Continuing our look back at some of the biggest moments from the first half of 2025, Cage Warriors’ Play-by-Play man Brad Wharton pours over the action from CW 186-189, where Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation delivered four incredible events in four different countries!
CW 186: London
Our first visit to London of the 2025 campaign ran the full spectrum: The Good (Nik Bagley dominating former title challenger Keweny Lopes to establish himself as the division’s top contender), The Bad (Harry Hardwick’s main event title defence being brought to a premature halt following a series of inadvertent head clashes) and The Ugly (Ermil Xhaferi’s eye doing that…thing).
Two headlines stood head and shoulders above the rest though, both from my perspective in the commentary booth with Dan Strauss, and for viewers watching around the world on UFC Fight Pass. One short and sweet, the other, not so much.
Have you ever wondered how many different things you’d be able to accomplish in four seconds? Not many, right? Send a WhatsApp message, tie a shoelace…the Mrs had another suggestion but its not fit to be repeated here.
If your name is Yanick Bahati though, there’s one task you can add to that list that very few of us will be able to replicate: A soul-crushing knockout.
As spectacular as it was shocking, we’d poured over the replay so many times, from so many angles, before we’d even realised that it had cemented itself a – likely unsurmountable – place in the record books. History made, right before our eyes…and that’s the best thing about MMA; you never know when stuff like this will happen, even though it happens all the time.
Speaking of things we didn’t expect to happen, it’d be remis of me to talk about the CW 186 experience without a mention of what felt like at time, one of the most shocking title changes in CW history.
That wasn’t because we’d written-off challenger Samuel Silva (although the bookies, who had him as high as a +400 underdog, apparently had other ideas); we’d just got so used to the idea of the great George Hardwick ruling over the lightweight division that any change in the status quo was always going to be a shock to the system.
What followed was one of the most gritty, edgy and utterly compelling fights I’ve ever called. The challenger nicked the first, the champ found his rhythm in the second and third…truth be told though, the margins were fine. The Brazilian roared back to take the final two rounds on all judges scorecards but again, there was so little in it that nobody was certain which of the pair would have their hands raised, and there were few reasonable complaints when it wasn’t Hardwick.
With Silva taking the bout on just a week’s notice and earning himself a shot on the contender series as a result, it just goes to show that when opportunity knocks, it pays to answer.
CW 187: Glasgow
After March, as it does almost every year, came April and with it, another trip beyond the wall to the Braehead Arena. This particular jaunt was in aid of a special occasion; Scottish prodigy Sean Clancy Jr’s first opportunity to main event a Cage Warriors card.
The scales must remain balanced at all times though; as such, the responsibility of top billing came up with a significant step up in competition for ‘The One’. Italo Gomes hadn’t come to make up the numbers either; he put it on the home fighter in the first round, earning it comfortably in all three judge’s eyes.
A step too far for Clancy? Not quite. The Higher Level man did what he does best in the second round, ending the fight in such dominant fashion that is was as though the first had been some kind of Irn Bru induced fever dream.
From the formative steps of one Scottish MMA career, to the curtain call for another. Paull ‘The Locomotive’ McBain knew ahead of time that he’d be calling it a day after his CW 187 fight; all he wanted was that one last gunfight. In Baily Gilbert he found a man that was more than willing to settle matters with pistols at dawn, and the pair exchanged heavy fire for three thrilling rounds.
Getting his hand raised one final time, McBain was able to ride off into the sunset with his head held high.
CW 188: Dublin
From Scotland to Dublin and – amongst other things – one of the most highly anticipated Cage Warriors title fights in recent years. First though, the was the not-so-small matter of the new wave of the Irish MMA revolution having their moment in the spotlight.
Maximus Lally, Keith Keogh and Ciaran Brady all made hugely successful debuts in the Famous Yellow Gloves, and judging by the crowd reaction, the trio could be some of the cornerstones for the promotion on the Emerald Isle for years to come.
Speaking of future stars, Solomon ‘King’ Simon took a massive step into the spotlight when he faced former title challenger Christian Iorga. The Romanian grappler was fresh off a five rounder with George Hardwick, which only made his flat-lining at the hands of Simon that little bit more impressive.
The big-ticket fight of the night though was undoubtedly the welterweight title clash pitting local favourite James Sheehan against resurgent challenger Justin Burlinson. It’s the kind of fight you (well, I) just love to commentate on; thrills, spills and headaches galore.
The bout gave us some all-time memorable moments; Burlinson peeling himself off the canvas after a hellacious uppercut had seemingly ended the fight; the Englishman powering back to clamp a vice-like grip around Sheehan’s previously shattered jaw for the win; the emotional scenes backstage as the new champion was awarded a £5,000 bonus from That Prize Guy for his Herculean efforts.
CW 189: Rome
There was plenty to write home about in Rome, not in the least one of the sickest armbars I’ve ever seen from the debuting Gary Rooney.
It was a finish better done justice by video than pictures; if you haven’t seen it…we got you.
As a commentator you’re often blessed to follow an athlete’s career from beginning to end, or at least until they hit the big time. As a result, you’re commonly asked the question: When did you realise this guy would be a star? When I’m inevitably faced with this quandary about Khadim Dia, my answer will be the night he fought George McMannus.
The Italian looked as complete as we’ve ever seen him, never relenting despite McMannus’ teak-toughness. The upper echelons of the division await. Speaking of which…
I’d been looking forward to Sado Ucar’s Cage Warriors debut for what felt like an eternity. One of the most dynamic, underrated and unappreciated veterans on the European circuit, common sense said that a win would put him within spitting distance of the welterweight title.
Giacomo Michelis had other ideas.
Ultimately while Ucar had the better striking and Jiu-Jitsu, it was the Italian’s wrestling that won him the day…although truth be told, neither could have been too disappointed to come out on the wrong side of such a razor close verdict.
With CW 189 in the bag, it was back around to Manchester and London to finish off the Summer Series and end the first half of the year with a considerable bang.
Don’t forget, you can relive all the Cage Warriors action from 2025 and beyond on UFC Fight Pass!