Antony Chawagarira
ZIMBABWEAN mixed martial arts fighter Lewis “The Porcupine” Mataya announced his arrival on the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) stage in emphatic fashion by defeating South Africa’s Ayanda Zwane by unanimous decision in Johannesburg on Thursday night.
Mataya dominated the featherweight contest at the EFC Arena, with all three judges awarding him every round, each scoring 30-27 at EFC 137.
The victory capped a remarkable build-up for the Zimbabwean, who made a major personal sacrifice by selling his car to raise money for his training camp.
“I sold my car to fund my training camp for my fight on the 10th of September,” Mataya revealed before the bout as he appealed for support for his preparations.
His sacrifice ultimately paid off as the 4-1 professional fighter produced a disciplined display to overcome Zwane, who entered the contest with a record of seven wins and five defeats.
For Zwane, the defeat marked an emotional end to his EFC journey.
The 27-year-old removed his gloves and placed them inside the cage after the fight, signaling his retirement from professional mixed martial arts.
Mataya’s victory also added another chapter to a fighting career that has been shaped by adversity and determination.
According to the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Mataya lost both his parents at an early age and grew up in a household of 13 people before finding a pathway through martial arts.
He rose to prominence as an amateur, winning gold at the 2022 IMMAF Africa Championships after three successive victories.
Mataya defeated Allistar Kunene on points, stopped Geraldo Bok in the second round, and then overcame previously unbeaten Ken Nyaondo by unanimous decision in the final.
He has subsequently established himself as a two-time African amateur champion and made the transition to professional competition, featuring in promotions including Fist of Valor, UAE Warriors, and African Knockout.
One of his notable professional performances came at African Knockout, where he stopped Prince Mensan with a technical knockout just 11 seconds before the end of the second round.
His journey, however, has not been without setbacks.
A previous trip to South Africa was disrupted when Mataya was arrested by immigration authorities over a VISA he said had been fraudulently obtained from an individual posing as a Home Affairs agent. He was detained at Kempton Park Police Station and charged with an immigration offence before eventually returning to Zimbabwe.
His appearance at EFC 137 therefore carried significance beyond the result, marking his return to a country where he had previously faced immigration difficulties.
Now, with his EFC debut successfully behind him, Mataya has strengthened his position as one of Zimbabwe’s most promising professional MMA fighters and can turn his attention to building his record in one of Africa’s leading MMA promotions.
The win also brings renewed attention to the sacrifices made by Zimbabwean fighters as they pursue opportunities on the international stage.
