Voting is underway for the Cage Warriors Best of 2025 Awards, where you – the CW fans – get to have your say on the most deserving fights, fighters and moments from what has been a blockbuster 12 months for Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation!
Today we’re taking a look at a category that always sparks fierce debate – the coveted Fight of the Year Award! One of our most difficult categories to settle on the final nominees for this year, the number of bouts in the running speaks volumes for the quality of action in the Famous Yellow Gloves over the last twelve months!
Raphael Aronov vs Brad Wheeler – CW 192
Everyone knew what they were expecting when Brad Wheeler and Raphael Aronov were drawn against each other at Cage Warriors 192 in London. With a sport as unpredictable as MMA, things often don’t go to plan, but thankfully, this wasn’t one of those occasions.
A blood-spattered brawl from the opening exchange, both men got their licks in during a brutal opening frame, with Aronov forced to survive a sickening-looking calf-crusher to boot. ‘The Cop’ rallied back to do some serious damage though, forcing Marc Goddard to step in and halt the mayhem in the second round.
James Sheehan vs Justin Burlinson – CW 188
Two human tanks clashed for the welterweight title in Dublin, and fans were treated to some world class round ‘n’ tumble the likes of which only Justin Burlinson and James Sheehan could provide. People often talk about fighters leaving a piece of themselves in the cage…if this wasn’t one of those fights, we don’t know what is.
Burlinson appeared to be done for at one stage, but was able to pick himself up from one of the most hellacious knockdowns we’ve ever seen to battle back and inflict serious damage on the defending champion. With Sheehan’s jaw in pieces, he was unable to gut out a tight mandible squeeze, and just like that, a new champion was crowned.
Lukas Cruz vs Adam Cullen – CW 191
Cruz vs Cullen was absolute mayhem from bell to bell, but then what do you expect when a couple of balls-to-the-wall brawlers with more finishes than most of us have had hot dinners start throwing down for the pleasure of a roaring Manchester crowd?
Cullen sat his man down with a knee, before being sent crashing to the canvas himself by virtue of some clubbing punches from his Brazilian opponent. It was a real war of attrition, one of those fights where it felt like anything could happen at any moment…and a lot of it did. While Cruz was ultimately victorious, both men saw their stock raised.
Ollie Sarwa vs Damiano Scogna – CW 192
What do you get when you take two of the hottest, unbeaten prospects in the division, a red hot crowd at London’s indigo at the O2, two pairs of the Famous Yellow gloves, a cage, a ref and three, five minute rounds? When those two prospects are Ollie Sarwa and Damiano Scogna, you get one of the best Cage Warriors fights of the calendar year.
A back and forth technical brawl that saw both men picking themselves up off the canvas and digging deep, deep down for that last ounce of willpower, the bout was an instant classic that rightfully received a standing ovation from the red hot London faithful. With Sarwa calling for a title shot off the back of it and Scogna already back to winning ways, perhaps we’ll get to see them run it back over five fives sometime down the line…
Tim Wilde vs Oscar Ownsworth – CW 198
Tim Wilde has been responsible for some of the most entertaining scraps in CW history, dating back over a decade. Oscar Ownsworth was returning to the promotion for the first time since a short-notice professional debut during the pandemic. Both men had a point to prove, and boy did they set out to prove it.
It was a good, old-fashioned punch up. Well, a good, old-fashioned punch, kick, elbow, knee, kitchen sink and whatever else the pair could throw at each other during three fast and furious rounds. Blood, cuts, bruises and broken bones were the order of the day; the result was an instant classic.
Let us know who gets your vote for this and the rest of the Best of 2025 Awards here!