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| Dallas Jakobi |
EFC 12 featured
two welterweight bouts, but they were enough to cause some adjustment to the
welterweight rankings and reveal a new elite welterweight contender. With the
title up for grabs at EFC 13, the welterweight division is looking extremely
stacked and there are many who will feel deserved of a title shot in 2012.
1. Dallas
Jakobi (12–4)
Dallas Jakobi is
currently on a 4 fight tear across two weight divisions in the EFC. The former
Middleweight recently found a home at Welterweight, where he bested Adam
Speechly in a 5 round decision to become the EFC Africa Welterweight champion.
Jakobi has fought some of the best in the business and has notable wins over
Wade Henderson (twice) and Paul Cunningham. Having come from a different weight
division, Jakobi has a whole host of interesting matchups available to him as
he defends his Welterweight title. First up is a title fight against BJJ ace Jadyson Costa at EFC Africa 13.
2. Adam
“The Prodigy” Speechly (12-3)
Grappling
wunderkind Adam Speechly is widely regarded as one of the top ground
specialists in South Africa. The prodigy is used to big fights and has
submitted many of the country’s finest including Dallas Jakobi, Nolan Swanepoel
(twice) and Dino Bagattin. He has also faced two of my top ranked fighters in
Dallas Jakobi (WW) and Jeremy Smith (MW). Speechly, a staple on this list, was
recently defeated by Dallas Jakobi in a 5 round title fight at EFC Africa 10. A
rubber match may yet be in the future for these two fighters.
3. Michiel
Opperman (9-6)
Currently on a 6
fight winning streak (2-0 EFC), Michiel Opperman looked extremely impressive in
his welterweight debut against Dino Bagattin. The Kickboxer has worked hard on
his ground game, previously a huge weakness, and is looking like a complete
fighter. Opperman is a legitimate contender for the welterweight title.
4. Martin
“The Punisher” van Staden (18-5)
Martin van Staden
is one of the most experienced fighters in the Welterweight division, having
fought both national and international professionals. The punisher has notable
wins over Nolan Swanepoel, Ronald Dlamini and Leon Mynhardt. He also has
notable fights against Brian Ebersole (currently fighting in the UFC), Ali
Maclean and Jeremy Smith. Undefeated in 3 fights in the EFC, van Staden was
forced to withdraw from EFC 12, but is said to be making a return to the
Hexagon in April 2012 at EFC 13.
5. Dino
“The Lion” Bagattin (8-2)
Dino Bagattin is
one of the finest strikers in the EFC, with a decorated Muay Thai background. Bagattin looked relaxed, confident and fluid when standing in his EFC 12 clash with
Michiel Opperman and the two fighters traded nicely. The Lion however had a distinct
disadvantage when the fight went to ground, an area he will need to address in
the future.
View all: MMA Rankings South Africa
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