EFC 136: Fight card, main event, date, start time and how to watch

The event was originally expected to feature a lightweight title unification fight between Sanchez and undisputed champion Martin van Staden. However, Van Staden suffered a recurrence of the injury that had already prevented the pair from meeting once before, opening the door for Swanepoel to step into the biggest fight of his career.

Sanchez will now attempt to extend the strongest run of his career, while Swanepoel receives a second opportunity to capture EFC championship gold.

Elsewhere, Jeremie Tshibala and Christopher Matukane renew an old rivalry in a very different weight division, while Marino Cutendana, Sithembiso Hadebe, Armand Scheepers and Michael Vermeulen all return to the EFC Hexagon.

Here is everything you need to know about EFC 136.

When is EFC 136?

EFC 136 takes place on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The event will be held at the World Sports Betting EFC Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.

What time does EFC 136 start?

EFC 136 is set to kick off at 17:00 (UTC) on Thursday.

The preliminary card will take place before the main card, with Rian Dunn and Marino Cutendana scheduled to headline the prelims.

What is the EFC 136 main event?

Adrian Sanchez will defend the interim EFC lightweight championship against Bradley Swanepoel in the EFC 136 main event.

Sanchez had originally been scheduled to face recognised lightweight champion Martin van Staden in a title unification fight. It was expected to settle the division after Sanchez captured interim gold during Van Staden’s absence.

However, Van Staden suffered a recurrence of the same injury that had previously forced their first proposed meeting to be cancelled.

With no confirmed timeline for the champion’s return, Swanepoel accepted the opportunity to challenge Sanchez for the interim belt.

Sanchez enters the contest on a four-fight winning streak after overcoming an inconsistent start to his professional career. His recent run includes a disciplined victory over Jeferson Pereira and the performance that secured the interim lightweight championship.

The champion has developed into a well-rounded fighter capable of combining his striking with an effective wrestling game, but the change of opponent presents a significantly different test.

Swanepoel carries a 7-1 professional record into the main event, with six of his seven victories coming inside the distance.

His only defeat in EFC came when he challenged former featherweight champion Igeu Kabesa at EFC 99. Swanepoel has since responded with consecutive victories to earn another chance at championship gold.

The South African has received opportunities to compete internationally but chose to remain active in Africa and continue pursuing an EFC title.

His dangerous submission game could present Sanchez with one of the most difficult challenges of his reign.

Victory for Sanchez would strengthen his claim to be the division’s leading active fighter while Van Staden recovers. A Swanepoel win, meanwhile, would further complicate an already uncertain lightweight championship picture.

EFC 136 fight card

The following fights have been confirmed for EFC 136.

Main event

Adrian Sanchez (9-5) vs Bradley Swanepoel (7-1) – interim EFC lightweight championship

Co-main event

• Sithembiso Hadebe (4-2) vs Godfrey Mkhwanazi (5-4) – bantamweight

Main card

• Rian Dunn (3-4) vs Marino Cutendana (6-4) – bantamweight
• Adei Volker (2-0) vs Joel Tiffo (2-3) – middleweight
• Coenie Lamprecht (2-1) vs Lecture Ntshangase (2-5) – flyweight

Preliminary card

• Grant Farrow (1-0) vs Alex Kapinga (0-1-1) – lightweight
• Denver Isaacs (1-0) vs Philani Ngqoyiya (0-1) – flyweight
• Given Majuba (3-7) vs Seth Van Aswegen (professional debut) – welterweight
• Lucky Magekha (5-4) vs Nasiphi Vellem (2-0-1) – featherweight
• Jeremie Tshibala (2-2) vs Christopher Matukane (3-5) – heavyweight
• Siyanda Vilakazi (2-5) vs Story Embombe (0-3) – flyweight

Tshibala and Matukane renew an old rivalry

Jeremie Tshibala and Christopher Matukane will meet for the second time when they collide in the heavyweight division.

Tshibala defeated Matukane by unanimous decision when the pair first shared the EFC Hexagon. However, both men competed in a considerably lighter division at the time.

Years later, they return as transformed heavyweight athletes with unfinished business between them.

Tshibala represents War Warriors and is comfortable using his boxing before imposing his physicality in the clinch. He will attempt to demonstrate that the result of their first encounter was no accident, regardless of the dramatic change in weight.

Matukane has steadily added size and experience since the defeat and has repeatedly sought the opportunity to face Tshibala again.

The Valhalla MMA representative is known for his durability, close-range striking and willingness to engage in physical exchanges. He now believes heavyweight provides the ideal setting in which to avenge his previous loss.

Mkhwanazi welcomes Hadebe back to EFC

Godfrey “Feralspunky” Mkhwanazi will put a two-fight winning streak on the line against returning veteran Sithembiso Hadebe.

Mkhwanazi has continued to develop during his recent victories and is emerging as one of EFC’s fastest-rising bantamweights.

The 25-year-old represents Godfather MMA and bases his approach around aggressive boxing, constant pressure and damaging ground-and-pound.

Hadebe returns to EFC after gaining international experience, including contests in the United Arab Emirates.

The veteran possesses a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt alongside sharp boxing and technical takedowns. His return gives Mkhwanazi the opportunity to test his recent progress against one of the division’s more experienced competitors.

Lamprecht faces a major test against Gumbi

Coenie “The Prophecy” Lamprecht will attempt to recover from the first defeat of his professional career when he faces Lecture “The Mafia” Gumbi.

At just 19 years old, Lamprecht has already established himself as one of EFC’s leading young prospects.

The EFC Contender Series contract winner began his professional career impressively before suffering a narrow split-decision defeat against Sisa Jungula at the EFC Knox Series.

Lamprecht’s elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission game remain his strongest weapons, although the Valhalla MMA prospect has continued developing his boxing and elbow combinations.

Gumbi provides a contrasting challenge.

The Zimbabwean veteran is an aggressive pressure fighter with clean boxing, heavy hands and the durability required to remain dangerous during difficult exchanges.

His improved defensive grappling could prove crucial if he can prevent Lamprecht from controlling the contest on the ground.

Volker puts his unbeaten EFC record on the line

Adei Volker faces the most experienced opponent of his EFC career when he meets returning middleweight Armand Scheepers.

Volker holds a perfect 2-0 EFC record and enters the contest following a dominant victory over Wallace Okasso.

The 27-year-old has drawn attention with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, heavy top control and persistent submission attacks. However, his striking has not yet been tested extensively inside the EFC Hexagon.

Scheepers returns for the first time since EFC 75 and brings considerable experience, durability and an aggressive style into the matchup.

The veteran also possesses a strong Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game, creating an intriguing contest between two fighters who are comfortable on the ground.

For Volker, victory would establish him as an emerging middleweight contender. For Scheepers, it would represent a successful beginning to his comeback.

Vermeulen makes his long-awaited EFC return

Michael “Tank” Vermeulen returns to EFC competition for the first time since EFC 57 when he faces Sholto Luiters.

Vermeulen compiled a 4-2 record during his previous run with the promotion, recording victories over Tomasz Kowalkowski, Didier Kilola, Sors Grobbelaar and Ivan Strydom.

He has never gone the distance in six EFC appearances, earning three victories by knockout and another by submission.

Luiters has also never reached the final bell as a professional.

Although he enters with a 1-3 record, the Pretoria heavyweight has faced high-level opposition. His recent defeats came against future heavyweight champion Anthony Morel and title challenger Terrence Born.

Both men favour aggressive contests and early finishes, making this one of the card’s most likely fights to end inside the distance.

Dunn and Cutendana headline the prelims

Rian “Mountain Lion” Dunn faces returning Angolan veteran Marino “The Scorpion” Cutendana in the preliminary-card headliner.

Dunn enters after returning to winning ways and will attempt to build momentum in the bantamweight division.

The Durban fighter combines long-range Muay Thai with a dangerous submission game and has developed a reputation for accepting entertaining contests.

Cutendana returns to EFC for the first time since EFC 83 following a lengthy absence related to health issues.

The Angola-born fighter grew up alongside future EFC two-division champion Demarte Pena and has prepared alongside former champions and leading African fighters including Dricus Du Plessis and Cameron Saaiman.

Cutendana offers high-level kickboxing, dangerous submissions and particularly damaging leg kicks.

His experience and all-round skill set make him a difficult opponent for Dunn despite his extended absence from competition.

How to watch EFC 136

EFC 136 will be broadcast live and FREE worldwide* on DAZN. If you already have a DAZN subscription or free account then Extreme Fighting Championship is already available to you.

If you have yet to sign up for a DAZN FREE account, then all you need to do is enter an email address and away you go. 

With the DAZN app, you can watch on almost any device, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, streaming devices like Fire Sticks, games consoles like PlayStations, and laptops / PCs / Macs.

To get the DAZN App, just follow these instructions....

1. Download the free DAZN App from your normal App store on your TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device
2. On a laptop or PC, visit www.DAZN.com/home
3. Select 'Get started' or 'log in'
4. Enter your email address, or sign up via the Apple, Google or Facebook options
5. You then have access to all of DAZN's free content, including the Matchroom boxing channel and FIFA+
6. Then find the  EFC page here to start watching

*excluding Sub-Saharan Africa and Poland