Faeez the “Troublemaker” Jacobs put on a superb display in his latest EFC Bantamweight bout. Heading into EFC 122 as the champion, Jacobs was intent on teaching opponent Sibusiso Sovendle a lesson but more importantly having clinical performance. He did just that with a spectacular first round knockout victory thanks to a beautiful head kick.
“It was like a game of chess” – Troublemaker
The Bantamweight title bout at EFC 122 was intense, albeit short lived but that was down to the preparation put in by the Troublemaker and his team. Speaking post victory, Jacobs revealed:
We absolutely planned that [the headkick] we knew that he would run into that kick, that he was going to make that mistake.
The 30-year-old was confident in the game plan and the work he put into his fight camp along with his team.
To formulate a formidable plan is challenging enough on its own but to go out and execute it to-the- tee shows a high level of fight IQ and skill. Jacobs compared his bout with Sovendle to a game of chess:
I tried to probe him to do certain things. Just like a game of chess, I led him into the corner and when his king had no more space, I kicked him in the head.
Blink and you might have missed it! Jacobs believes the fight would’ve been over Sooner…
If he had to come forward the fight would have been finished faster – with my team, I predicted that this fight wasn’t going to last a minute but because he ran as much as he did that’s why it lasted as long as it did but if he came and met me in the middle the fight would’ve been over much faster.
Jacobs sets sights on UFC Bantamweight division
The Cape Town fighter feels there’s nothing left for him to accomplish in the EFC’s Bantamweight division and has his sights set on the big time.
My main goal is to just try and get to the UFC as fast as possible. I don’t feel like there’s anything really more for me to prove here, so as soon as the opportunity comes – I’m gonna be ready. I’m gonna try and be as active as I can be. My division that I wanna go into in the UFC is the Bantamweight division.
EFC Bantamweight king wants to stay active in 2025
“Another two or three [fights] this year” was the Troublemaker’s answer when asked about returning to the hexagon (or Octagon in the UFC, hopefully). Jacobs emerged from his title defense at EFC 122 unscathed, in peak physical condition – ready for war.
He said after his first round KO against Sovendle,
I’m the champion and I wanna stay active – I wanna fight. I don’t want anybody to fight more than me, I’m jealous when they get to fight. Line the next one up! I don’t care who it is – no damage [from his title defense]. No damage, I could go fight right now, I don’t have a scratch on me!
What’s next for the Troublemaker?
You can expect to see the EFC Bantamweight champion back in action in the near future as he plans to “stay active” in an attempt to grab the attention of the UFC. There’s a ruthless sense of relentlessness in the way Jacobs speaks about his plans and ambitions. He revealed bits of his plans post-fight,
I plan on staying in my division [in the EFC] and really just beating everybody.
His stay-ready mindset is admirable and, in all likelihood, should see him jetting off to fight under the UFC banner at some point in the future.
Look, I wanna go to the UFC, so whatever it takes. It doesn’t matter, they’re all blank faces at the end of the day.
