The infamous injury bug may have struck, but it hasn’t stopped Cage Warriors return to London this Friday night looking like a highlight reel ready to happen! Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation is back in the UK capital for the last time this year with returning favourites, enticing debuts and a title bout with legacy implications.
Final tickets for CW 180 are availible here!
With the countdown on, resident Play-by-Play commentator Brad Wharton takes a look at who and what you should be keeping an eye on at CW 180!
Clamp Versus Webb
Earlier this week I wrote about what Friday night’s main event means for those involved. Quite a lot, to say the least.
But what about the actual fight itself? It’s certainly one of the more compelling light heavyweight contests we’ve seen in the Famous Yellow Gloves over the years.
Webb is heavy-handed and likes to bully his way around the cage; he’ll crush you against the cage and drag you to the mat, making it all kinds of uncomfortable.
But will he want to employ those tactics against Clamp, a highly regarded ground specialist?
Perhaps we’ll see more of the Webb that took out Jason Radcliff, or the version that slugged it out for three hard rounds with Adam Biegański in July.
For his part, ‘Clamp the Champ’ knows where his bread is buttered; if he can secure the back early as he did against Ghassan Abdenabi he’ll be a happy man.
If the fight goes deep, his ground and pound is the weapon to watch; eight of his 13 victories have come by way of TKO.
With Webb known for the tremendous strength of his squeeze, should this one come down to a championship rounds battle of attrition on the canvas, Clamp will need to keep his wits about him.
All the ingredients are in for a coin-toss main event.
Bakkes versus Bagley
The sleeper hit of the main card, Jordy Bakkes vs Nik Bagley could be all kinds of good fun.
A third degree Judo blackbelt, the Dutchman plays against type of a nation hailed for its kickboxers.
Not that he’s one to avoid a scrap on the feet either, just ask Antonio Sheldon or better yet, watch the Matrix-inspired closing moments of their bout in Manchester a few years back.
GBTT’s Bagley is rapidly emerging as one to keep an eye on in the featherweight division.
He’s 4-1 in the Famous Yellow Gloves and each of his victories has come by way of a rear naked choke.
Will he want to play that game with Bakkes; a man famed for his head and arm choke, or do the pair end up slugging it out?
Whatever happens, it’ll be a lot of fun finding out.
Loof versus Maia
Speaking of fun…
Vasteras Fight Club’s Alexander Loof versus GB Top Team’s Weslley Maia is one of those fights that promotes itself.
The fans know exactly what they’re getting; its just a case of sitting back as the anticipation builds, lighting the touchpaper with the ring of the first bell and watching the combustible elements explode.
The pair could (and Maia’s fans would say should) have met in the finals of July’s $50,000 PrizeFighter tournament, but fate had other plans.
Besides, I’m not sure I could have handled the excitement.
But given the performances the pair turned in over the summer, an equally impressive showing here will almost certainly put them back in the conversation.
As for how the three rounds will play out on the night?
Its foolish to make predictions in the midst of chaos.
Undercard Choice Cuts
There’s plenty more to look out for under the Friday Night Lights at London’s indigo.
How about the return of Paddy McCorry, a fearless ‘Fight of the Night’ machine looking to mount a run at the 185lb title currently held by Dario Bellandi?
Fresh off a stint on The Ultimate Fighter, the Irishman will have to contend with a true veteran of the UK circuit in the debuting Tye Palmer.
The Londoner ended an eight year hiatus from competition late last year, and has racked up a pair of wins since, including a victory over the recently resurgent George Smith.
One thing is for sure, he’ll be looking to do much more than simply make up the numbers.
Fans can be assured of making memories when jimmy Quinn takes to the cage.
The Dagenham prodigy serves up highlight reel finishes for fun, but he’ll have his work cut out for him against fellow young prodigy Giovanni Fernandez in the main card opener.
A late edition to the main card is the mouth watering lightweight clash pitting the debuting Cameron Stewart against fellow newcomer Yusuf Nazokatov.
Competing in his first amateur bouts over a decade ago, Nazokatov returned from a hiatus to win his professional debut in late 2021, before dropping a razor-thin decision to Faramarz Mohammad in September 2023.
Capable of finishing fights with slick submissions or devastating punching power, Nazokatov has recently been putting the pieces together at Liverpool’s Next Generation.
Stewart makes his professional debut on the UFC Fight Pass opener, but is no stranger to high level competition.
The GB Top Team man is a three-time CW Academy amateur champion, across two weight classes.
Possessing formidable speed and stopping power, Stewart will be looking to open the main card with a bang.
Prelim Picks
Another former CW Academy standout is back in action, as Tariq Pell returns to face eight year veteran Danny Blundell.
GB Top Team’s Jawany Scott also makes a return, looking to build upon the momentum of his three round thriller with Ger Harris earlier this year.
He faces fellow action fighter Davide Scarano, who enters the fight on the back of an impressive submission over Fran Breen in July.
Former title challenger Orlando Wilson Prins will attempt to return to the winners circle, when he faces the relentless Thomas ‘Juggernaut’ Paull in featherweight action.
All the action from Cage Warriors 180 goes down tomorrow night from 18:00 GMT, with the main card kicking off at 20:30 GMT.
All bouts air live on UFC Fight Pass, and international broadcast partners!