If Saturday night’s MMA show in Pretoria is any indication, mixed martial arts is thriving in Mzansi.

At the Heartfelt Arena, more than 2 000 spectators, fans, family, supporters, sponsors, and friends lined up to witness some of Africa’s up-and-coming MMA athletes on display as Versus Fight Promotions kicked off 2025 in style.

The gate was the biggest one yet for the promotion since its inception in 2021 and looks set to grow from strength to strength judging by the number of brands backing the promotion and fans lining up at the doors to watch their favourite fighters.

Saturday’s show featured 15 explosive fights, including three title fights. With five submissions, seven decisions, and three TKO/KOs, Versus 11 had something for the purist and the casual fan.

In the main event, Sebastian Ferreira retained his Versus Lightweight title and unblemished record with a dogged performance against the highly talented TJ Esterhuizen.

Last year, the contender secured the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation African Championship Lightweight title after beating Angola’s Ricardo Pireza in the final. He then went on a two-fight winning streak, one of them being his Versus debut.

Heading into the headliner at the Heartfelt Arena, Esterhuizen’s confidence was evident through his body language and fighting style. He showcased some incredible and unorthodox tricks to close the distance before implementing his strong wrestling.

In the end, Esterhuizen’s explosive stand-up combinations, teep kicks, spinning attacks, and strong wrestling would not be enough as the 18-year-old just fell short losing via a split decision (48-47 Esterhuizen, 48-47 Ferreira, 48-47 Ferreira).

While credit must be given to both athletes, Ferreira proved why he was the champion on the night, absorbing the pressure from the challenger, using great wrestling defense, scrambles, and cage IQ to nullify his opponent's onslaught before initiating his own wrestling attack and mixing it up with the necessary striking.

Ferreira was particularly wise with his timing and always understood when and how to finish the rounds strong, creating space in the clinch to launch kicks and strikes, and making a good impression on the judges.

Credit must be given to Versus Fight Promotion for the high-level youngsters on show, watching 18-year-old athletes with such a great understanding of timing, a strong wrestling base, technical nuances in the clinch battle, and strong cardio, bodes well for the future of African MMA.

It would be no surprise if we see Ferreira v Esterhuizen Part II on the cards shortly.

Another feather in the Versus Promotion cap was the Heavyweight clash between Frederik Jacobus Eloff and Tino Van Eeden which proved the evolution of the fight game in all divisions.

Traditionally most casual fans expect a stand-and-bang show from the big boys, an event that “should not go past the first round”.

While this fight did not see the second round, it was the manner in which it ended that gets one excited and appreciative of the IQ of upcoming African fighters as these athletes put on a grappling show for the 2000-plus in attendance.

Van Eeden came out of the blocks strong and was close to submitting Eloff, but the latter remained patient, before working his jiu-jitsu, securing position and locking in the rear-naked choke submission.

In the Featherweight division, another record was broken when Iviwe Mphathiswa delivered the fastest knockout (16 seconds) in Versus Promotion history in his match-up with Jabu Kham.

Versus Fight Promotion is set to return on March 1 for the V12 and co-owner and UFC athlete Cameron Saaiman confirmed that the promotion will deliver nine events this year.

Stay tuned to MzansiMMA, IOLNews, and Versus Fight Promotion for more details.

Full results

Middleweight: Jordan Hinckley bt Hendry Van Loggenberg via rear-naked choke in the first round; Joshua Van Dyk bt Andre Kapp via TKO strikes in the second round

Featherweight: Julius Ntsasa bt Joshua Heydenrych via rear naked choke in the third round; Justin Thomas bt Shayan Parbhoo via split decision (29-28 Thomas, 29-28 Parbhoo, 29-28 Thomas); Iviwe Mphathiswa bt Jabu Kham via knockout in the first round; Tyron Lamprecht bt Mfanafuthi Ngobese via unanimous decision

Welterweight: Dylan Harris bt Renaldo Van Eeden via unanimous decision (29-28); Boyka Botha bt Tshegofatso Matlaletsa via unanimous decision 30-27)

Lightweight: Fabian Capote bt Patrick Steyn via TKO (due to strikes) in the second round; Quinton Deyzel bt Bruce Mayasi via armbar in the first round; Sebastian Ferreira bt TJ Esterhuizen by split decision (48-47 TJ 48-47 F 48-47)

Flyweight: Thabang Raphahlelo bt David Tidya via split decision. (29-28 R, 29-28 T, 29-28 R)

Bantamweight: Nkazimulo Nkwanyana bt Litha Madikiza via guillotine choke in the second round; Sisa Jungula bt Brandon Santos via unanimous decision

Heavyweight: Frederik Jacobus Eloff bt Tino Van Eeden via rear-naked choke in the first round