One of Cage Warriors’ biggest stars of the last four years, featherweight phenom Luke Riley, has become the latest CW alumni to sign with the UFC. The 26 year old from Widnes, England, put pen to paper on an exclusive deal with the world leader recently, following months of speculation over who would capture the signature of the hottest free agent in the sport.
Riley had spent the entirety of his professional career competing under the Cage Warriors banner, compiling an impressive 11-0 ledger with eight of those victories coming by way of TKO or knockout.

Fighting out of Liverpool’s Next Generation gym, the talented striker follows in the footsteps of teammates Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann in transitioning from Cage Warriors to the UFC.
Riley earned his stripes with a series of legendary performances in the cage, including memorable wars against the likes of Kallum Parker and Alexander Loof, the latter of which is considered to be one of the greatest bouts in CW history.
Riley had been scheduled to appear on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, before a visa issue nixed the appearance. Undeterred, he returned to CW where he most recently faced Tariel Abbasov.
Surviving the Azerbaijani’s elite level wrestling in the first round, Riley demolished his opponent in the second and immediately took over the broadcast position to demand a UFC contract, a sentiment that was echoed by fans the world over.
The news sees him join teammates Pimblett and Shem Rock on the UFC roster, where he is expected to debut in the last quarter of 2025.
The signing makes Riley the latest in a long line of CW athletes to transition to the highest levels of the sport, either via the Ultimate Fighter, Dana White’s Contender Series or directly into the UFC.
Cage Warriors returns on Saturday, September 13th in Newcastle with CW 193, where the search for the next UFC superstar continues!