Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – has today revealed a huge championship bout for its upcoming return to Rome. Middleweight champion Dario ‘Neanderthal’ Bellandi will attempt a third consecutive title defence against Brazilian UFC veteran Claudio Ribeiro. The pair will meet in a featured bout at CW 195: Rome, set to go down on Saturday, October 4th at Rome’s Palapellicone.
Tickets for CW 195: Rome are availible here!
Champion Bellandi (9-1) will ride a seven-fight winning streak into the contest. The Rendoki Dojo man captured CW gold from Mick Stanton in late 2023, and has since notched up defences against top European competition in Robin Roos and Naglis Kanišauskas. A ground specialist by trade, Bellandi has shown a willingness to engage in wild brawls on the feet in recent bouts.
Claudio Ribeiro (13-6) first came to prominence following a crushing 25-second knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, a performance that led to a four-fight run in the UFC. The Brazilian last saw action in July, earning a career-best win over Deigo Dias at LFA 212, by way of first round TKO. The win took his tally of T/KO stoppages to an impressive thirteen. A Muay Thai specialist, he has been the distance only once in 19 professional bouts.
“We’re bringing another huge event to the PalaPellicone on October 4th, and that means another massive title bout for our Italian champion Dario Bellandi!” said CW President Graham Boylan.
“Dario has continued to impress against European opposition; now its time for him to test his mettle against a UFC veteran as he looks to cement himself as the best unsigned middleweight in Europe.”
“Claudio isn’t here to make up the numbers though; he’s stopped every opponent he’s ever beaten and will be a threat for the full five rounds.”
“We’re showcasing some of the biggest established names in the country, plus a new generation of up-and-coming athletes looking to make their mark on the sport on October 4th. It’s a can’t miss event for fans of Italian MMA!”
The full CW 195 card is availible here. The event airs live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners.