Cape Town – Dalcha ‘Champion’ Lungiambula could explore competing at
middleweight in the UFC.
The former EFC heavyweight and light heavyweight king recently
landed a four-fight deal with MMA’s top promotion.
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While Lungiambula (9-1) plans to initially fight at light
heavyweight in the octagon, the 5-foot-10 powerhouse may test the 185 pound waters
in future.
“Champ will stay at light
heavyweight for now,” Lungiambula’s manager and coach Gareth Lombard
tells mmaengage.com.
“We would like him to explore middleweight, but we will have to
test the weight cut first.”
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Lombard adds that there is talk Lungiambula could make his UFC
debut in March, but stressed “nothing is set in stone yet”.
His client’s move
to the UFC was announced
on Thursday, having started talks with the Dana White-led company in late 2018.
The 31-year-old became the second EFC champion in under a year
to join the UFC – emulating SA’s lightweight star Don Madge (8-3-1), while
Scottish featherweight Danny Henry (11-2) achieved a similar feat in 2017
following his exploits in the hexagon.
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Cape Town-based Lungiambula, who came to South Africa a decade
ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo in search of a better life, exited
the EFC on a five-fight winning streak.
A second degree judo black
belt with improving stand-up, Lungiambula previously claimed the EFC
heavyweight strap by edging the battle-tested and recently-retired
Andrew Van Zyl (19-5) via split
decision in June last year.
With his departure from the EFC, American Jared ‘The Mountain’
Vanderaa (8-3) has inherited undisputed heavyweight honours in the
organisation.
Vanderaa won the interim belt by dispatching ex-UFC fighter Ruan
Potts (11-7) in December, and will make his maiden title defence against the
DRC’s Ricky Misholas (7-7) at EFC 77 in Pretoria on March 16.
The EFC light heavyweight crown is now up for grabs.