The climb is over.
Terrence “The Mountain” Born has reached the top of the EFC heavyweight division, stopping former two-time champion Matunga “HHH Power” Djikasa at 1:22 of the second round to claim the vacant EFC Heavyweight Championship at EFC 138 in Johannesburg.
Born entered the Hexagon undefeated. He left with the biggest win of his career and a championship belt around his waist.
More importantly, the manner of the victory continued a remarkable pattern.
Five fights. Five wins. Five finishes. One EFC championship.
A heavyweight opportunity Born refused to waste
The vacant title came at the end of a dramatic week for EFC’s heavyweight division.
Former champion Adama Diop had only just left the organisation’s gold behind after earning a UFC contract in Las Vegas. That immediately created an opportunity for the next heavyweight contender to step forward.
Born did exactly that.
Standing opposite him was Djikasa, a fighter with two previous EFC heavyweight championship reigns and significantly more championship experience. For Born, this was the biggest test yet of a rapid rise that had been built almost entirely on finishes.
The undefeated contender once again found a way to end the fight before the final bell.
Born stopped Djikasa with strikes in the second round, earning the heavyweight championship and a Performance Bonus in the process.
“The Mountain” keeps climbing
There is something increasingly difficult to ignore about Born’s trajectory.
Every fight appears to bring a bigger challenge, yet the result remains the same.
The 2026 EFC heavyweight champion has not needed the judges to establish his position. His first five EFC victories have all ended inside the distance, turning an undefeated record into something more imposing: a record built on repeated finishes.
Against Djikasa, however, the stakes were different.
This was not simply another step up the EFC ladder. It was a championship fight against a former titleholder who had already experienced the pressure of fighting for gold — and winning it twice.
Born handled the moment.
The opportunity was there. The test was there. Born finished it.
Walker delivers in the co-main event
The heavyweight championship wasn’t the only major storyline at EFC 138.
Former EFC champion Gift “The Day” Walker delivered one of the night’s most entertaining performances against Sithembiso “ShakaZulu” Hadebe.
Walker fought with the confidence of a veteran completely comfortable under the Hexagon lights, moving freely, talking to his opponent and showboating throughout the three-round contest.
Hadebe continued to engage, producing an entertaining battle that ultimately went to the judges.
Walker took the unanimous decision and also collected a Performance Bonus.
Malatjie and Mhlanga light up the prelims
The preliminary card produced plenty of action of its own.
Thapelo Malatjie defeated Tryford Mwanga by unanimous decision in an entertaining professional debut, with their flyweight clash earning Fight of the Night honours.
Thembani Mhlanga needed just 35 seconds to make his impact.
Mhlanga blasted Itumeleng Mabilo with a punch in the opening round, securing a spectacular KO and a Performance Bonus.
Elsewhere on the card, Khanyo Maqam stopped Stefan Diedericks in the second round, while Guelor Sondi submitted Alex Kapinga with a rear-naked choke in Round 3.
Allistar Kunene also secured a first-round submission over Bheki Ngcobo via guillotine choke, while Godfrey Mkhwanazi edged Clelio Diogo by split decision.
The summit belongs to Born
EFC 138 was presented by World Sports Betting and held at the WSB EFC Arena in Johannesburg.
For Born, though, the location was almost secondary.
The real destination was the championship.
He arrived as an undefeated heavyweight prospect and left as the division’s champion, maintaining a perfect finishing record while overcoming arguably the biggest test of his career.
Terrence “The Mountain” Born is no longer climbing towards EFC gold. He is standing at the top.
The question now is whether anyone in the heavyweight division can knock him back down.
