We’re just days away from bell-time in Ostia, a former port city on the outskirts of Rome. The commune is place of huge historical significance; not only was it a crucial part of the Empire’s incoming grain trade thanks to its place at the mouth of the river river Tiber, it also served as the base for the Roman navy.
Today, Ostia plays an equally important role in an entirely different empire: The new wave of Italian MMA. And while Cage Warriors may not be shipping in grain, over the last two and a half years we’ve planted the seeds for a revolution; consistently delivering the biggest and most influential platform in European MMA to Italian soil.
Saturday night will be no different, although this time, in the absence of names like Belandi, Giordano, Hazan, Pedersoli and Martignoni, a new cast of characters will take centre stage in an effort to stake their claim as the next face of Italian MMA.
The Main Event.
Chief among those looking to make a splash on Saturday’s 18-fight extravaganza is first time main-eventer Giacomo ‘The Boar’ Michelis.
The Imperia native will be making a long trip down Italy’s west coast for the privilege of headlining his first event in the Famous Yellow Gloves.
A wrestler by trade, ‘The Boar’ uses his mastery of ground control to drain the life out of opponents while chipping away with a never-ending supply of ground and pound.
It’s a skill-set that will no doubt prove crucial when it comes to dealing with his opposite number in CW 189’s headliner; a man who just so happens to be one of the most explosive welterweights on the circuit.
Austria-based Turk Sado Ucar is dangerous from many ranges and can scramble with the best of them. Surprising with his striking and sudden with his submissions, ‘The Panther’s ‘outta nowhere’ style has caught many an opponent unawares, as evidenced by an 85% finish ratio from his wins.
Ucar hasn’t seen action as often as he’d have liked over the last few years, but at 36 years of age that could be as much of a blessing as a curse.
After an injury delayed a planned debut against Justin Burlinson last year, with Burlo now standing tall at the top of the division, ‘The Panther’ could well get his claws into a title shot with an impressive victory.
The same holds true for Michelis; with a wide open division and Cage Warriors’ commitment to the Italian market, ‘The Boar’ would love to return as champion.
The Undercard.
CW 189 is more than just a main event, with Italian (and UK/Irish) interests taking prominent positions throughout the main card.
In what could prove to be a pivotal career bout for both men, Irish favourite Ryan Shelley returns hoping to shake off a rollercoaster run of form against Italian counterpart Simone D’Anna.
The Team KF man draws on a lifetime of taekwondo and kickboxing experience, but anyone shoehorning him into the ‘striker’ archetype would be doing so at their peril. In truth, he’s one of the more rounded guys in the division; able to be effective wherever the fight goes.
With his early title aspirations stalled though, the Dubliner will be keen to pick up not just a victory, but the kind of memorable, emphatic finish that will catapult him back into the conversation at 145lbs.
D’Anna, too is at that ‘now or never’ career crossroads; a win would elevate ‘The Shark’ to a solid 3-1 record within the promotion, and likely lead to an even more prominent matchup for CW’s rumoured end-of-year return to Rome.
Elsewhere on the main card, Paddy McCorry gets to put the frustration of the last few weeks behind him, as he faces Israel’s Shuki Farage. The Irishman’s pervious opponent was forced out of their bout just minutes prior to their cage walk; assuming no further interventions of fate, the West Belfast man will be looking for a repeat of his November 2024 CW return, which ended in a viral KO.
In the evening’s featured prelim, Nicolas Leblond returns to action in an attempt to secure #1 contender status in the flyweight division ahead of July’s upcoming title bout between Shaj Haque and Jawany Scott.
The French KO artist will have his hands full with Brazilian LFA veteran Marcus Brauns.
An intriguing bout in the welterweight division sees Italian fan favourite Khadim Dia lined up against his toughest test to date in England’s George McMannus.
‘The Hangman’ is one of the division’s most dangerous grapplers, as evidence by his dramatic submission of Dara Ward last time out.
Dia is a former middleweight; a physical powerhouse out of the gate. Smart money says that this one is decided in the later rounds.
Opening the main card, Giuseppe Ruggieri gets the opportunity to build upon the momentum of his career-best performance against former title challenger Orlando Wilson Prins.
He faces the debuting Nicolas Barna, a grappling specialist with a lot to prove in a high-profile CW debut.
CW 189 takes place this Saturday night, live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners. Tickets are availible here!