The Three Biggest Stories to Watch at EFC 138: Djikasa vs. Born

EFC 138 may not be the promotion's biggest card of the year on paper, but there is plenty to keep an eye on when the action gets underway. Here are the three biggest stories to watch at EFC 138: Djikasa vs. Born on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Who Will Rule the EFC Heavyweight Division?

The vacant EFC Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs in the main event, with former titleholder Matunga 'HHH Power' Djikasa taking on undefeated prospect Terrence 'The Mountain' Born.

For Djikasa, this is an opportunity to reclaim the gold he has held twice before. The experienced heavyweight knows exactly what it takes to reach the top of the division, but this will be his first opportunity to win the championship since losing it to Adama Diop at EFC 132. Standing across from him is a very different challenge.

Born enters EFC 138 with a perfect 4-0 professional record, with all four of his victories coming by stoppage. In fact, the heavyweight is yet to even see the third round in a professional bout. 'The Mountain' has yet to experience defeat as a professional, and he now has the opportunity to capture EFC gold in just his fifth professional bout.

This is a fascinating clash between a seasoned veteran familiar with the title picture and an undefeated fighter who represents the possibility of a changing of the guard. Will Djikasa reclaim the throne and remind everyone why he has been one of EFC's most established heavyweights, or will Born usher in a new era for the division?

That will be answered at EFC 138.

Is Gift Walker Still a Bantamweight Title Contender?

Gift Walker went the distance with Faeez Jacobs when the two met for the EFC Bantamweight Championship at EFC 135, coming up short against the man who would go on to become a two-time champion. While the defeat prevented Walker from claiming his second title in the promotion, going five rounds with Jacobs demonstrated that he remains capable of competing at the highest level of the division.

Now, Walker has the opportunity to put himself right back into the conversation. At EFC 138, Walker faces Sithembiso Hadebe, who presents a different kind of challenge. After recently picking up a decision victory in his comeback fight after an extended period away from competition, some of the uncertainty surrounding Hadebe's ring rust should be gone.

For Walker, a convincing victory could be enough to put him back into the orbit of another title opportunity. Walker has already proven he can go the distance with the champion. The question now is whether he can put together another win and convince EFC that he should keep that number one contender slot.

Which Prospect Makes the Biggest Statement at EFC 138?

The EFC 138 card also features several prospects with the opportunity to make a serious statement.

Tryford Mwanga has quickly become one of the more intriguing young fighters on the roster. The Zambian flyweight is undefeated in his two professional EFC appearances, with both victories coming by first-round stoppage. He now returns to action on short-notice, looking to maintain that momentum and continue establishing himself as a fighter to watch in the division.

At bantamweight, Angola's Clelio Diogo enters his EFC 138 matchup with an undefeated professional record of his own. At 3-0, Diogo has yet to taste defeat as a professional and will look to take another step forward against a more established opponent. EFC 138 will see Diogo face the 5-5 Godfrey Mkhwanazi.

Then there is Khanyo Maqam at lightweight. 'The Impondo Reign' has already shown an ability to finish fights inside the EFC Hex, and EFC 138 gives him another opportunity to build his reputation in a competitive division. A standout performance could elevate him from a promising prospect to a name that deserves considerably more attention at 155 pounds.

At EFC 138, it's less about which prospect gets the biggest win on paper, but which leaves the WSB EFC Arena with the most momentum. By the end of the night, one (or more) of them could emerge as the prospect that everyone is talking about.

With so much still to be decided, EFC 138 could prove to be an important night for both the present and future of the promotion.