Wessel Mostert

Wessel "Wess Express" Mostert is a retired South African mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. He is a former IMMAF Amateur World Champion and competed in the Extreme Fighting Championship.

Early life and background Mostert was born in Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa, where he played competitive school rugby sport. In 2013 he began training in mixed martial arts at The Tribe gym under the tutelage of trainer Walter Wendt in Johannesburg, Gauteng. During this time, he won the domestic Fightstar heavyweight championship.

In July 2014, Mostert traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, to represent South Africa at the inaugural International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Amateur World Championships. He won the tournament to become the 2014 IMMAF Heavyweight World Champion, earning a top-3 amateur ranking in the United States.

Professional career Mostert turned professional and signed a contract with Africa's MMA organization, EFC Worldwide. Mostert began his professional career with a five-fight winning streak. Mostert secured victories against Wilhelm Strauss via knockout and Ivan Strydom via guillotine choke.

EFC Heavyweight Championship bout On 8 July 2017, the undefeated Mostert faced reigning champion and veteran Andrew van Zyl for the EFC Heavyweight Championship at EFC 61, held at the Sun City Super Bowl. In a contested back-and-forth encounter, Mostert suffered the first defeat of his professional career, losing via third-round technical knockout (TKO).

Mixed martial arts record

Andrew van Zyl TKO (punches) EFC 61

Sun City, South Africa For the EFC Heavyweight Championship.

Tony Mustard TKO EFC 57

Johannesburg, South Africa

Nico Yamdjie Decision (unanimous) EFC 54

Sun City, South Africa

Ivan Strydom Submission (guillotine choke) EFC 52

Cape Town, South Africa

Wilhelm Strauss KO (punches) EFC 49

Johannesburg, South Africa

Thomas Swanepoel TKO EFC 38

Johannesburg, South Africa Professional debut.

Championships and accomplishments

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation 2014 IMMAF Heavyweight World Champion Fightstar MMA Fightstar Heavyweight Championship (One time) EFC Worldwide Fight of the Year Nominee (2017 – vs. Andrew van Zyl)

Mysoektog documentary In 2021, Mostert, Nico Moolman,Tumelo Mokoena, Piet Lombard, Theo Molebatsi, Twin Mosia, Leon Meyer, and Dawie Fourie took a horse-cart journey across South Africa, starting in Vereeniging, Gauteng, and passing through different towns in the Free State before ending up in Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal province. The team filmed a documentary called My Soektog using a Cape Cart, including six horses, and reenacted how traveling was done in the old days.