MIXED martial arts fighter Elvis “Bulawayo Bomber” Moyo was recently graded for his blue belt in jiu jitsu as part of his preparations for the upcoming fight this Saturday against Polish Tomasz Kowalkowski at Carnival City in Johannesburg, South Africa.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
Moyo had initially been scheduled to take on Ricky “Apocalypse” Misholas as the headlining Ster-Kinekor preliminary bout until Misholas injured his shoulder and withdrew from the bout.
“I was graded for my jiu jutsu blue belt today (Saturday) this means I’m no more a pushover in wrestling,” said Moyo after his grading at the weekend.
He said it took him 10 months less to grade for his blue belt, something which normally takes fighters about 18 months to work on.
“This is something which usually takes most fighters 18 or so months to get. It complements my mixed martial arts defensively,” he said.
“I dedicated every day to practising yet most fighters will work three times to twice a week. Wrestling has its own fitness levels and with my boxing fitness the mixture completes me as a fighter defensively, aggressively and also gives me endurance,” he said.
Moyo said he was confident of a win this weekend.
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“I don’t see anyone beating me at this level, but its sport still, I am very confident. The guy is 2m tall, that’s a very large target for me to land clean hard punches. Honestly I am looking past him,” he said.
He said he was aiming higher as he wants to fight mainly in Europe where MMA is most prominent.
“Most opponents are from France, Poland and Ireland. Once you beat their guys you will be known. Fighting in Europe or America wins 10 times what I am making in South Africa so that’s a target for every sports man,” said the former World Boxing Federation All-Africa heavyweight champion.
Moyo has been working with Gert Strydom since 2012 and added Wiekus Swart 2014 October to teach him wrestling and jiu jitsu which he says was his weakness in his first couple of fights. He is managed by Antony Lingsfield.
He said he would probably box, but outside South Africa if given the opportunity. In South Africa Moyo was banned as mixed martial arts fighters are not permitted in boxing.
According to Extreme Fighting Champions (EFC) website www.efcworldwide.com, Kowalkowski enters the Hexagon with a four wins and one loss record, consisting of decision and TKO victories.
Fighting out of The Mighty Bulls gym, Kowalkowski towers over Moyo at 2m tall and with a lean frame, the Polish uses his reach well to set up for his wrestling and takedown’s where he is strongest. Moyo enters with a four wins and two loss record and weighs in at 119kgs and is 16 cm shorter than his opponent.
The Bomber is ranked third in South African mixed martial arts while in Poland Kowalkowski is 16th.
