2024 was another year of internet-breaking moments, memorable milestones and – above all – night after night of incredible fights. Before we look ahead to what is set to be another banner year for Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation, it’s time to cast an eye back over some of the wild events, crazy KOs and slick submissions that made the last twelve months so special.
Who better to do so than the man with the best seat in the house for all seventeen of 2024’s CW events? Join Play-by-Play Commentator Brad Wharton as he picks out a bunch of personal highlights.
The Legacy Moment
Sometimes things just feel important. That was very much the vibe in the room as Kennedy Freeman walked out for her first crack at a legitimate professional MMA title, one that would most likely open the door to the Biggest and Best Thing.
Legacy must be a heavy cross to bare, especially when your father isn’t just a former MMA star, but – in this country at least – the MMA star that wrote the manual for everyone that came after them. Kennedy has worn it well since returning to the sport last year, handling the responsibility of being Ian Freeman’s Daughter with the same aplomb as she handled her opponents inside the cage.
It would have all been for naught had she not cleared the final hurdle though; an intriguing clash of styles against Portuguese woman o’war Mafalda Carmona. The intrigue faded as the bout wore on; with every minute that ticked by it became clearer that Freeman was leaving with the belt come hell or high water.
By the time the fourth round had ended, the bout had devolved into a systematic battering, and Carmona had had enough. There was a tangible outpouring of emotion in the packed-out arena and it was difficult not to get caught up in it.
As with any British MMA fan of a certain again, I’ve been a fan of Ian Freeman for longer than I care to remember; my first ever feature published in an actual paper and ink magazine was a retrospective of his legendary fight with Frank Mir at UFC 38. It was pretty cool to play my small part in the ushering in of a new era of Freemans in the UFC.
Blame it on the Buggy
When an MMA promotion has the best part of 25 years’ worth of history to sift through, it’s rare to come across a true first. You’d have forgiven the excitement in the booth then, as Dan Strauss and I (but mostly Dan) got more than a little worked up as we saw Mitchell Goode grasping his way towards Cage Warriors’ first ever Buggy Choke.
Almost as cool as the choke itself was the Jackson 5-inspired bit of commentary that followed. Almost, but not quite.
Yes, it was awesome and no, I didn’t have it planned.
That is all.
Going Out with a Bang
Cage Warriors ended 2024 with one of the highest finish rates among major MMA organisations the world over. Or as one fan eloquently put it on Twitter (I will NEVER call it X), we’re “…usually a good night’s entertainment”. High praise indeed.
Point being, we had more than our fair share of limb-snappers and brain-melters over the last 12 months, so going into our final event of the year at San Diego’s Sycuan Casino Resort, there was the lingering worry of the grand finale ending on something of a bum note.
Well, that didn’t happen.
Was there something in the water in Cali? Were the lads just keen to get to the tables? Whatever it was, we were treated to a night of utterly ridiculous finish after utterly ridiculous finish.
In all fairness you couldn’t really call it a ‘night’; I haven’t tallied it up, but it felt like there was less than an hour’s worth of actual combat all said and done. Cue some frantic filling from yours truly and the great Angela Hill, only for the next bout to get wheeled out fifteen minutes later and go exactly the same way.
From Johnny Robles melting of James Settle to Raul Navarrette wild submission of Xavier Vines, the card had a little of everything. The icing on the cake, of course, was Damon ‘The Nomad’ Wilson, a prolific finisher yet to beat the bell at the Sycuan, delivering a cluster of crushing knees to Ryan Lilley to close the show.
It was a thrill ride of a evening; like some kind of diabolical rollercoaster where every time you think you’re done, there’s another 80 foot drop around a blind corner. Absolutely exhilarating to call and – I imagine – to watch as a fan. The perfect curtain call for the perfect year.
Before Cage Warriors embarks on it’s 2025 campaign, we’re going to give you, the fans, the opportunity to let us know what you thought were the years most memorable moments, stand out fighters and breakthrough athletes, with the chance to win some killer prizes along the way.
Keep an eye on our socials @CageWarriors in the coming days to have your say in the Best of 2024 Awards!