In just a few short weeks the most important bout in African MMA history will take place on the Eastern outskirts of Johannesburg. When Garreth McLellan and Jeremy Smith clash for the EFC Africa middleweight title, it will be far more than the biggest fight of their careers and a bout that the MMA community has been anxiously approaching for months. It will also be a fight packed with the power of revolution. For the first time ever, African MMA will be broadcast live on television.

Bouts from previous EFC events have already aired on South African channels, with e.tv hitting a massive high of 1.2 million viewers for an EFC highlight episode on 7 January. With a further 48 countries receiving e.tv there’s no telling just how many millions have had their interest piqued and will tune in for the epic clash on 2 March. Will EFC 12 be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and finally opens the mainstream floodgates, ushering in a fresh wave of optimism and prosperity? Will the winner of EFC’s historic championship bout be the first MMA hero that millions of in Africa look up to? We can’t wait to find out and we’re sure you can’t either, which is why this issue brings Smith and McLellan together to share their thoughts on each other and the biggest opportunity of their careers. McLellan is a man that hardly ever needs any introduction. He is the reigning EFC middleweight champion and grower of SA’s most coveted beard. He is now 6-1 in professional MMA, with an arsenal of well-rounded strikes and submissions. Ever since he first set foot in the EFC hexagon and ripped through his opponent with all the fire and brimstone of something from your darkest nightmares, fans have flocked to his side. However, if anyone can burst the Soldierboy bubble, it’s undoubtedly Jeremy Smith. South Africa’s Thai terror holds a wealth of international experience and a 10-1 record, not to mention explosive intensity that rivals McLellan’s. Join us in celebrating these two extraordinary athletes, plus this unprecedented event, on pages 28 and 34.

Gilbert Melendez now leads the charge of 155lb fighters eager to test themselves against the champion and the Strikeforce mainstay looks likely to get his chance in 2012. The Cesar Gracie Skrap Packer has been calling out Edgar for a long time and we headed back to San Francisco this month to discover what drives ‘El Niño’ inside the cage and how he intends to make a statement in December in order to force Edgar into a title unification match.

While at the other end of the scale we caught up with a handful of other UFC mainstays who are juggling full-time careers away from the Octagon in order to keep their fighting aspirations on track. We even found time to jet out east to Asia and discovered a series of nations coming together and embracing mixed martial arts on a level unrivalled anywhere else on Planet MMA. From the Thai-fighting town of Phuket to the lavish five-star comforts of MMA in Singapore, the continent is well on its way to again becoming a true force in global mixed martial arts. We have an in-depth look into three big bouts for UFC in Japan.

Throw in a look into Demarte Pena’s kitbag, the spotlight on Dan Henderson, bright up and coming amateur bantamweight champ Calvin Msani, a tasty Smith’s Boxing & MMA sparring partner showdown between Adam Speechly and Dino Bagattin – and not forgetting our Babe of the month Sabina Essa in our Attitude section – and you could well be holding onto the very best edition of Fighters Only South Africa yet.

Enjoy the issue,