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Tag: cage warriors

  • Watch Cage Warriors Fighter Land Historic 4-Second KO With ‘Cheap Shot’ During Glove Touch

    Watch Cage Warriors Fighter Land Historic 4-Second KO With ‘Cheap Shot’ During Glove Touch

    The combat sports world witnessed a lightning-fast finish at Cage Warriors 186.

    On Friday night at Indigo at The O2 in London, England, Yannick Bahati etched his name in history, delivering a jaw-dropping four-second knockout against Charles Joyner in their light heavyweight rematch at Cage Warriors 186.

    Bahati took control of Joyner’s lead hand before unleashing a devastating right backhand, flooring his opponent in an instant. As Joyner lay motionless on the canvas, the referee swiftly stepped in, preventing any follow-up strikes.

    However, the record-setting knockout was shadowed by dispute, as outraged MMA enthusiasts took to social media, refusing to applaud Bahati’s victory, believing he lured Joyner into a glove touch before grabbing his hand and landing the knockout blow.

    Numerous fans condemned his tactics, branding the knockout a “cheap shot.”

    Bahati and Joyner had previously crossed paths at Cage Warriors 181 in November, battling to a razor-close split draw.

    With this victory, “Black Mamba” improved his underwhelming professional record to 10-7-1 with one no contest. Prior to this bout, Bahati had struggled, going 1-5 in his last six outings, with two of those losses coming under the Bellator banner.

  • Former Cage Warriors Fighter Set For Sentencing After Attack Leaves Neighbour With Facial Fractures

    Former Cage Warriors Fighter Set For Sentencing After Attack Leaves Neighbour With Facial Fractures

    A mixed martial arts fighter has admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being accused of repeatedly punching his neighbour.

    Damien Forgie, 36, went 3-0 as a professional MMA fighter between 2010 and 2012. He most notably captured a rear-naked choke submission win over Cihan Kocer at Cage Warriors 41.

    The Englishman hasn’t competed since defeating Paul Rocha by way of kimura at Shock n’ Awe 11, having had fights for Cage Warriors canceled in both 2014 and 2015.

    Damien Forgie
    Image: David Lethaby

    Per a report from KentOnline, Forgie brutally assaulted his neighbour, Billy Stokes, near their homes in Gravesend, England this past April, leaving him with facial fractures. The fighter is said to have landed “at least 10 blows” after jumping a fence to attack Stokes.

    In October, Forgie appeared in court and admitted to the assault. He was bailed and a pre-sentencing report was ordered to be carried out. A motive for the attack was not revealed during the hearing.

    During a recent appearance at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Nov. 19, Deputy District Judge Nicola Fleck heard that the report had not been completed in time.

    The incident, which lasted 32 seconds and saw Forgie pin his neighbour to the ground before punching him, was deemed to severe by Judge Fleck to be heard in the lower court. As a result, the case has been sent to Maidstone Crown Court, where the fighter will be sentenced.

  • European Champion Ready To Make History As First Father & Daughter To Compete In The UFC

    European Champion Ready To Make History As First Father & Daughter To Compete In The UFC

    England has a new female champion that is ready to compete on the big show following the Cage Warriors event that took place in Newcastle on Saturday night. CW 181 saw the promotion crown Kennedy Freeman as the new women’s bantamweight champion after she stopped Mafalda Carmona.

    Due to the sheer size of the talent pool that is available, Cage Warriors isn’t a promotion that regularly has female champions. In fact, Freeman is the first since Molly McCann departed the roster to sign with the UFC in 2018 but like McCann, there is something special about Freeman.

    Her exciting striking style and finishing ability has meant that she’s been on the radar for some time but after taking a five-year break between 2018-2023, the 6-0 bantamweight didn’t feel ready for whatever the next step would be even when offers came in. In a post-fight interview with the promotion after putting on a dominant performance that saw Carmona withdraw from the fight in the fourth round, her mentality has changed.

    “Whatever offers come, I’m ready for them now. It’s my birthday on Tuesday and I’m 28, I’m getting on now and I think I proved to myself that I can go nearly five rounds. I was ready for a fifth round there. I felt fit, I felt ready. Yeah, I’m ready for the next step.”  

    Freeman moving up to the UFC would be a big moment for her and her family because of their history with the promotion. Her father and coach, Ian Freeman, was the first British fighter to ever step inside the Octagon.

    Making his debut in March of 2000, “The Machine” went on to fight six times in the UFC which included a signature first-round finish over Frank Mir at UFC 38 in 2002 where Matt Hughes defended his welterweight title against Carlos Newton in the main event. During her post-fight interview, Freeman was joined by her father who said that he’s looking forward to watching his daughter tread new ground in the UFC just like he did over two decades ago.

    “I think we’re the only father and daughter in Cage Warriors, who’ve fought on Cage Warriors. I was the first ever British fighter in the UFC and I think the UFC are going to come knocking and when they do, we will be the first ever father and daughter in the UFC so I mean, we’re breaking history every single time.”  

  • UFC Commentator Shines A Light On Paddy Pimblett’s Teammate: ‘Captivating A Worldwide Fanbase…’

    UFC Commentator Shines A Light On Paddy Pimblett’s Teammate: ‘Captivating A Worldwide Fanbase…’

    European promotion Cage Warriors has got a proven track record from taking the top talent from the region and getting them into major promotions like the UFC.

    The same can be said for Liverpool-based gym Next Generation MMA, which has been able to grow significantly in recent years.

    Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann are very much the team captains of the gym in that sense but with Nathan Fletcher recently signing to the UFC from the same stable, the next wave of fighters from the north of England are making their way over.

    Amongst them is one of the most exciting fighters in Europe right now, who, after missing out on his chance to compete on the Contender Series this year, is back on home turf this weekend.

    John Gooden Tells Fans To Keep An Eye On Liverpool’s Luke Riley

    Liverpool’s Luke Riley is an undefeated (9-0) featherweight who in many ways, is Pimblett’s protégé and right-hand man.

    He was set to fight for his UFC roster at the Apex this year until his bout with Kevin Vallejos fell through due to visa issues.

    Instead, Riley will be returning to Cage Warriors, where he has had all of his pro fights, to headline an event for the first time.

    Ahead of his attempt to hit double digit wins when he faces Alexandre Junior at the BEC Arena in Manchester on September 21, UFC commentator John Gooden highlighted the potential future star via the official UFC Fight Pass YouTube channel.

    “Freak athleticism, lighting speed and surgical accuracy are all features of Riley’s unmissable fight style. Currently running an unblemished 9-0 record with a knockout tally of six, 25-year-old Riley is on the brink of captivating a worldwide audience.”

    Gooden spoke about some of the incredible fights that Riley has produced in his career, making his contests an absolute must-watch.

    In particular, his clash with Alexander Lööf at CW 160 last year was nominated for the UFC Fight Pass fight of the year and stands out as one of the best bouts in the history of Cage Warriors.

    Gooden continued to highlight why Riley is one of the most exciting strikers outside of the UFC right now, breaking down his love for throwing combinations.

    “Riley’s fights are always exciting. I’m sure you’re picking up on his love for the knockout and he earns this with really beautiful, technical boxing. It is pretty rare to see such success from a combination fighter in MMA. So few are able to do it well, there are big risks in closing the distance and firing off multiple shots whilst wearing little four ounce gloves but when you have Riley’s speed, defensive hygiene and the delicate details of a watch maker, your work stands out.”

    Read also: Former Champ Skeptical Of Michael Chandler Beating ‘Meaningful Favorite’ Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

  • Cancer Survivor Aaron Aby Hopes To Inspire Others With MMA Journey

    Cage Warriors fighter Aaron Aby wants his journey of ups and downs to eventually lead to a shot in the UFC—and he wants to inspire onlookers every step of the way.

    Aby, a survivor of stage-three testicular cancer and a fighter living with cystic fibrosis, wants his story to show that people can overcome big obstacles in life.

    Growing up, Aby was warned that his cystic fibrosis diagnosis could shorten his lifespan. In an act of defiance to this, he started in athletics, first as a cross-country runner, then as a serious footballer. He played for the Shrewsbury Town youth squad and the Wrexham pro team before pursuing MMA.

    “MMA was an individual sport after what happened at Shrewsbury and having to have to have someone to pick you in football,” Aby told WalesOnline.

    Aaron Aby: "I always held onto the chance of fighting" - Cage Warriors
    Aaron Aby

    “One of the funny things was that MMA used to make me feel more tired than football, which I liked. I used to love the techniques and the philosophy of fighting and the principles behind it. It just started off once a week, then became twice a week, then I was doing it every day.”

    Aby made his professional MMA debut in 2013. Four years later, he had to undergo surgery after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had two surgeries, including one that had to remove a tumor the size of 15 centimeters.

    “I was on a three-fight win streak,” Aby said. “The [cancer] symptoms actually started during the last fight camp. I was doing well, on a big show. There’s never good timing for these things.

    Aby described the mindset he had to keep when going into a surgery he thought he might not survive.

    “Negative thoughts come into your head, but I always used to say to myself that I was never going to quit. I will accept whatever happens but I will always fight until the last chance. I think that’s what I did.”

    Aby: ‘UFC’s Always Got To Be A Goal’

    Aby currently holds a pro record of 12 wins, four losses, and one draw. He has spent his last two fights with notable European promotion Cage Warriors, where he has earned a win and a loss.

    Like most prospects, Aby is aiming to land in the UFC one day.

    “The UFC’s always got to be a goal,” Aby continued. “If not, I’ve just got to keep winning, keep making my name relevant and keep working towards that Cage Warriors title.”

    Aby picked up a victory in his last appearance, going three rounds against Samir Faiddine for a unanimous decision victory in December.