Build-up to champion vs champion Showdown in EFC

The highly anticipated fight between two of the finest mixed martial artists in Africa will take centre stage at the World Sports Betting EFC Arena in Sandton tomorrow night.

"I would consider to date Manon [Fiorot] being the biggest fight of my life, you know, she's just been up for the UFC four away titles so I think if you are looking at your opponents then that would have been kind of the biggest fight of my life,” Lino said. 

“But I take on every fight because every fight brings a different aspect like this fight for me is a stepping stone to getting a contract with UFC or PFL, so, I think there's different ways of looking at it you know and I'm not taking away from the fact that Juliet is a great opponent. 

“She's a World Champion, she's earned her spot there, I'm not taking away from her as an athlete but in terms of what this means for me, this is just a stepping stone to where I wanna be."

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Heading into this battle, Amanda Lino (5-2-0) is the only female fighter in EFC history to hold two belts simultaneously as a double champion, but this time she’s strictly focused on defending her flyweight championship, while at the same time, preventing Chukwu from becoming the second double-champ in the EFC’s history.

"I'm a flyweight anyway, I'm not concerned about the bantamweight, it was nice to do it. You know we achieved that bantamweight title. This is my next step to UFC, PFL, I've got two years to give everything I need to give. I'm going in there going I've got nothing to lose because the last time I had the title I defended it,” she added.

Meanwhile, “Super” Juliet Chukwu (7-1-0) says she is ready for war after making the adjustment in weight. The Nigerian striker defeated Dana van Wyk to win the Bantamweight title in 2024, but Amanda Lino is by most accounts the toughest opponent she’s ever faced…

Fight fans can catch the EFC 134 Main Card live from 19:00 tomorrow night (June 4) on SABC Sport.