthando Biko def. Cal Ellenor for interim title |
EFC 75 Cape Town, South Africa |
November 03, 2018 | ||
- | Faeez Jacobs def. Nkazimulo Zulu for interim title |
EFC 81 Johannesburg, South Africa |
August 10, 2019 | ||
Title was vacated on November 17, 2020 when Buys signed with the UFC. | |||||
Flyweight World Championship
116 to 125 lbs (53 to 67 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nkazimulo Zulu def. Craig Ninow |
EFC 43 Durban, South Africa |
August 27, 2015 |
1. def. Sylvester Chipfumbu at EFC 62 on August 19, 2017 | |
- | JP Buys def. Baldwin Mdlalose for interim title |
EFC 54 Sun City, South Africa |
October 15, 2016 | ||
2 | Jake Hadley | EFC 78 Cape Town, South Africa |
April 13, 2019 | ||
Title was vacated on September 27, 2019 when Hadley signed with the Bellator MMA. | |||||
Women's Flyweight World Championship
116 pounds (53 kg) to 125 pounds (57 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amanda Lino def. Jaqauline Trosee |
EFC 60 Durban, South Africa |
June 10, 2017 |
1. def. Rizlen Zouak at EFC 70 on May 26, 2018 | |
2 | Manon Fiorot | EFC 83 Pretoria, South Africa |
December 14, 2019 | ||
Title was vacated on January 20, 2021 when Fiorot signed with the UFC. | |||||
Women's Strawweight World Championship
Under 115 pounds (52 kg)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chiara Penco def. Danella Eliasov |
EFC 67 Johannesburg, South Africa |
March 10, 2018 | ||
2 | Karolina Wójcik | EFC 76 Pretoria, South Africa |
December 08, 2018 | ||
Title was vacated on June 8, 2019 when Wójcik signed with Venator FC. | |||||
Notable athletes and alumni
- Garreth McLellan. Former EFC Middleweight champion[14] who was signed by the UFC in 2015.[15] He competed in 5 UFC bouts from April 2015 until March 2017.
- Ruan Potts. Former 2 times EFC Heavyweight champion[16] who was signed by the UFC in 2014[17] He competed in 3 UFC bouts from May 2014 until February 2015.
- Cyril Asker. Former EFC Heavyweight champion[18] who was signed by the UFC in 2016.[19] To date he has competed in 5 UFC bouts.
- Danny Henry. Former 2 times EFC Featherweight champion[20] who was signed by the UFC in 2017.[21] In his debut match at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio he earned a Fight of the night bonus. To date he has competed in 4 UFC bouts.
- Dalcha Lungiambula. Former EFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion[22] who was invited to compete in the UFC in 2019.[23] To date he has competed in 3 UFC bouts.
- Dricus du Plessis. Former EFC Middleweight and Welterweight champion who was invited to compete in the UFC in September 2020. He made his promotional debut against Markus Perez on 11 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179[24] and won via a TKO in the first round.[25]
Other EFC athletes signed to the UFC
- Don Madge. Former 2 times EFC Lightweight champion[26] who was invited to compete in the UFC in 2018.[27][28] In his debut match at UFC Fight Night 138 he earned a "Performance of the night" bonus with a knockout via a head kick. To date he has competed in 2 UFC bouts - UFC Fight Night 138 and UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier. Madge is scheduled to fight in his third UFC bout on March 13, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Edwards Vs Chimaev.
- Jared Vanderaa. Former EFC Heavyweight champion who was signed to the UFC in November 2020 after competing in the fourth season of Dana White's Contender Series. He was scheduled to fight Sergey Spivak at UFC 256 on December 12, 2020.[29] However, Vanderaa tested positive to Covid 19 and was therefore removed from the event.[30] The bout is now scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis on February 20, 2021.
- JP Buys. Former EFC Flyweight and Bantamweight champion[31] who was invited to compete in UFC owner Dana White 's Tuesday Night Contender Series in August 2017[32] and again in the fourth season in November 2020. After beating his opponent in the final fight of the fourth season on November 17, 2020, Buys was signed to the UFC.[33]
- Manon Fiorot. Former EFC women's Lightweight champion and winner of the EFC's second season of the reality program - The Fighter. She was signed to the UFC in December 2020 and made her debut against Victoria Leonardo at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Magny on January 20, 2021. Fiorot won via TKO in the second round.
- Nkazimulo Zulu. Former two times EFC Flyweight champion[34] and current EFC competitor who was invited in 2016 to compete in The Ultimate Fighter which was produced by the UFC and Fox Sports 1. Zulu competed on The Ultimate Fighter Season 24, Opening Round, Day 2.[35]
Reality shows
The Fighter: Season 1
EFC launched a reality TV show on October 14, 2017 called The Fighter.[36][37] Housed in a villa in Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 male MMA Middleweight prospects from around the world lived and trained together, as well as competed against one another for a multiple fight contract and a guaranteed EFC title fight. They were split into two teams each coached by an experienced EFC athlete. The Fighter was broadcast on global television in 10 one-hour episodes. It was concluded on December 16, 2017 at EFC 66 with The Fighter title bout taking place between the two finalists followed by a bout between the two coaches[38]
Season | Date | Weight class | Winner | Runner-up | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Fighter: Season 1 | October 14, 2017 | Middleweight | Brendan Lesar | Ibrahima Mane | [39] |
The Fighter: Season 2
Following the success and positive reception to The Fighter: Season 1, EFC launched The Fighter: Season 2[40][41] on April 26, 2019. It followed the same format as Season 1 but with 10 female MMA Flyweight athletes from around the world instead. They were housed in Rosebank, South Africa, where they trained together and competed against one another in a quest to win a multiple fight contract and a guaranteed EFC title fight. As with Season 1, the competitors were split into two teams each coached by an experienced EFC athlete. Season 2 was also broadcast on global television in 10 one-hour episodes. It was concluded on June 29, 2019 at EFC 80 with The Fighter Season 2 title bout taking place between the two finalists followed by a bout between the two coaches.[42]
Season | Date | Weight class | Winner | Runner-up | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Fighter: Season 2 | April 26, 2019 | Flyweight | Manon Fiorot | Mellony Geugjes | [43][44] |
Subsidiary companies
EFC owns the following companies.
- EFC Gym
- EFC Performance Institute
Upcoming events
Following EFC 84, EFC 85 was scheduled to take place on April 4, 2020 at Grand West Casino in Cape Town. However, in early March, the President of South Africa - Cyril Ramaphosa - restricted public gatherings to less than 100 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was then relocated to the much smaller venue of the EFC Performance Institute and was to take place in front of a small group of spectators while being broadcast on all usual channels.[45] On March 23, 2020, President Ramaphosa announced a nationwide 21 day level five lockdown prohibiting all such events among other restrictions from taking place until April 16, 2020.[46] The lockdown was extended until May 1 after which it was again extended with level four restrictions.[47] EFC 85 has been postponed until further notice.[48]
References
- "SABC STRIKES HISTORIC DEAL WITH EFC". MMA Fighting. January 24, 2017.
- Strickl, Nick (2017-07-14). "Mayweather vs. McGregor: LIVE London press conference". Cage Pages. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- "EFC - Inverleigh Broadcasting Corp". Inverleigh.com. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Sherdog.com. "Extreme Fighting Championship (Africa) Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Sibiya, Silver (March 26, 2017). "Keeping it in the family". Sport.
- "EFC 01".
- "EFC Africa - Extreme Fighting Championship Africa 1". Sherdog.
- "Broadcast Schedule".
- "EFC 82: Gorimbo and Biyong make history". Fight Site. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- "Biyong & Gorimbo Win EFC Titles". Fitworldsport.com. Nov 28, 2019.
- "Kabesa defends EFC flyweight title for third time". ESPN.com. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- "Kabesa's confidence sky high ahead of EFC title defence | IOL". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- "EFC's Pena Barred For Four Years". January 11, 2018.
- SAPA Reporter (2013-11-10). "Gareth McLellan regains the EFC Middleweight title". citizen.co.za. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Simon, Zane (2014-12-10). "UFC signs EFCA champ Garreth McLellan". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- "Potts reclaims EFC title from Van Zyl". eNCA. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Simon, Zane (2014-02-10). "UFC signs South African MMA champ Ruan Potts". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- Tatum, Rob. "EFC 44 'Foreign Invasion' Results: Asker, Mynhardt, Henry Leave with Belts". Combat Press. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Simon, Zane (2016-02-09). "UFC signs a French HW & Bosnian LW". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- Georgiou, Andreas (2017-05-12). "EFC champ Danny Henry wants UFC for Scottish homecoming". MMA Plus. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "Short notice or not, Danny Henry knew when he got the UFC's call, he had to answer". MMA Junkie. July 17, 2017.
- Kihn, Stephen (2019-02-11). "'Champion' Dalcha's UFC deal details". Sport. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- Kihn, Stephen (2019-02-08). "'Champion' Dalcha signs with the UFC". Sport. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Anderson, Jay (2020-09-25). "Former KSW Champ Dricus Du Plessis Signs with UFC, Will Fight Markus Perez in Debut". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
- Bitter, Shawn (2020-10-10). "UFC Fight Island 5 Results: Dricus Du Plessis Impresses in Debut With KO". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- "Madge Bests Mazany, Wins Lightweight Title". FIGHT SPORTS. 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- "DON MADGE SIGNS WITH THE UFC". South African MMA. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "Don Madge signs with the UFC". eNCA. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Gonzalez, Gabriel (2020-11-17). "UFC 256's Jared Vanderaa on Post-Fight Reception Following DWCS, Sergey Spivak". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
- "Jared Vanderaa tests positive for COVID-19, out of UFC 256 fight vs. Serghei Spivac". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "Buys dominates Biko, Hadley ends reign of 'Zuluboy'". Sport. 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series - Season 1, Episode 7". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "Contender Series: JP Buys joins his wife on the UFC roster as one of four fighters to earn a contract". ESPN.com. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
- "Is Zulu UFC material?". ESPN.com. 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Sherdog.com. "UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Season 24 Opening Round, Day 2". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "The Fighter announced on SABC Sport".
- "THE FIGHTER". efcworldwide.com.
- "EFC 66 - EFC Worldwide 66". Sherdog.com. 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
- "EFC Worldwide 66: The Fighter 1 Finale | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "The Fighter Season 2 premiers on 26 April". supersport.com.
- "THE FIGHTER". efcworldwide.com.
- "EFC 80 - EFC Worldwide 80". Sherdog.
- "EFC Worldwide 80 | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "Lesar Scores Major Upset At EFC 80". FIGHT SPORTS. 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- "EFC's stance on the Covid-19". Alberton Record. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
- "Stay at home! Ramaphosa announces lockdown for South Africa". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
- Reuters (2020-04-30). "LIST: Revised level four lockdown regulations". eNCA. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
- Kiewietz, Julian (2020-03-20). "EFC85 postponed amid Covid-19 lockdown measures". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2020-05-12.