PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: Luthando Biko, South Africa
Nickname: Shorty
Date of Birth: 1989
Weight: 135LBS/61.23kg
Division: Flyweight and Bantamweight
Pro MMA Record: [12-3-0]
EARLY LIFE
Luthando Biko is a seasoned EFC champion who began his MMA journey after joining a BJJ session. Soon after, he gained interest in MMA and transitioned. Before his MMA transition, Biko had trained in judo and earned a couple of titles and accolades, such as a judo blackbelt, Multiple SA champ, Commonwealth judo champion, and IMMAF African Champ 2016. The fighter is ranked #102 worldwide flyweight and #1 South Africa’s pro flyweight. Biko has been in six amateur fights and fifteen professional bouts.
MMA CAREER
During his amateur bout, the fighter competed in various MMA tournaments, such as Cape Fight League, Fightstar FC, and the 2016 IMMAF All-African Championship. He soon made his professional debut, participating in EFC Worldwide, UAE Warrior, Ares FC, and Brave CF. His first opponent was Guy Lazarus, and he defeated his opponent following a unanimous decision. Next, he battled Gary Joshua and lost the fight after suffering a naked choke that led to his submission in round two. Afterwards, he faced Rocky Ilunga and won the fight, which was a unanimous decision. He soon went up against Katiso Matime and destroyed his opponent with a kimura move in round one. His next opponent was Shuan Taylor, who he defeated following a split decision. Biko’s last recorded amateur fight was against Sbahle Mpanza, and he dominated his opponent after hammering savage punches that led to a TKO in round two.
He finally made his professional debut at the EFC, where he faced Bokang Masunyane. He lost the battle following a unanimous decision. Next, he faced Claude Ntumba and defeated his opponent in a unanimous decision win. Later, ‘Shorty’ battled Devon Cronjen and was victorious following a unanimous decision.
He soon faced Warren Richards at EFC Worldwide 68. Richards came in with a hard right, but Biko soon went in for a takedown. Richards tried to manoeuvre him into a body lock, but Biko slipped through and held on to his leg. Biko got back on top of him and landed body shots while Richard tried to put him in a headlock. Biko landed hard headshots. They continued to grapple with Biko, landing precise jabs and shots. Richards tried to escape this hold, but Biko had him in a tight corner. He proceeded to land elbows, strikes, and punishing shots before a referee stoppage due to TKO.
Subsequently, he faced Steven Gonclaves and won the fight after a split decision. He soon battled Call Ellenor for the EFC Worlwide Interim Bantamweight Championship and he defeated his opponent after punch-packed rounds led to a unanimous decision win. Next, he faced challenger JP Buys but he ended up losing the match and championship title after a ground and pound defeat in round four. Afterwards, Biko faced Tumisang Madiba and won the battle after a split decision. Later, he fought Taiki Akiba and defeated him in a unanimous decision. Next, he faced Giana Souza, and he also dominated his opponent to a split decision.
Biko soon encountered Nkazimulo Zulu in the cage, and his winning streak came to an end after getting locked in a guillotine choke in round two and tapping out. Biko soon got a chance to redeem himself in a rematch against Zulu, and he defeated his opponent with an overhand right that dropped him, and he followed with a brutal ground and pound in the opening round. Next, he battled Magno Alves for the flyweight championship title and won following a TKO via heavy punches in round four. Next, he faced Muhidin Abubakar and destroyed his opponent via unanimous decision. His last recorded bout was against Samir Faiddine, and he beat his opponent via unanimous decision.
MMA RECORD
| W/L/D[NC] | RECORD AFTER FIGHT | OPPONENT | FIGHT LIBRARY |
| W | 12-3-0 | SAMIR FAIDDDINE | |
| W | 11-3-0 | MUHIDIN ABUBAKAR | https://www.youtube.com/live/Ec9jWPNo8eg?si=e92kX3FZ_Ef7jL2L |
| W | 10-3-0 | MAGNO ALVES | |
| W | 9-3-0 | NKAZIMULO ZULU | |
| L | 8-3-0 | NKAZIMULO ZULU | |
| W | 8-2-0 | GIAN SOUZA | |
| W | 7-2-0 | TAIKI AKIBA | |
| W | 6-2-0 | TUMISANG MADIBA | |
| L | 5-2-0 | JP BUYS | |
| W | 5-1-0 | CAL ELLENOR | |
| W | 4-1-0 | STEVEN GONCLAVES | |
| W | 3-1-0 | WARREN RICHARDS | https://youtu.be/bwoEuH-q8zc?si=FrWfJsD–Hdsg_uz |
| W | 2-1-0 | DEVON CRONJE | |
| W | 1-1-0 | CLAUDE NTUMBA | |
| L | 0-1-0 | BOKANG MASUNYANE | https://youtu.be/xiGpXpaXb-Q?si=Tku_55gV_TkzXfYN |
