With Graham Boylan today breaking the news that he has acquired Cage Warriors Fighting Championship, the UKMMA scene is buzzing with excitement as to what the product will look like on its return later this year.
One of the most interesting factors will be what roster the promotion are left with and what fighters will use the rebranding to look at new opportunities.
However, on the assumption that Cage Warriors hold on to the majority of their talent pool, #WHOATV’s own Tony Quant has taken on the role of Ian Dean to pitch five fights which we will hopefully get to see under the Cage Warriors banner;
Patrick Pimblett Vs Alex Enlund
I like Pimblett and I like Enlund but who do I like more? Only one way to find out! Fightttttttttttttt!
These two are arguably the two best Featherweights in the UK at the moment if not Europe. FCC Champion Pimblett is riding a five fight win streak and has picked up two submission wins at FCC during the Cage Warriors hiatus. Current Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion, Enlund has not fought since taking the belt from Nad Narimani at CWFC 73 and is scheduled to fight Phil Raeburn in August at Adrenalin FC.
Both of these 145lbers have sublime ground games and I would pay top dollar just to watch these two in a grappling match. But don’t snooze on their stand up games either which the two have been focusing on in recent bouts to show that they are anything but one dimensional.
Both of these young fighters will be keen to prove that they are the number one Featherweight in Europe and a return to the Cage Warriors cage would play a great host to arguably one of the top 145lbs fights to make at this moment in time.
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 fights which see him compete in July and also late September against Ryan Scope at Made 4 The Cage. But the size of the prize may be too much to stop Marshman stepping back into the Cage Warriors cage before the year end.
Ivan Buchinger Vs Chris Fishgold
Former Lightweight Champion Buchinger has racked up four wins since leaving Cage Warriors in December 2013, however, the level of opponents at M-1 is questionable compared to the talent available at Cage Warriors. Step forward top Featherweight contender Chris Fishgold.
Fishgold who is 10-1 has wins over Jeremy Petley, Andy DeVent & Marcin Wrzosek to name but a few and was definitely well placed for a Cage Warriors Title shot before the promotion went on a break. He has since fought at Pro Fighting, suffering his first career loss and will be keen to get back and quickly establish himself as one of the best at 145lbs.
Buchinger would certainly bring Fishgold his hardest test of his career and the winner of this one would be all but guaranteed a shot at Gold in their next bout.
Anna Elmose Vs Laura Howarth
No stranger to Cage Warriors, Anna “Panda” Elmose is arguably one of the hottest women prospects in Europe having only competed in three professional bouts. All three have ended within two rounds which has made the Rumble Sports fighter very popular in Europe.
Laura “Hot Head” Howarth will be keen to get back into the win column following a disappointing performance at CWFC 71 which saw her suffer her first career defeat. Prior to that defeat, Howarth scored two decision wins over Emma Delaney and Amanda Kelly before coming up short to Lina Lansberg.
With both women just three fights into their professional career now would be a great time to see what 135lber will be the next big thing in Europe.
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 a submission win at WFS and is scheduled to fight for the promotions Lightweight Title in August but I would pay good money to see The Crazy Kid take on Sexy Curls in a Cage Warriors cage sometime this year.