Cage Warriors is back in Glasgow, and it’s a big night for the promotion, the fans and the athletes on the card, as Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation presents another guaranteed thrill-ride of epic proportions.
The return of a beloved champion and the finals of a life changing tournament top the bill, while those arriving early doors with see some of the sport’s freshest talent looking to make their marks.
The meat in this CW sandwich is a series of pivotal bouts for some of Scotland’s foremost exponents of Mixed Martial Arts.
Return of the King
It’s been thirteen months since we last saw George Hardwick in competition; seventeen since he last strapped on the Famous Yellow Gloves of Cage Warriors.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so they say, and fans have been clamouring for the lightweight champion’s return.
It was supposed to happen earlier this year, as the MFI man looked to erase the memory of 2023’s Contender Series defeat with a third CW title defence.
Fate, as it is want to do, played it’s cruel hand; a broken jaw would side-line the younger Hardwick brother for the bulk of the year.
All of that will be distant memories by bell time on Saturday night though.
Business is afoot, and Hardwick is in the business of doing damage.
A phenomenally proficient striker, the champ has a penchant for relentless pressure and technical violence.
He’ll bust you up, break you down and run you ragged around the cage; if you didn’t know any better, you might think he was winning exchanges based on sheer force of will alone.
Speaking of will, the whole nation of Romania will be willing on their own champion in Christian Iorga.
The Soldier of God holds a national title in his home nation, and will be looking to add an international equivalent to his trophy cabinet on what would be a sensational CW debut.
A suffocating grappler, Iorga has no issue swinging for the fences (or next door’s fences for that matter) when standing, and isn’t known for backing away from exchanges.
This smash-mouth style can be deceiving; he’s technically proficient and counts lengthy backgrounds in boxing, judo and Kenpo karate among the tools of his trade.
The stage is set for a quality dust up, but will it end in a third title defence, or the crowning of a new champion?
Eyes on the Prize(Fighter)
Show me an MMA fan that doesn’t love a one night tournament, and I’ll show you a bad MMA fan.
It’s all the chaos and unpredictability that makes this sport great, but in multiples.
Six men will compete in Saturday’s PrizeFighter, and any combination of them might make it to the finals.
The reserve fight between Sean Clancy Jr and Rafael Aronov might just be the pick of the bunch.
One of Scotland’s preeminent up-and-comers, the Higher Level man has looked as sensational as a pro as he did as an amateur, and his development has shown no signs of slowing down.
Make no mistake about it though, PrizeFighter represents a monumental step up for the youngster.
His opponent is a seasoned veteran; a hard hitter and a finisher on the mat.
In a clash of two such offensively minded fighters, carnage will no doubt ensue as they vie for the opportunity to step into the finals.
Speaking of hard hitters, our first semi-finals sees one of CW’s pound-for-pound hardest punchers, Omiel Brown, looking to jump start his second title run.
Just days after his 30th birthday, the midland’s-based Jamaican will be banking on his one-shot stopping power earning him at least one quick finish and an easy route to the finals.
Looking to spoil the party is newcomer Henri Lintula, a 6’4 BJJ black belt who can submit you from any number of positions.
Expect the Finn to close the distance between himself and Brown in a timely fashion, before putting those long limbs to work.
Another semi-finalist looking to implement his physical traits is French hopeful Bourama Camara.
Also standing 6’4, Camara trains under CW fan favourite Jean N’Doye and boasts a rangy kickboxing game that’s a joy to watch.
He’s no one-trick pony though; the Frenchman has some wicked takedowns in his arsenal and his ground game is coming on leaps and bounds.
He’ll need to utilise every aspect of at well-rounded game against crafty veteran Marko Kisic, arguably the most battle-tested entrant in the tournament.
The Austrian is brimming with confidence, straight-up declaring that he’s going to submit Camara when the cage door closes.
Tournaments and title aside, all eyes will be on a pair of Scotland’s biggest stars, Chris Bungard and Reece McEwan, as they look to erase the memory of last April when they return to the Braehead.
Bungard lost a spirited effort to rising contender Dumitru Girlean in the main event last time out, while McEwan dropped a decision to UFC veteran Cameron Else.
Tonight, they face a pair of storied veterans.
Bungard draws Brazil’s Andrey Augusto, who struggled on the scales after stepping in at the eleventh hour.
The Scott has vowed to send his man packing within the distance.
McEwan faced the well-travelled Miguel Haro, who finds himself on a career resurgence in 2024, and will look to continue an undefeated year.
To say that the bouts are ‘must-win’ for the home team would be an understatement.
CW 176 airs live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners.