Three Biggest Takeaways from EFC 138: Djikasa vs. Born

EFC 138 delivered another night of action-packed MMA but, beyond the individual wins and losses, the event raised some important questions about the future of several divisions. From the emergence of a potential new flyweight star to a lightweight contender who can no longer be overlooked, here are the three biggest takeaways from EFC 138: Djikasa vs. Born.

1. Khanyo Maqam Has Earned His Shot at the Lightweight Title

Khanyo Maqam has reached the point where EFC can no longer afford to keep him waiting.

The lightweight contender continued his rise at EFC 138, securing another important victory before making his intentions clear in his post-fight callout. Rather than simply calling for whoever holds the title, Maqam specifically called out interim lightweight champion Adrian Sanchez. There's a reason for that.

Martin van Staden has held the undisputed EFC Lightweight Championship since December 2024, but he is yet to defend the title. Sanchez, meanwhile, claimed the interim gold earlier this year at EFC 131: KNOX Legacy Series, and has already successfully defended the title - making him the division's most active champion.

Sanchez and van Staden have even had a face-off, seemingly setting the stage for an undisputed title fight - but that matchup is yet to materialise. With van Staden repeatedly being forced out of scheduled bouts, the lightweight division has increasingly found itself stuck in limbo.

Maqam should not have to wait indefinitely for that situation to resolve itself. 'The Impondo Reign' has continued to build momentum while the title picture remains complicated, and his decision to call out Sanchez suggests that he recognises who is actually keeping the division moving. With Sanchez now looking at yet another scheduled match-up with van Staden, this threatens to stagnate the division once more.

If van Staden is unable to return to competition in the near future, EFC needs to seriously consider moving forward without him at the top of the division. At this stage, an undisputed title fight between Sanchez and Maqam could provide the clarity the lightweight division needs.

2. Thapelo Malatjie Has Arrived at Flyweight

EFC may have just found its next big flyweight prospect.

Thapelo Malatjie made his professional debut at EFC 138 against one of the more intriguing young names in the divison, Tryford Mwanga. The Zambian standout entered the bout with a perfect 2-0 professional record and had been building considerable momentum heading into the bout.

Making his pro debut against someone who has finished both his opponents in the first round, Malatjie had every reason to approach the fight cautiously. Instead, he looked completely at home and had a ton of confidence in himself and his abilities.

The debutant went the full three rounds with Mwanga and, by the end of the bout, had done enough to leave little doubt about who had won. Malatjie now enters the flyweight conversation as one of the division's names to watch.

It might be too early to declare him a future champion, but EFC 138 was a strong introduction for the young flyweight. If Malatjie continues to build on this performance, the promotion could have another genuine flyweight standout on its hands.

3. EFC Can't Let the Bantamweight Division Stand Still

Faeez Jacobs' historic feat as an EFC double champion has created an interesting problem for the promotion's bantamweight division.

Jacobs became a two-division champion at EFC 137, adding the featherweight title to the bantamweight gold he already had. Now, there is nothing wrong with allowing the champion some time to enjoy the accomplishment before immediately throwing him back into another title fight - but the divisions cannot simply stop moving while the champion figures out his next move.

The question of what the EFC bantamweights are fighting for became particularly relevant at EFC 138, which featured two 135-pound bouts. Gift Walker, who was one of the fighters competing at bantamweight, has already made it clear that he does not intend to rush Jacobs, preferring to let the champion enjoy his historic achievement before looking toward a potential rematch.

But if Walker is not immediately chasing Jacobs, and Jacobs is not immediately defending the bantamweight title, then what exactly are the bantamweights fighting for? EFC needs to provide an answer.

A division cannot be built solely around waiting for the champion to return. There needs to be a clear contender hierarchy, meaningful matchups, and a sense that every victory is taking fighters somewhere. Otherwise, athletes risk simply accumulating wins without knowing what those wins are ultimately worth.

This does not necessarily mean Jacobs needs to be stripped of the bantamweight championship or rushed back into the action. Instead, EFC needs to keep the division moving around him.

If Jacobs is going to spend time pursuing his goals as a double champion, the promotion should be building the next challenger behind the scenes. That could mean establishing a clear No. 1 contender, creating a contender bout between the division's leading names, or simply giving fighters a defined path toward the championship.

Jacobs' achievement should elevate both divisions, not leave one of them in limbo. EFC 138 showed that there is no shortage of bantamweights willing to compete. The next step is making sure they know what they are competing for.