Long-established as ‘The Draft’ of European MMA, Cage Warriors has built a 20-plus year reputation as the crucible in which future UFC stars are forged.
This weekend is no exception, as Cage Warriors once again kicks off the biggest weekend of MMA in the UK as part of a double-header of fight cards at London’s iconic O2.
Saturday’s UFC Fight Night is once again packed with CW alumni, from the prelims to the main event.
Topping the bill at the O2 Arena for the third time in his MMA career, Tom Aspinall ran riot in the famous yellow gloves prior to signing for the world’s leading MMA promotion.
Joining the UK’s great heavyweight hope on the main card are a trio of former Cage Warriors champions.
Scouse sensation Molly McCann returns to action in the co-main event, while former CW lightweight champion Jai Herbert and former bantamweight champion Nathaniel Wood draw Farès Ziam and Andre Fili respectively; bouts which have ‘Fight of the Night’ written all over them.
Danny Roberts and former CW women’s bantamweight champ Pannie ‘Banzai’ Kianzad also feature on Saturday’s card.
‘The Draft’ never stops though, and as Cage Warriors stars of years past now feature prominently in the UFC, the search is always on for the next generation of aspiring talent.
With outgoing lightweight champion George Hardwick set to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer, and welterweight champ Rhys McKee recently being re-signed to the organisation, all eyes turn to Cage Warriors 157 on Friday night to see who will be next in line.
With the likes of Jordan ‘The Epidemic’ Vucenic, ‘The Last Pirate’ Morgan Charriere, Harry ‘Houdini’ Hardwick, Luke Riley and more in action, plus a thrilling middleweight title bout to top the bill, one thing is for sure…
The Draft of MMA is just getting started!