Cage Warriors Fighting Championship are due to make their long awaited return to the European MMA scene on April 15th at the Camden Centre in London.
Cage Warriors 75 will see the promotion return after a 17-month hiatus and will look to pick up where they left off, producing some of the best fight cards in Europe.
With the official date and venue now set, we just need some fights to be announced and in typical #WHOATV fashion we have taken on the role of Ian Dean and picked five bouts we would like to see take place on 15th April;
Ashleigh Grimshaw Vs Patrick Pimblett
There have been rumours going around the internet since Cage Warriors announced the date and venue of their return about this one and I think it’s a great fight.
FCC Champion Pimblett is riding a five fight win streak and has picked up two submission wins at FCC during the Cage Warriors hiatus. Grimshaw hasn’t competed for Cage Warriors since 2011 and himself is coming off a no contest and a loss a Phoenix Fight Night back in September, and has suffered a last minute drop out recently at UCMMA.
This fight really pits an experienced fighter (Grimshaw) against one of the top prospects in the UK (Pimblett) with the winner in firm contention of knocking on Ian Dean’s door asking for a crack at the Gold after this one, if it gets announced.
Jack Hermansson Vs Jack Marshman
“The Hammer” Vs “The Joker” pretty much sells itself. But throw in two of the best Middleweights in Europe and it makes it even easier.
Hermansson has cemented himself as the best Middleweight in Europe with five straight wins under the Cage Warriors banner and only one of those going the distance. Whilst his Cage Warriors debut didn’t go to plan (being stopped at CWFC Fight Night 10 in just 34 seconds), Jack Marshman has put together solid wins over Bola Omoyele and Che Mills to make it almost impossible not to give him a shot at the Title in his next venture.
The only thing which may prevent this one taking place this year is Marshman’s booked fight in Wales, but the size of the prize may be too much to stop Marshman stepping back into the Cage Warriors cage if the offer is made.
Che Mills Vs Jake Bostwick
These two may be at different ends of the win column but it’s an intriguing bout in my eyes and will be a tough test for both fighters.
Mills looked sensational against Leeroy Barnes at Cage Warriors 68 and was looking great at Cage Warriors 72 before getting caught in a submission to Marshmann, but the former UFC fighter has taken a long break and is now set to make a comeback.
Bostwick has just looked like he has taken things up a level and this is reflected in his current ten fight win streak and at Middleweight he looks like a monster.
People may feel that given Mills only has two wins in seven bouts doesn’t justify him getting a crack against someone arguably so close to a Title shot, but in my eyes Mills is one of these guys who just manages to perform better when under this kind of pressure. Clearly a win for Bostwick in this one would all but cement the fact that he is one of the best unsigned Brits outside the big leagues and Cage Warriors may have a struggle on their hands to keep him from getting snapped up, but until that time I would love to see him fight some big names in the UK and continue to test himself.
Sean Carter Vs Brad Wheeler
Two super exciting Lightweight fighters who are always guaranteed to leave it all in the cage. Where do I sign?
BKK’s Carter took the opportunity to travel to Finland to fight his exemption fight from Cage Warriors and came up short against UFC veteran Anton Kuivanen (Finnish opponent in Finland, I smell a rat). Prior to this loss Carter picked up wins over Myles Price, Mario Saeed and Tim Wilde to really pole vault himself to the top of the 155lbs division at Cage Warriors.
Another fighter who was there or there about for a title shot was Brad “The Crazy Kid” Wheeler. Part of me thinks that Wheeler had beaten John Maguire in November he would definitely be lined up for a shot but we all know what happened and we can’t change history. Wheeler picked up the Warrior Fight Series Lightweight Title in August but I would pay good money to see The Crazy Kid take on Sexy Curls in April.
Leeroy Barnes Vs Bola Omoyele
Two guys who are in very similar positions, both looking to make a statement in their next bouts against a “named” opponent and so why not get them to fight each other?
Barnes has unfortunately been let down by an opponent which has prevented him making his comeback at Warrior Fight Series and Bola Omoyele has withdrawn from BAMMA 24 due to health injuries so come April time both will be chomping at the bit to get back into the cage.
Looking at this on one records alone may have people questioning a decision as to why Cage Warriors would back this fight, but we all know that records in MMA don’t really mean much and these two Middleweights are probably hungrier than ever to make a statement in the 185lbs division.