News
Cage Warriors welcome 26 athletes to exclusive multi-fight deals
Cage Warriors can officially confirm the addition of 26 fighters to its rapidly expanding roster of talent. The organisation’s latest signings have each penned multi-fight deals to compete exclusively under the Cage Warriors banner.
Many of the athletes will already be familiar to CW fans, while some are preparing for a first outing in the yellow gloves. This batch of new acquisitions includes fighters from seven different weight classes, with 14 countries represented. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome these 26 athletes to the CW family,” said Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan.
“Some of these fighters are experienced veterans, others are up-and-coming prospects, but what they’ve all got in common is an ability to entertain the spectators while striving to reach the top of their respective divisions. There are undoubtedly future champions among this group of fighters we’re unveiling today. We’ve also got several more to announce over the coming weeks.
“Our roster is now in a better place than it has ever been, but it’s only going to get stronger from here.”
Meanwhile, Cage Warriors is also pleased to announce that four existing members of its stable of fighters – James Webb, Steve Aimable, Jamie Richardson and middleweight champion Christian Leroy Duncan – have inked new deals with the organisation.
THE 26 NEW CAGE WARRIORS SIGNINGS
ANDER SANCHEZ
Division: Flyweight
Record: 1-0
Age: 26
Nationality: Spain
ANTONIO SHELDON
Division: Featherweight
Record: 5-3
Age: 32
Nationality: England
BILL WILSON
Division: Welterweight
Record: 0-0
Age: 29
Nationality: USA
CAOLAN LOUGHRAN
Division: Bantamweight
Record: 6-0
Age: 25
Nationality: Ireland
CHASEN BLAIR
Division: Welterweight
Record: 1-0
Age: 23
Nationality: USA
CHRIS BUNGARD
Division: Lightweight
Record: 16-7
Age: 33
Nationality: Scotland
CONNOR HITCHENS
Division: Featherweight
Record: 6-2
Age: 24
Nationality: England
DANIEL SKIBIŃSKI
Division: Welterweight
Record: 18-7
Age: 31
Nationality: Poland
EL HADJI NDIAYE
Division: Lightweight
Record: 4-1
Age: 30
Nationality: Belgium
EMANUELE SABATINO
Division: Welterweight
Record: 3-1
Age: 26
Nationality: Italy
FEDERICO PASQUALI
Division: Featherweight
Record: 7-0
Age: 28
Nationality: Italy
GIUSEPPE RUGGERI
Division: Featherweight
Record: 8-0
Age: 22
Nationality: Italy
HERKUS LUKOŠIŪNAS
Division: Welterweight
Record: 3-0
Age: 26
Nationality: Lithuania
HUBERT GEVEN
Division: Lightweight
Record: 13-4
Age: 28
Nationality: Netherlands
JAN QUAEYHAEGENS
Division: Lightweight
Record: 9-4
Age: 29
Nationality: Belgium
KAROL MICHALAK
Division: Welterweight
Record: 3-2 (1 N/C)
Age: 27
Nationality: Poland
ŁUKASZ KOPERA
Division: Lightweight
Record: 10-7
Age: 33
Nationality: Poland
MANUEL BILIC
Division: Bantamweight
Record: 15-7
Age: 28
Nationality: Croatia
MATTY BYFIELD
Division: Light-heavyweight
Record: 3-1 (1 N/C)
Age: 29
Nationality: England
MICHAŁ FOLC
Division: Featherweight
Record: 6-4
Age: 27
Nationality: Poland
MILAD AHADY
Division: Featherweight
Record: 4-1
Age: 26
Nationality: Afghanistan
NAGLIS KANIŠAUSKAS
Division: Middleweight
Record: 5-1
Age: 21
Nationality: Lithuania
OMRAN CHAABAN
Division: Welterweight
Record: 2-1
Age: 21
Nationality: Finland
RAYMISON BRUNO
Division: Flyweight
Record: 12-4 (1 N/C)
Age: 30
Nationality: Brazil
REECE MCEWAN
Division: Bantamweight
Record: 4-1
Age: 27
Nationality: Scotland
TAKA MHANDU
Division: Bantamweight
Record: 2-1
Age: 24
Nationality: Ireland
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News
Paul Hughes Gets New Opponent as Oduwole Out
Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – have today announced a change in the scheduled opponent for Irish superstar Paul Hughes at Cage Warriors 170.
An injury occurring just days after he signed to fight Hughes has forced Yemi Oduwole out of the contest.
The promotion wishes him a speedy return to full health.
CW officials have moved quickly to secure a suitable replacement, today confirming that Hughes will remain on the Saturday, April 6th bill, now facing off with Edgar ‘Smooth’ Escarrega.
The bout will feature on the main card of CW 170 at Dublin’s iconic RDS, and air live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners.
The 29-year-old Escarrega, who hails from the port city of Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico, brings an impressive 12-3-1 record to the contest.
The Victory Fight Club man – who is a striker by trade – is unbeaten in his last six contests, and from twelve victories has a total of five KOs, two submissions and five points wins to his name.
“From Mexico to the world, here I come!” said Escarrega, when signing on the dotted line for what is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity of his professional career.
Hughes, from County Derry, is widely considered to be on the cusp of signing with the UFC following a series of impressive performances in the famous yellow gloves of Cage Warriors.
‘Big News’ recently vacated his featherweight title, moving up to the 155lb division to stop top contender Jan Quaeyhaegens in the first round.
Also scheduled for the CW 170 card, Dublin’s James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan contests the vacant welterweight title with Switzerland’s Daniel Konrad, with Ger Harris, Solomon Simon, Decky McAleenan, Taka Mhandu and more set to feature.
Interviews
“I Should Get The Shot” – Jacob Smith Wants World Title Fight If He Bests Denis Puric At ONE Fight Night 21
Fiery flyweight Muay Thai star Jacob Smith enjoyed a triumphant return to ONE Championship last December at ONE Fight Night 17 after 18 months on the sidelines.
The Scouse striker knocked out Walter Goncalves to gain momentum in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he plans to add to it next month.
Smith returns to action against Bosnian-Canadian powerhouse Denis Puric at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas on Saturday, 6th April, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
Fans anticipate a thunderous clash, as they are both known to finish fights. Smith feels he knows what to expect from Puric, and he plans to give him an unwelcome gift for his birthday.
“I’m either going to stop him with the knee or stop him with an elbow. I feel like the first round is going to be quite fiery. But if he decides to rush me too early, he’s going to walk into some big shots, so I could just finish him in round one,” he said.
“But I’m sure I’m fighting him on his 39th birthday. So, unfortunately, my birthday present is going to be me knocking him out.”
When Jacob Smith debuted in ONE Championship at May 2022’s ONE 157, he battled ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon across three rounds of hard-hitting action.
He came up short that night via unanimous decision, and a series of injuries forced him to take time away from action afterward. But that gap seemed to have allowed him level up his skill set.
Smith came back stronger than ever, and his first-round finish of Goncalves last December pegged him as one to watch. The #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender is hoping to score back-to-back wins against Puric next month, and he knows exactly what he wants if he’s successful.
“My goal is to be ONE Championship Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and fingers crossed by the end of the year that comes through,” Smith said.
“Rodtang is the champion, and Superlek is number one. After beating Walter, I’m now number two. Rodtang and Superlek are probably going fight each other again soon. Then I should get the shot at the winner after I beat Puric.”
News
UFC Vegas 89 – Results | Ribas vs Namajunas
Live from the Apex, UFC Vegas 89 saw former strawweight Rose Namajunas make her second appearance at flyweight against contender Amanda Ribas.
Note: any point deductions will be denoted by an asterisk and explained at the bottom of the page.
***
Main card (2am GMT – TNT Sports)
Rose Namajunas defeats (#8) Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – flyweight bout
Karl Williams defeats Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout
Edmen Shahbazyan defeats AJ Dobson via knockout (punches – 4:43 – R1) – middleweight bout
Payton Talbott defeats Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches – 0:21 – R2) – bantamweight bout
Youssef Zalal defeats Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked-choke – 1:50 – R2) – featherweight bout
Fernando Padilla defeats Luis Pajuelo via submission (brabo choke – 2:45 – R1) – featherweight bout
Prelims (11pm GMT – TNT Sports/UFC Fight Pass)
Trey Ogden defeats Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – lightweight bout
Julian Erosa defeats Ricardo Ramos via submission (guillotine – 2:15 – R1) – featherweights bout
Miles John defeats Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – bantamweight bout
Jarno Errens defeats Steve Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – featherweight bout
Darya Zheleznyakova defeats Monsterrat Rendon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – bantamweight bout
Andre Lima defeats Igor Severino via disqualification (biting – 2:52 – R2) – flyweight bout
Mick Parkin defeats Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout
***
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