This fight is my life. It’s all I have and I have to win,” says Luke Michael

Cape Town — Luke Michael is going all-in this weekend when he fights for the Extreme Fighting Championship’s middleweight belt.

“This fight is my life, it’s everything to me. It’s all I have and I have to win,” said South Africa’s Michael who will be facing the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Pupanga Tresor at EFC 92 on Saturday.

This will be Michael’s second shot at a title within a space of three years, and a chance for the prospect to finally start fulfilling his potential after struggling to find consistency as well as a gym that he can call home.

After losing out on the welterweight championship to Zimbabwe’s Themba Gorimbo, Michael made some more changes and says that he is now finally settled both as an athlete and human being.

“I fought for (the) welterweight title in September 2019, obviously it didn’t go my way. I fought a good guy and that experience made me who I am now, and I am grateful for it,” said Michael (5-4) who reflected back on the fight with now UAE Warriors-signed and former EFC champion Gorimbo (9-3).

After that fight, Michael established a good relationship with coach Attila Barna in Lonehill, Johannesburg who helped him get back onto the winning road with a victory over EFC veteran Dino Bagattin (12-10) at EFC 87.

“After joining coach Attila in January 2020, I can honestly say I found a home for my spirit and it’s what I always wanted and needed for my career,” Michael said.

“In him I see a coach for life. He allows me to express myself and he taught me to be my own motivation.”

On his shift to middleweight, Michael and his coach have been considerate about how they navigate through the EFC waters and beyond.

“It’s the middleweight title up next,” he said.

“My coach and I have spoken. With