In just two weeks’ time, Cage Warriors is back in Rome to once again shine a huge spotlight directly onto the epicentre of Italian MMA. Whether at the Fiera Roma, or our current home at Ostia’s Palapellecone, the local gladiators have never failed to raise the roof with a series of show-stealing finishes.
With CW 189 just around the corner, Play-by-Play commentator Brad Wharton picked out a few of his personal favourites.
Stefano Paterno vs Jorge Bueno
Why not start with a bang? This particular ‘bang’ actually served as the ending point for Cage Warriors’ epic debut in the Palapellecone last November.
It had been a rollercoaster night for Italian MMA, with some huge wins, nail-biting wars and painful defeats. With local favourite Simone Patrizi on the wrong end of a disgusting ‘KO of the Year’ contender in the co-main event, fans’ hopes were firmly resting on the shoulders of Stefano Paterno in the evening’s final fight.
Thankfully for all in attendance (well, all but one), the former welterweight champion was on fine form, blasting rugged opponent Jorge Bueno with a clean-as-you-like power punch in the second round to send the faithful home happy.
Baris Adiguzel vs Alex Bertinazzi
‘Blink and you’ll miss it’, they say. Google that phrase and you might just find yourself taken to a clip of this fight from CW 162.
Baris Adiguzel was chasing his first CW victory, after falling to a third round stoppage against Luca Borando on his promotional debut earlier in the year.
If that wasn’t pressure enough, he was facing a popular local favourite in the form of kickboxer Alex Bertinazzi. Tensions were high as the first bell rang; the crowd were clearly expecting something special, but nobody could have anticipated what was to happen just 16 seconds later…
Betrinazii made a full and speedy recovery, but live and in the moment, it was one of the scariest KO’s in CW history.
Simone Patrizi vs Ermil Xhaferi
As beautiful as the martial arts can be, sometimes you just want to see a good, old-fashioned fist fight.
That’s exactly what we were treated to when Simone Patrizi took on Ermil Xhaferi at CW 154 back in May 2023.
The pair had battled it out for two torrid rounds in the main card opener, but unfortunately for the local fans, and Patrizi himself, the Italian was way down on the scorecards and on the back foot as the third frame progressed.
Such is the beauty of our sport though, a game where no matter the odds, no matter the form, no matter the momentum, everything can turn on a sixpence.
One right hand and a bit of killer instinct was all it took to change ‘The White Shark’s fortunes, and give the home team their sole main card dub.
Emanuele Tetti vs Dario Palazzo
We all love the flyweights, right? The up-tempo, high-octane, all-action thrills and spills as a pair of 125lb’ers chase eachother around the stage for fifteen pulse-pounding minutes.
Fans were particularly excited about the prospect of local favourites Emanuele Tetti and Dario Palazzo making their Cage Warriors debuts at CW 158 back in June 2023.
It was an oppressively hot day in the Fierra Roma to start with, but Tetti and Palazzo seemed intent on raising the temperature.
The contest lasted a mere 68 seconds when all was said and done, with fans treated to a show stealing finished early in in the night.
Carlo Pedersoli Jr vs Madars Fleminas
In what was to be a huge fight for Italian MMA, CW and UFC veteran Carlo Pedersoli Jr returned to the promotion for the first time since his stunning performance against Nic Dalby at CW 93.
Riding the momentum of a pair of impressive back-to-back finishes on the regional circuit, ‘Semento’ was looking to extend his winning streak in spectacular fashion…there was just one small problem: Opponent Madars Fleminas had other ideas.
The ‘Latvian Express’ had been on something of a tear in the welterweight division, with stoppages of Oban Elliott and the then undefeated Jesse Urholin positioning him to within touching distance of a title shot.
Pedersoli knew he’d have his work cut out for him, but with the crowd on his side every step of the way, he was able to pull off this incredible sweep to set up the finish.
Cage Warriors returns to Rome for more memorable finishes like the above on Saturday, May 31st! Tickets for the event – which airs live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners – are availible here!