Local and international media descend on Antwerp to witness the stars of CW89 face off before their bouts tomorrow night. CW89 will be the biggest MMA event ever to be held in Belgium, topped by a main event between Karl Amoussou and Dominique Steele.
The Lotto Arena in Antwerp will also play host to a heavyweight title fight, alongside a stacked card full of Belgian local heroes and high-profile international challengers from across Europe. The weigh-in event passed largely without incident, with the entire pro preliminary card and all but one of the ten main card fighters making their contracted weights.
Welterweight World Champion Karl Amoussou, a fighter world renowned for his ferocious and unforgiving fight style, took to the scales at 169.2lbs. Ex-UFC fighter Dominique Steele failed to make championship weight, coming in at 172.9lbs after being given an additional 2 hours. The bout remains our CW89 main event, but is now a non-title fight.
Our co-main event fighters tipped the scales without complication, with Belgium’s Cindy Dandois, also ex-UFC, making 139.6lbs and England’s Kerry Hughes weighing in at 139.8lbs. This international battle will see Dandois, a fierce grappling expert, coming up against the striking skills of Hughes in what looks to be an exciting clash of styles.
The world title fight of the night will crown a new Cage Warriors heavyweight champion. Italy’s Mauro Cerilli hit 256.3lbs and his opponent, Dutchman Nills Van Noord, came in at 233.3lbs.
John Maguire, a 5-fight veteran of the UFC, and Belgian legend Tommy Depret also made weight at 170.3lbs and 168.8lbs respectively. Both long-standing combatants of the sport, there was an intense stare down followed by mutual respect before this much-anticipated bout which Depret has confirmed will be his last.
Welsh prospect Jack Shore hit 145.8lbs and Ayton de Paepe, another undefeated rising star, weighed in at 144.9lbs. Someone’s unbeaten record will be broken tomorrow night, and one of these fighters will add another impressive win to their resume on the biggest event of their careers.
The main card will be televised live in the UK and Ireland on BT Sport 3 from 8pm (UK time). It’ll also be shown across Europe on Viaplay, Setanta Eurasia and ELEVEN, as well as being streamed worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.
The preliminary card will be streamed exclusively live via the Cage Warriors Facebook page from 6pm (UK time).
CAGE WARRIORS 89: FIGHT CARD
Main Card (8pm UK time):
Karl Amoussou (169.2) vs Dominique Steele (172.9)
Cindy Dandois (139.6) vs Kerry Hughes (139.8)
Nills van Noord (233.3) vs Mauro Cerilli (256.3)
Tommy Depret (168.8) vs John Maguire (170.3)
Jack Shore (145.8) vs Ayton De Paepe (144.9)
Pro Prelims (6pm UK time):
Mathias Lodahl (145.8) vs Sameer Alekozai (145.6)
Massai Sant’Anna (167.5) vs Artur Szczepaniak (169.5)
Leon Jansen (165.9) vs Jan Quaeyhaegens (168.8)
Aiden Lee (155) vs Donovan Desmae (155)
Chico Martinez (183.5) vs Ben Dandois (181.6)