It turned out to be an easier night than expected for Welsh fighter John Phillips (18-6, 1 NC) as he beat out seven other men to win a cool £10,000 in Scotland.
Already one of the favourites heading in, his path to the prize money was made all that more easy when he got paired with debuting fighter Charlie Ward (0-1) in the opening round. Despite a shaky opening round, Phillips scored a KO in the second round and thus dashing his Irish opponent’s dream of making an ideal start to pro life.
It seemed like the fight Gods were smiling down on Philips as he was given a bye in the second fight after Jonas Billstein (14-4) was forced to withdraw from the competition following his win over Ali Arish (20-4). Billstein defeated Arish by corner stoppage which would suggest that Arish would have been in no condition to compete again that night.
A very fresh Phillips was then supposed to face Polish submission artist Pawel Hadas (5-1) but once again the injury bug struck and he had to withdraw from the competition.
In stepped European veteran Markus Di Gallo (11-12-1) to face Phillips in the finale. The Austrian lost his fight in the first round to original finalist Pawel Hadas and had not actually won in over five fights previously before the evening.
As expected, Phillips won the fight by KO in the first round and captured the £10,000 prize to mark his return to MMA for the first time in nearly two years.
Rage in the Cage III £10,000 Tourney Results
First Round
John Phillips def. Charlie Ward via KO, round 2.
Kyle Redfearn def. John Redmond via TKO, round 1.
Jonas Billstein def. Ali Arish via TKO, round 1.
Pawel Hadas def. Markus Di Gallo via majority decision.
Semi-Finals
John Phillips given bye into final following a Jonas Billstein withdrawal.
Pawel Hadas def. Kyle Redfearn via submission (guillotine), round 1.
Final
John Phillips def. Markus Di Gallo* via KO, round 1.
(*Di Gallo replaced the injured Pawel Hadas)
(Title image via Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors)