WELKOM – Welkom fighter Brandon “The Dragon” Kelly has added a South African national title to his growing martial arts record after an impressive performance at the All Out War 2026 tournament in Potchefstroom.
Kelly, representing the RCFA Bhubezi Fight Club in Welkom, defeated Corne Weeler of Sasolburg in the Full Contact High Kick 65 kg to 69 kg national title bout on Saturday 29 August.
The tournament, hosted by Ring Contact Fighting Arts (RCFA) at the Potchefstroom Banquet Hall from 28 to 30 August, attracted martial artists competing across a range of disciplines.
Kelly secured first place and the national title in the Full Contact High Kick division on the main card.
He also delivered strong performances in other disciplines, finishing second in Semi-Contact Close Combat and third in both Baton and Series.
His latest achievement adds to an already successful competitive career. The first-degree blue belt previously enjoyed multiple Junior South African Millennium Championship victories in 2024 and 2025, and claimed double gold at the Best of the Best Tournament in Vereeniging.
Kelly won both the Semi-Contact High Kick and Semi-Contact Close Combat divisions at the tournament and has also received national recognition through nominations for the RCFA awards in the Senior Male Millennium and Senior Male Full Contact Close Combat categories.
Keagan won Full Contact
Fellow Bhubezi fighter Keagan Smith also enjoyed a highly successful tournament. Smith won the Full Contact Low Kicks division by technical knockout (TKO) on the undercard, as well as the Full Contact Sport Boxing and Fitness Challenge divisions.
The club’s junior fighters also contributed to its medal haul.
Bea-nay Nel won gold in Semi-Contact Low Kicks, and silver in Semi-Contact High Kicks and Semi-Contact Close Combat. Ayden Thompsonclaimed silver in Semi-Contact Sport Boxing and bronze in Semi-Contact High Kicks.
Sensei Joe Gladstone Ralejoe, chief instructor of the RCFA Bhubezi Fight Club and RCFA provincial president, praised the fighters for their performances.
“Our fighters showed world-class discipline and heart. For Brandon to bring a South African title home to Welkom and for Keagan to deliver a TKO finish, shows the calibre of combat sports talent we are building right here in our community.”
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