EFC 136 preview: Sanchez and Swanepoel meet amid lightweight title uncertainty

The interim lightweight championship will be on the line in the main event after reigning champion Martin van Staden was forced to withdraw from his scheduled title unification bout with Sanchez through injury. While Swanepoel has been handed the opportunity to compete for interim gold, the change means the lightweight division will continue searching for the undisputed champion it has been waiting to see crowned.

Elsewhere, experienced campaigners return to the ring looking to halt the progress of the promotion's next generation, with Sithembiso Hadebe, Marino Cutendana and Jeremie Tshibala all back in action. Add unbeaten prospects, intriguing stylistic match-ups and a heavyweight rematch carrying years of history, and EFC 136 offers plenty of compelling storylines beyond its championship main event.

Here's everything to watch ahead of Thursday night's event.

You can find a full fight-card and how to watch here.

Sanchez and Swanepoel meet with the lightweight title picture still unresolved

The main event may not be the fight originally planned, but it remains one of the most significant bouts on the EFC calendar.

Sanchez was due to challenge Martin van Staden in a long-awaited lightweight title unification bout after claiming the interim championship against Jeferson Pereira. It promised to settle one of the promotion's biggest outstanding questions before Van Staden's injury forced another postponement.

Rather than waiting for another opportunity, Sanchez now puts his interim title on the line against Bradley Swanepoel, who steps into the biggest fight of his career.

Sanchez arrives with momentum behind him after four consecutive victories and has established himself as arguably the division's leading active fighter. Another successful defence would strengthen his claim to a future unification bout whenever Van Staden is fit to return.

Swanepoel, meanwhile, has earned another shot at championship gold after rebuilding from the only defeat of his professional career. With six finishes from seven victories, the South African has consistently shown he possesses the submission threat and finishing ability to trouble any opponent in the division.

Whoever leaves Johannesburg with the interim title, however, the wider lightweight picture is unlikely to become any clearer until Van Staden is able to return.

Hadebe returns as Mkhwanazi looks to continue his rise

The co-main event brings together two fighters at very different stages of their careers.

Sithembiso Hadebe returns to EFC after spending time competing internationally, bringing valuable experience back into one of the promotion's deepest divisions.

Standing opposite him is Godfrey Mkhwanazi, whose recent performances have re-established him as one of the bantamweight division's most promising contenders.

For Hadebe, victory would mark an impressive return to the promotion.

For Mkhwanazi, defeating one of EFC's established names would represent another important step towards title contention.

Rising prospects continue to build their reputations

Several of EFC's brightest young talents also feature throughout Thursday's card.

Unbeaten middleweight Adei Volker faces arguably the toughest assignment of his career when he takes on Joel Tiffo. Volker has impressed since arriving in EFC and another victory would further strengthen his credentials as one of the division's most exciting prospects.

Flyweight Coenie Lamprecht also returns looking to respond positively after suffering the first defeat of his professional career. The teenager faces experienced campaigner Lecture Ntshangase in another contest designed to test his long-term potential.

Elsewhere, Denver Isaacs, Lucky Magekha, Nasiphi Vellem and several other emerging fighters continue their pursuit of bigger opportunities inside the promotion.

A rivalry is renewed

Few fights on the card carry as much history as the heavyweight meeting between Jeremie Tshibala and Christopher Matukane.

The pair first met several years ago, with Tshibala claiming a unanimous decision victory.

Both fighters have since evolved considerably, making this rematch far more than a repeat of their original contest. Matukane has waited patiently for the opportunity to avenge that defeat, while Tshibala returns determined to prove the first result was no accident.

It provides one of the card's most intriguing subplots outside the championship fights.

Returning veterans add further experience to the card

Experience is another recurring theme across EFC 136.

Marino Cutendana returns from an extended absence when he meets Rian Dunn in a bout that could have significant implications for the bantamweight division.

Elsewhere, several established names return looking to halt the momentum of the promotion's younger generation, creating compelling stylistic and generational match-ups throughout both the main card and prelims.

That balance between experienced veterans and ambitious prospects has become one of EFC's defining strengths, and EFC 136 is no exception.

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....

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

*excluding Sub-Saharan Africa and Poland