EFC 126 ENGAGED: Fight Week Heats Up in Johannesburg

EFC Worldwide kicks off fight week for EFC 126 with Episode 1 of ENGAGED — a closer, quieter look at how the event is taking shape in Johannesburg. The cameras trail champions, challengers, and hopefuls as they land in South Africa and settle into the grind, with tension building day by day.

At the center of it all is reigning flyweight champ Willie van Rooyen, “The White Lion,” preparing to defend against sharp Moldovan striker Anatolie Gafin. Their clash of styles — van Rooyen’s heavy pressure versus Gafin’s precision — already feels like one of those fights fans will talk about for a long time. ENGAGED catches the small moments that lead up to a big one: the training sessions, the press work, and the weight of what’s on the line.

Meanwhile, rising prospect Ntando Zondi sharpens up for an important test against undefeated Uzbek talent Muhammad Salohiddinov. For Zondi, it’s a chance to show South Africa’s next wave is ready; for Salohiddinov, it’s another step toward staying perfect.

Episode 1 mixes gym footage, travel, and early staredowns to capture the feel of fight week before the scales, the lights, and the walkouts take over. EFC 126 hasn’t even started — but the story has.