July 3, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) returns to Johannesburg’s World Sports Betting Arena with EFC 125 on Thursday, 3rd July 2025, headlined by a blockbuster middleweight title showdown between reigning champion Luke “Young Gun” Michael and surging contender Shadrack Nsua.
Michael, one of the most dynamic forces in African MMA, looks to extend his reign as the 185lb king after falling short in a welterweight title bid against Zaakir Badat. Despite that setback, the Cape Town native’s middleweight dominance remains untouched. A two-time titleholder with a resume that includes first-round demolitions of Pupanga Tresor and Jaco du Plessis, Michael has cemented himself as one of the EFC’s most electrifying finishers.
But standing across the Hex from him is Gqeberha’s marauding middleweight, Shadrack Nsua — a wrecking ball of a fighter with a string of brutal, early stoppages. After blasting through seasoned names like Mark Kamba, Francois Cundari, and Khulekani Hlongwa, Nsua secured his number-one contender status by devastating Siyakudumiso Nomvemve in dominant fashion. With ferocious ground-and-pound and a BJJ game that has become his calling card, Nsua brings unmatched physicality and momentum into the biggest fight of his career.
A Card Stacked with Firepower
The co-main event pits Ayanda Zwane, a lightning-fast kickboxer, against the powerful veteran grappler Hanru Botha. It’s a classic striker-vs-wrestler matchup that could end in highlight-reel fashion. Botha’s knockout power, rooted in his Greco-Roman wrestling background, will test Zwane’s elusive footwork and movement.
Adding even more fireworks, DRC heavyweight Christophe Walravens, also known as ‘Boumaye’, makes a sensational return to the Hex after a ten-year hiatus. The heavy-handed knockout artist will face Senegal’s Adama Diop, whose unbeaten record and all-first-round finishes make him a terrifying opponent. With both men capable of ending fights with a single punch, expect this heavyweight clash to shake the foundations of the arena.
Opening the main card is a lightweight battle guaranteed to bring chaos: Zambian phenom Humphrey Mulenga takes on Kaleka Kabanda. Kabanda is riding high after a thunderous KO of Hanru Botha, while Mulenga – aka ‘King Cobra’ – is on a warpath to gold following his only career loss to Igeu Kabesa. With both fighters having never seen a second round in their pro careers, this matchup could be an early Fight of the Night candidate.
Don’t blink. EFC 125 promises a night of pure carnage, elite competition, and defining moments for some of Africa’s most dangerous fighters.
