Tomorrow night will see the now annual New Years Eve show from Cage Warriors in Dublin, Ireland. This time last year it served as the launching pad for Conor McGregor’s career when the Dublin native had everyone talking about his KO win over Ivan Buchinger to become a two-weight promotional champ.
Fast-forward a year and the two belts McGregor held make their way back to Dublin once again but this time they are held by two different people.
Scotland’s Stevie Ray (14-4) comes to Dublin as the lightweight champ will be making his first defense. His challenger is a man returning to scene one-year later, Ivan Buchinger (24-4) is coming back to Dublin to try and capture the title that has painfully eluded him over the past year.
The American Jim Alers (11-1) will defend his featherweight title against another top Scottish fighter in Graham Turner (23-7). Both fighters, despite their age, have a number of years experience in the game and both are currently on good winning streaks.
UFC veteran John Maguire (18-6) has his first fight since being released earlier this year. Maguie made five appearances inside the Octagon going 2-3 over a two-year stint. He won his first two beating Justin Edwards and DaMarques Johnson before loosing three straight. He takes on local fighter Philip Mulpeter (6-3) who has the chance of a lifetime to get a win over a UFC veteran and boost his MMA career.
Also on the card is a clash between two of Europe’s on-form up and comers as Dubliner Paul Redmond (8-3) takes on Polish fighter Mateusz Teodorczuk (10-2). Redmond has won his past five while Teodorczuk has won his past eight.
Ais Daly (13-5) will be looking to get her career back on track after taking time away following suffering her third defeat in a row at last years NYE show. A win here could all but secure her place in the upcoming TUF 20 house. She won’t have an easy time though as she faces Spanish veteran Karla Benitez (11-5) who has fought some of the biggest all around the globe.
The supporting card features an array of local and promising talent looking to make names for themselves in the sport. My picks of the bunch to keep an eye for on the undercard is Catherine Costigan, this undefeated Irish fighter has all the drive and motivation to make it in the sport, and the heated affair between John Redmond vs Kieran Davern, the two fighters have some bad blood and both are in need of a win.
MAIN CARD
LW Title- Stevie Ray (c) vs. Ivan Buchinger
FW Title- Jim Alers (c) vs. Graham Turner
John Maguire vs. Philip Mulpeter
Paul Redmond vs. Mateusz Teodorczuk
Karla Benitez vs. Aisling Daly
PRELIMS
Sean Carter vs. Myles Price
Catherine Costigan vs. Morgane Delagnau
Kieran Davern vs. John Redmond
Amanda English vs. Slavka Vitaly
Chris Boujard vs. Peter Queally
Gavin Kelly vs. Dylan Sheehan
Mick Brennan vs. Kieran O’Brien
*photo credit: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors