Rising stars and stunning finishes at Grassroots 5
A front kick to the face resulting in a knockout win for Dean Botha against Devon Schroeder was a fitting end to another magnificent display of mixed martial arts (MMA) skills over the weekend.
The stage was set at Venter's MMA in Melkbosstrand during Cape Town Grassroots 5.
This amateur MMA showcase, dedicated to presenting the best Cape Town has to offer in the MMA development scene, serves as a gateway to the professional level for budding martial artists from the city and the whole of Western Cape.
Current EFC title holder Terrence Balelo had his last amateur fight at this very event before becoming one of the prominent faces of South Africa's premier MMA promotion.
As a side note, while still on Balelo, he recently vacated his interim EFC Bantamweight title to move down to his natural weight class. He is set to fight for the interim flyweight belt against Tumelo Manyamala in June. Despite his professional commitments, Balelo has not forgotten his roots. He continuously shows support for the next generation of fighters looking to follow in his footsteps and is frequently seen doing corner work at the Grassroots events.
Botha, who closed the show over the weekend, had one of South Africa's best mixed martial artists, Don Madge, in his corner.
“The Magic Man” Madge is currently signed to the PFL, where he will be fighting on June 28 in the PFL league. Madge lauds Grassroots as an important addition to the sport in Cape Town. He and Lyndall Sandenbergh, who is spearheading the event, are among the most committed to pushing for more such amateur events to benefit the sport in the city.
Botha, from MadFit, and Schroeder, from Trident, were fighting in the welterweight division. Up until the referee stoppage, the two fighters had given the crowd some thrilling exchanges, with Schroeder forcing the action for the majority of the fight.
That was until Botha ended the bout with a spectacular front kick, much to the applause of the crowd. Be that as it may, what cannot be taken away from both athletes is their ability to prove they deserved to be sharing the stage and their hunger for action. This level of competition indicates that Grassroots is on the right track, judging by the seriousness and competitiveness of the participating athletes.
Before the main event, Perfect Madziviridze secured a decision win against Zaakir Parker in the featherweight division, getting the better of their grappling exchanges.
In the lightweight bout, Josh Bester achieved victory via a rear-naked choke against Colby Robert Baxter.
Robin Hamel submitted Luke Steyl with a guillotine, while Kiran Jeffery also earned a stoppage win against Irfaan Mohamed Saib.
The Cape Town Grassroots event continues to be a vital platform for amateur fighters to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience. Such events not only highlight the depth of talent in the region but also provide an opportunity for fighters to transition to the professional level.
