Category: MMA

BKB 49 – Dance of the Dragons Wales 5 december 2025


Jack Marshman’s retirement fight

Jack Marshman retirement bare knuckle fight in front of his home crowd at BKB 49
Jack Marshman doing what he loves –

Bare Knuckle Boxing closes out a historic 2025 when it returns to the Land of the Red Dragon, Friday, 5 December, for BKB 49 at the Vale Arena in Cardiff. In the main event, Wales’ own undefeated Liam Rees defends his Super Lightweight title against one of the hottest fighters in BKB, #1 contender Rolando Dy.

In the co-main event, someone’s 0 has to go when undefeated Light Heavyweights Keiron Harding and David Winiarski meet in the Trigon.

Plus, two of BKB’s top rising stars face off when Simey Doherty takes on Kallum Skhane.

Also, this will be Jack ‘The Hammer’ Marshman’s retirement fight in front of his home crowd. Marshman promises to put on one hell of a great fight for his fans and retire with the all-important win. Standing in his way is none other than Paul Hilz, who knows only one way: coming forward. This has all the hallmarks of ‘fight of the year’ with both men knowing the only way is forward, and the only way out is to be knocked out.

Full fight card

Liam Rees vs. Rolando DY

Keiron Harding vs. David Winiarski

Keiron Harding vs. David Winiarski

Simey Doherty vs. Kallum Skhane

Lucas Browne vs. Aaron Ashton

Paul Hilz vs. Jack Marshman

Troy Palmer vs. Dorian Darch

Dan Matthews vs. Steven Rouke

Robert Koky vs. Tom Pratt

Geraint Goodridge vs. Ruairi McCarthy

Joe Randall vs. Iestyn Edwards

Shaun Rafferty vs.Ethan George

If you missed our last interview with Jack Marshman before his last fight against Daniel Lerwell, where Bare Knuckle Mobb Rob and I interview Jack before his fight against Daniel Lerwell, you can watch it here.

https://youtu.be/AfszO50ICQQ?si=3Y1-G_Hpf61KOOdE

THE HISTORY OF BARE KNUCKLE BOXING

Originating

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BKB was founded to harness the excitementbare-knuckleckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, England, Wales and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting.

In the past two years, BKB (originally BYB) has purchased the UK-based BKB, world’sld’s oldest professional bare knuckle boxing company, and in doing so merged the organizations to create the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution; ushered in ethical and legalized gambling to the sport;  acquired the rights to the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship; and brought bare knuckle boxing to lineal television on both sides of the Atlantic, including the recent deal with VICE TV and in the UK with TalkSport. 

Raged UK MMA: Full Results from October 2025 Event


Saturday, 25 October, Raged UK MMA held their third event of 2025. Boasting 17 amateur fights and 3 amateur title fights, this was one event not to be missed.

Raged UK MMA team photo -Credit Team Photographer

The venue was packed, and if the crowd was anything to go by, then we were all in for a treat; after all, amateurs are the future of the sport.

Full results

Dahen Shahab def Christos Dumbuya via beginning of round 2 as unable to continue

Lorenzo Ercoles def Abudulwhahid Aiden via Unanimous decision

Tyler Hawson def Kai Catwell-Rocca via RNc 1:11 round 3

Ben Bates def Shay Steel via TKO 2:37 round 1

Falah “Akran” Ayoub def Mirulleh Ahmadil via Unanimous decision

Askan Salehi def Joe Sligh via Unanimous decision

Mohhamad Sharif def Adam Stewart via GNP 2:38 round 1

Ryan Brinkley def Gerald Synod via GNP 1:08 round 1

A-Jay Harrhy def Lewis Champman via Unanimous decision

Mikolaji Ivanchuk def Job Salomao Rigon via Unanimous decision

Nico Cavilla def Jakub Szymanczyk via Unanimous decision

George Bartlett def Rich Nottingham via Medical Stoppage round 3

Lottie Matthews def Tilly Churrazo via Unanimous decision

Cole Marr def Matthew Oliver via KO in 0:09 seconds, round 1

Vacant amateur super featherweight belt

Shoriful Islam def Kayden Rudman via Armbar 2:35 round 2

Vacant amatuer bantamweight belt

Aaron Palmer def Charlie Gregson via TKO 0:11 seconds round one

Vacant amatuer lightweight belt

Felipe Albuguerque def Tate Groves via D’arce choke

I’m bringing back FOTN whoih goes to:

Lottie Matthews vs Tilly Churrazo

Five Rounds with EMMA is BACK!


We had taken 18 months out of the writing aspect of the sport we cover, MMA. We have branched out into some new opportunities, and we still come together to say NOW IS THE TIME TO GO BACK TO WRITING IN AND ABOUT MMA!

After taking 18 months off the writing aspect of MMA, we have stayed passionate about MMA – well, I started this site in 2012 about MMA and the fighters that were in the sport but as yet not in the UFC, so I have a history of MMA fighters before some would say made it!

I have a new contributing writer on board who is fantastic and amazing with his words, hailing from America we have Terrell Sylvester who has done previous work with Combat Sports UK (Anteriorwright1 on FB) check him out there then make sure to come back to Five Rounds with Emma. As we will be full of content before you can say ‘where the fu*k did she come from and who the fu@k is she’.

That statement is true, though I started writing for other outlets to get my foot in the door, so to speak. After two years, my good friend and the one who believed in me from the start and to this day onwards, Jonathan Millard, you may know him as ‘The voice of the Vale’ since he is a ring announcer for boxing & some MMA shows, if it were not for him, I don’t know what i’d be doing by now. He encouraged me to carry on in the sport even though those early days (5 years worth) were when I had abuse aimed at me via social media platforms, this was by men in other outlets in the industry. Then one male person took it upon himself to write a whole status about me on FB ( he didn’t have the nerve to tag me -pussy), and the amount of abuse from grown men left under that status was appalling and soul-destroying. It wasn’t until my good friend and fighter, who I have watched his career from the start, called me up to say what was going on – in the end, it came down to ME being in a predominantly male space and making more waves than him – jealousy!!! For 5 years, I endured abuse like this daily.

Move on to 2020 that person was not around in fact he was in jail for domestic abuse for the second time so no wonder he thought he could bully me!!

As COVID hit, the whole world had to make changes, and those changes forced us on Five Rounds with Emma to re-evaluate how we could contribute to the MMA scene. TIKTOK found the answer when we were ordered to stay at home, so video content grew massively, and so did Zoom calls.

Today, we will incorporate our writing with videos (if needed) on our YouTube channel, Five Rounds with Emma. Also, we will embed the code in the writing here, so you don’t have to search the Internet for the specific content we have shown.

I thank all my loyal fans who have stayed with me from the beginning and through all the times to now. The sport needs fans, and I love engaging with each and every one of you on social media. You can find me on ‘X’ (although I don’t really post there any more), Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and TIKTOK, plus don’t forget this website for news, results, press releases, and exclusive interviews.

THANK YOU

Five Rounds with Emma

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Raged UK MMA: Night of Champions Overview

The ‘Night of Champions’ held by Raged UK MMA on 2 September 2023 at The MECA in Swindon electrified the atmosphere with 20 intense bouts, crowning six new champions. The event highlighted the vibrant local MMA community, spurring interest and potential future collaborations while showcasing thrilling combat sports talent that captivated audiences.



The atmosphere was electric at The MECA in Swindon on 2 September 2023, as Raged UK MMA held its much-anticipated ‘Night of Champions’. This Swindon MMA event was a spectacle of skill and determination, drawing an enthusiastic crowd eager to witness the crowning of six new MMA champions. With a fight card boasting 20 intense MMA bouts, the event was a testament to the high calibre of combat sports talent present, leaving attendees and fans on the edge of their seats. As the night unfolded, the energy in the arena was palpable, showcasing why live MMA events continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Join us as we delve into the highlights and unforgettable moments of this truly electrifying evening.

Electrifying Atmosphere at MECA Swindon

On 2 September 2023, the MECA in Swindon became the epicentre of combat sports excitement. The ‘Night of Champions’ event, organised by Raged UK MMA, transformed the venue into a cauldron of adrenaline and anticipation.

Overview of the Night of Champions

The ‘Night of Champions’ lived up to its name, delivering an unforgettable experience for MMA enthusiasts. The event showcased 20 intense bouts, each contributing to the electric atmosphere.

Raged UK MMA curated a diverse fight card featuring seasoned veterans and promising newcomers. This mix ensured a night of unpredictable and thrilling matchups.

The crowd’s energy was palpable from the opening bell to the final knockout. Cheers, gasps, and thunderous applause punctuated each significant moment in the octagon.

The Buzz Around the Swindon MMA Event

Swindon’s MMA community had been excitedly buzzing in the weeks leading up to the event. Social media platforms were ablaze with discussions, predictions, and fighter interviews.

Local businesses joined in the hype, with gyms offering special training sessions and restaurants creating fight-night specials. This community involvement amplified the event’s significance beyond just a sporting spectacle.

The ‘Night of Champions’ also attracted attention from MMA fans across the UK. Many travelled to Swindon, turning the event into a celebration of British combat sports.

Highlights from the Fight Card

The ‘Night of Champions’ delivered on its promise of high-octane action. From technical grappling exchanges to explosive knockouts, the event had it all. Let’s dive into some standout moments with fans on their feet.

Six New MMA Champions Crowned

The ‘Night of Champions’ lived up to its name, with six new champions emerging victorious. Each title fight delivered intense action and unforgettable moments.

Ryan Southern defeated Laszio Berecki via rear-naked choke at 1:35 of round one to become the Raged UK Amateur Featherweight Champion.

Avarias ‘Chowie’ Gaciauskas defeated Stephen Todman via Guillotine at 2:29 of round one to become the Raged UK Amateur Middleweight Champion.

Ryan Lockyer defeated Sam Cooper via rear-naked choke 1:41 of round one to become the Raged UK Amateur Welterweight Champion.

John Watson defeated Jamal Vincent via Unanimous Decision to become the Raged UK Amateur Lightweight Champion.

Lewis ‘The Foot’ Long defeated Ashley Griffiths via Rear naked choke 0:31 of round one to become the Raged UK Welterweight Champion.

Craig Rawlins defeated Matt Holland via Guillotine 2:15 of round one to become the Raged UK Middleweight Champion.

The Impact of Live MMA Events

Live MMA events like the ‘Night of Champions’ are crucial to the sport’s growth and development. They provide a platform for athletes to showcase their skills, inspire the next generation of fighters, and unite communities through shared passion.

Engaging the Local Combat Sports Community

The ‘Night of Champions’ event significantly impacted Swindon’s combat sports community. Local gyms reported a surge in new memberships in the days following the event, with many citing the inspirational performances they witnessed.

The event also provided valuable exposure for local fighters. Several Swindon-based athletes were featured on the card, giving them a chance to compete in front of their hometown crowd and gain recognition.

Promoting Future Swindon MMA Events

The success of the ‘Night of Champions’ set the stage for future MMA events in Swindon. Raged UK MMA has already hinted at plans to return to The MECA in early 2024.

Local businesses have expressed interest in increased sponsorship opportunities, recognising the economic boost such events bring to the area. This support could lead to even bigger and better events in the future.

The buzz generated by the ‘Night of Champions’ has also caught the attention of larger MMA promotions. There are whispers of potential collaborations that could bring international talent to Swindon, further elevating the town’s status in the MMA world.

Raged UK MMA – Night of Champions

Raged UK MMA 16 returns to The MECA in Swindon on Saturday 2nd September 2023 where they will be making six new champions


Raged UK MMA 16 returns to The MECA in Swindon on Saturday, 2nd September 2023, where they will be making six new champions and, therefore, titled “Night of Champions”.


Boasting a massive fight card of 20 fights, Raged UK MMA 16 will be guaranteed to see a beautiful night of violence and what appears to be the best fight card set to date, with promoter Gary Turland going above and beyond to make sure the fight fans in Swindon will be talking about this card for years to come.

As with previous Raged events, if you cannot make the event in person,Fightworld TV hosts a live PPV to watch as the action unfolds.

Events LIVE – Pay Per View

FIGHTCARD AND RUNNING ORDER

Doors open 6pm

First fight 6.15pm

Tickets on the door: Standard £35/Seated £45

    RAGED UK MMA September 3rd 2022 Full Results

    Saturday, 3rd September 2022, RAGED UK MMA hosted their 15th event back at the MECA, Swindon, where it all began in 2009.


    Saturday, 3rd September 2022, RAGED UK MMA hosted their 15th event back at the MECA, Swindon, where it all began in 2009.

    Swindon fight fans were in for a great night of beautiful violence with a staggering 20 fights.

    As with previous events, RAGED UK MMA held a live PPV on Fightworld TV for all of those who could not attend in person.

    RAGED UK MMA had 15 Amateur fights to get the crowd started and, of course, for us [Media] to see the NEW athletes who will be making big statements in the near future. Two of last night’s amateur competitors won THE VACANT AMATEUR SUPER WELTERWEIGHT BELT and THE AMATUER LIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT BELT.

    The 5 remaining bouts were The Professional Fights, with the final fight of action for THE VACANT PROFESSIONAL LIGHTWEIGHT BELT.

    Complete Raged UK MMA Fight Results

    AMATEUR BOUTS

    Fight 1: Amateur 3×3 Heavyweight

    Sam Marshall def Jordan Everett via TKO (GnP) 00:59 into the 3rd Round.

    Fight 2: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight 

    Stephen Todman def Jay Kerley via TKO 00:09 into the 1st Round

    Fight 3: Amateur 3×3 Middleweight

    Ceri Choron def Brad Livingstone via TKO (GnP) 00:50 into the 2nd Round

    Fight 4: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

    Dan Bassett def Adam Kahlil via KO 1:53 into the 3rd Round

    Fight 5: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight 

    Dion Miles def Jon Hadley via TKO (GnP) 1:45 into the 1st Round

    Fight 6: Amateur 3×3 Welterweight 

    Sam Cooper def Jon Hunt via Submission (Triangle) 02:55 in the 1st Round

    Fight 7: Amateur 3×3 Middleweight

    Nathan Halton def Joe Wood via Unanimous Decision

    Fight 8: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight 

    Marian Sandu def Paddy Portsmouth via Submission (RNC) 01:31 in the 2nd Round

    Fight 9: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight 

    Raheem Joseph def George Birbeck via Submission (Kimura) 01:38 in the 1st Round

    Fight 10: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight 

    Rich Lukacs def Jacob Phibbs via Split Decision

    Fight 11: Amateur 3×3 Welterweight

    Charlie Phillips def Richard Nottingham via Doctor Stoppage (Cut to Forehead) 01:16 in the 1st Round

    Fight 12: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

    Jordan Walters def Ben Bates via Fighter Injury (Broken Thumb) 01:08 in the 1st Round

    Fight 13: Amateur 3×3 Lightweight

    Ollie Wilde def Louie Cooke via Split Decision

    Fight 14: Amateur 3×3 Vacant Raged Super Welterweight Title Fight 

    Tyler James def John Watson via TKO (Punches) 01:21 in the 1st Round 

    NEW SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION – TYLER JAMES REPPING [EVOLVE, TORQUAY]

    Fight 15: Amateur 3×3 Raged Light Featherweight Title Fight

    Ieuan Mackenzie def Ruslan Vrabje (c) via Submission (RNC) 02:59 in the 1st Round

    #ANDNEW LIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION – IEUAN MACKENZIE REPPING [CELTIC PRIDE MARTIAL ARTS, WALES]

    PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

    Fight 16: Pro 3×5 Lightweight 

    Grant Ogbourne def Finley Mitchell via TKO (GnP) 01:59 in Round 1

    Fight 17: Pro 3×5 Heavyweight

    Luke Newland def Rob Peters via TKO (GnP) 01:25 in Round 1

    Fight 18: Pro 3×5 Middleweight 

    Craig Rawlins def Adam Chetnik via TKO (GnP) 01:34 in Round 1

    Fight 19: Pro 3×5 Catchweight 

    Chris Astley def Tyler Thomas via TKO (GnP) 03:15 in Round 1

    Fight 20: Pro 3×5 Vacant Raged Lightweight Title Fight

    Oscar Ownsworth def Bernie Gomm via TKO (GnP) 04:48 in the 1st Round

    #ANDNEW LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION – OSCAR OWNSWORTH REPPING [AVT LEEDS]

    RESULTS COMPILED BY GEORGE GOUGH

    FOTN/SOTN/KO/TKO – BY GEORGE GOUGH

    Please message Mark at Point 5 Photography on FaceBook or his website if you want to purchase a print of tonight’s fights.

    I’ve decided to bring back ‘Honorary Fights’ of the night/Sub and KO/TKO

    All these picks were by my colleauge George Gough for which I also fully support.

    Sub of the Night goes to Raheem Joseph [Sweatbox/Bristol] for a slick Kimura

    KO of the night goes to Dan Bassett [Evolve, Torquay] for a great KO

    Fight of the Night goes to Nathan Halton Vs Joe Wood [Fightworx Academy, Torquay and [Range, Glos]

    Now for a very special mention and this goes to Grant Ogbourne [Bristol], who was having his first professional fight after being an amateur for the last 4 years and having the WHOLE crowd on their feet with the 1969, Neil Diamond classic ‘Sweet Caroline’.

    UFC 278: Leon Edwards shocks the world!

    Photo credit: UFC


    Leon Edwards became only the second British UFC fighter to win a title in the promotion last night at UFC 278, knocking out Kamaru Usman with a head kick in the final minute of the fifth round.

    Edwards came into Salt Lake City as an underdog and knowing that Usman had beat him in their first encounter in 2015, but brushed that off, winning the first round by securing a takedown and threatening the champion with a rear naked choke attempt.

    Usman would recover through rounds two, three and four, taking Edwards down repeatedly and grinding on the Brit, keeping Edwards’ back on the mat or the cage while throwing nasty little shots.

    The fifth round is where the real story is though. Between rounds four and five, UFC analyst Din Thomas told the commentary booth that Edwards had lost the fight mentally as he was unable to look his corner team in the eyes, before commentators Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier starter talking about Edwards resigning himself to a decision loss and that that outcome would be in a win in it’s self for the Brit.

    But as if on cue, “Rocky” would throw a left straight cross at Usman, hiding a big left roundhouse behind it that connected perfectly on the Nigerian’s chin to send him to the mat.

    With that KO win, Edwards becomes the second Brit to hold UFC gold, the last British champ being Michael Bisping at middleweight.

    In terms of what is next for Edwards, there seem to be two clear options. If Khamzat Chimaev beats Nate Diaz later this year, the UFC would surely have to book him in a title bout with Edwards.

    The second option would be for a trilogy fight between Edwards and Usman, and with the UFC’s popularity in the UK being at an all time high with two sold out London cards this year, a first UK based PPV since UFC 204 back in 2016, which was held in Manchester.

    In the co-main event, Paulo Costa took a unanimous decision win over former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

    The story of the fight was Rockhold’s gas tank, or lack of one, as he looked visibly tired after just one round, and between rounds two and three, had to be dragged by his team to the stool as he seemed two gassed to walk over.

    Costa had broken Rockhold’s nose early on, and with it being full of blood, forced the former champ to breathe through his mouth the entire fight, and even wobbled him at one point.

    Rockhold didn’t help himself though by continually loading up on his shots, throwing each one with the intent to end the fight without any real set-up.

    The bad blood between the pair had been visible throughout fight week, and that spilled over into the fight, with Rockfold audibly telling Costa “f**k you” in the second round before hitting him with a left hook, and in a ground exchange in the third round the pair could be heard to be swearing at one another.

    The judges scorecards would read 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 for Costa, who picks up his first win since 2019.

    Merab Dvalishvili secured a huge decision win for himself against Jose Aldo in the bantamweight division.

    The Georgian fighter was relentless in his attempts to get Aldo to the floor, but while the “King of Rio” was able to stay upright, he would end up with his back to the cage and being held there.

    With the two landing similar numbers in the striking, Dvalishvili’s control time would give him the edge, and all three judges would award him the fight 30-27.

    The night would also see one of MMA’s biggest rarities, with a split draw between Sean Woodson and Luis Saldana.

    Full Results

    Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman by KO in 4:04 of round five for the welterweight title

    Paulo Costa def. Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision

    Merab Dvaloshvili def. Jose Aldo by unanimous decision

    Lucie Pudilova def. Yanan Wu via KO in 4:04 of round two

    Tyson Pedro def. Harry Hunsucker via KO in 1:05 of round one

    Marcin Tybura def. Alexandr Romanov via majority decision

    Jared Gordon def. Leonardo Santos by unanimous decision

    Sean Woodson vs Luis Saldana ended in a split draw

    Ange Loosa def. A.J. Fletcher by unanimous decision

    Amir Alabzi def.Francisco Figueiredo by submission in 4:34 of round one

    Aoriqiling def. Jay Perrin by unanimous decision

    Victor Altamirano def. Daniel da Silva by KO in 3:39 of round one

    UFC 278 preview

    Salt Lake City plays host to UFC 278 on Saturday night, as Kamaru Usman looks to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards in a rematch that has taken seven years to come around.


    By Kieran Cobley

    Salt Lake City plays host to UFC 278 on Saturday night, as Kamaru Usman looks to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards in a rematch that has taken seven years to come around.

    Usman comes into the bout on a 19 fight win streak and is in the process of lapping the 170lbs division, having already had rematches with Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, with his main event bout with Edwards being his third rematch in as many years.

    For Edwards, UFC 278 sees his long wait for a title fight end after the Birmingham based fighter went through hell and high water to get his shot, racking up a nine fight win streak (not including his no contest with Belal Muhammed) and being taken out of the rankings for his refusal to fight a then un-ranked, Khamzat Chimaev.

    The two last squared off in 2015, but both men have evolved since, and you can take a more in-depth preview of their upcoming bout here.

    In the co-main event, Paulo Costa will look to show the UFC were right to let him return to the middleweight division after the fiasco with Marvin Vettori as the Brazilian takes on former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

    Costa’s shenanigans with his last fight, where he notified the UFC that he wouldn’t be attempting to make 185lbs or the then agreed 195lbs, forced the fight into a light heavyweight bout, were highly unprofessional and were rightly criticised by fans and media alike. Now Costa needs to show that he can make 185lbs and keep his name in the division; otherwise, another forced move to 205lbs could be on the cards.

    Meanwhile, Rockhold will try to show that he can still beat top quality opponents despite a weakened chin. The former middleweight champion has lost three of his last four bouts by knockout, showing he is susceptible to a heavy punch.

    In what could be a title eliminator for the bantamweight division, Merab Dvalishvili squares off with Jose Aldo, the former featherweight king of the UFC.

    Dvalishvili is currently riding a five fight winning streak, utilising his heavy wrestling offence to grind out wins over his opponents by sapping their gas tanks. Nowhere is this better illustrated than by his record of 13 takedowns in a fight when he beat Gustavo Lopez back in 2020.

    Aldo has looked impressive since moving to 135lbs, and his notorious leg kicks still give his opponents problems to deal with. “The King of Rio” is known for his knockout ability with 16 wins by KO/TKO, and that would look to be his best chance at winning on Saturday, especially if he can avoid hitting the mat with “The Machine.”

    Further down the card, Miranda “The” Maverick is in action as she takes on Shanna Young in a flyweight contest to open the ESPN+ prelims. In contrast, Marcin Tybura takes on Alexander Romanov in a heavyweight bout in the evening’s featured prelim.

    The action gets underway from 11pm on UfC Fight Pass, with the main card kicking off at 3am.

    Fight Card

    Main Card

    Kamaru Usman vs Leon Edwards – welterweight title fight

    Paulo Costa vs Luke Rockhold – middleweight bout

    Jose Aldo vs Merab Dvalishvil – bantamweight bout

    Wu Yunan vs Lucie Pudilova – women’s bantamweight bout

    Tyson Pedro vs Harry Hunsucker – light heavyweight bout

    Preliminary Card

    Marcin Tybura vs Alexander Romanov – heavyweight bout

    Leonardo Santos vs Jared Gordon – lightweight bout

    Sean Woodson vs Luis Suldana – featherweight bout

    Miranda Maverick vs Shanna Young – women’s flyweight bout

    A.J. Fletcher vs Ange Loosa – welterweight bout

    Amir Albazi vs Francisco Figueiredo – flyweight bout

    Aori Qilieng vs Jay Perrin – bantamweight bout

    Daniel Lacerda vs Victor Altamirano – flywweight bout

    Usman vs Edwards II: Repeat or revenge?

    UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20th, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is headlined by the long awaited rematch between current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-1, 9 KO, 1 Sub) and top contender Leon Edwards (19-3, 6 KO, 3 Sub, 1 NC).


    By Kieran Cobley

    UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20th,in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is headlined by the long awaited rematch between current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-1, 9 KO, 1 Sub) and top contender Leon Edwards (19-3, 6 KO, 3 Sub, 1 NC).

    “The pair first met in 2015, with “The Nigerian Nightmare” scoring a unanimous decision win over Birmingham native Edwards.

    But seven years have passed since then, and both men have evolved during that time.

    Usman’s reputation of being “boring” fighter who merely goes for decision wins has been shattered, with the TUF 21 winner utilising his wrestling background to take fighters to the mat and keep them there. That was how Usman successfully navigated his first bout with Edwards, securing six takedowns on his way to getting the nod from the judges.

    That Usman is long gone. The Usman of 2022 is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, a fighter who can slam you, tie you in a tight clinch, or simply beat the brakes off you with his new found love of striking.

    In three of his last five fights, Usman has scored knockout victories over the man opposite him in the Octagon, with those men being very notable: former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, and last but not least, the BMF of the UFC, Jorge Masvidal.

    This ferocity in striking, brought on from working with Trever Wittman in fight camp while training in Sanford MMA in Florida for the rest of the year, has made Usman lethal. Stepping into his boxing range is like putting your head in the mouth of a lion; nothing good can come of it.

    Psychologically, Usman will feel good coming into this bout after seeing his brother, Mohammed, win the TUF Heavyweight final two weeks ago and coming into this fight on a run of 19 consecutive wins.

    Edwards’ rise to the top of the welterweight division is nothing to sneer at. Since losing to Usman, the Team Renegade talisman has won nine bouts, with a no contest with Belal Muhammed in the mix too.

    While Usman was regarded as being boring due to his heavy wrestling style, fans were equally unimpressed with Edwards, seeing him as a point fighter who lacked finishing ability in a division full of fighters who could get the win within the distance.

    It was perhaps this fan resentment that caused Edwards to have to wait for so long for his shot; after all, he did have a more legitimate shout for a title fight than Covington or Masvidal did, with the pair getting rematches not long after being soundly beaten by Usman. At the same time, Edwards was forced to consistently hold onto his position at the top of the rankings.

    There was also the issue of Edwards being removed from the rankings for not accepting a fight with the then un-ranked Khamzat Chimaev, instead opting to wait it out for either a title shot or a fight with a notable ranked contender, for instance, Nate Diaz, who Edwards beat easily.

    That has to be put to the back of Edwards’ head now, and he needs to focus on Usman, a new Usman, a more dangerous Usman. If Edwards underestimates Usman and still believes him to be the same fighter he was in their first meeting, he will be in deep trouble.

    There is no obvious way for Edwards to win this fight; slipping in an out of range against Usman is an impossible task given the man’s abilities and movement skills.

    The bookies are certainly in favour of Usman in this fight, making him a heavy favourite with odds of ¼ to win and 11/5 to win by either submission or KO.

    However, miracles can happen in MMA; Derrick Lewis’ come from behind KO against Aleksander Volkov, Matt Serra’s underdog win against George Saint-Pierre, and JuliannPena’s KO win against the double champ, Amanda Nunes.

    A win for Edwards would undoubtedly be one of the most significant underdogs wins ever, but this is one hell of an uphill battle.

    CW 142 results: Creasey, Elliott, and Favero steal the show

    Cage Warriors’ return to Wales will be unforgettable with knockouts, submissions and stand out performances throughout the card.


    By Kieran Cobley

    Cage Warriors’ return to Wales will be unforgettable with knockouts, submissions and stand out performances throughout the card.

    The main event saw Sam Creasey create history as he became the first man in the division to retain the flyweight title.

    After a tumultuous wait to defend his belt, with his previous opponents, Luke Shanks and Dylan Hazan (who was unable to fight due to medical reasons) missed weight, Creasey finally got the chance to create history against challenger Stipe Brcic.

    The 34 year old wasted no time picking up the win, dropping the Croatian in the first minute of the first round with a lead right hook before jumping on his opponent to lock in a high elbow guillotine to force the choke.

    Creasey’s immediate future now looks uncertain; at 34 years old, the RGA Bucks fighter might struggle to receive a UFC call up, with Dana White and UFC matchmakers preferring younger talent, while in Cage Warriors, there is no definitive top contender following Aaron Aby’s loss earlier in the night and Dylan Hazan missing weight the last time he tried to get to 125lbs.

    In the co-main event, Oban Elliott made sure the Welsh fans at the Ebbw Vale Sports Centre would leave with a smile as he put on the best performance of his career to beat former middleweight champion Matt Bonner.

    In round one, Elliott would go straight for the kill, attacking Bonner with calf kicks and forcing him up against the cage, rattling the former middleweight champion with his tight knit boxing and forcing him to shoot for a takedown.

    Round two started with Bonner coming out hyper aggressively to try and re-claw the first round, but Elliott weathered the storm and kept his composure.

    The second half of round two was a different story. Elliott was rapidly slowing, and Bonner started landing heavier shots and forcing “The Welsh Gangster” into more uncomfortable positions, mainly at the end of his punches.

    The question going into round three surrounded Elliott and his gas tank: had the early going taken too much out of him like it had in his two previous losses to Mike Figlak and Madars Fleminas, or could he stick it out?

    As it turns out, Elliott could more than stick it out, putting Bonner on his back three times with takedowns and ensuring he landed enough strikes to make it an easy decision for the judges.

    Elliott took a decisive win on the score cards, with all three judges scoring it 30-27 to the young welterweight.

    Aaron Aby had the feel-good factor coming into CW 142. The Welsh flyweight had won eight of his last nine bouts, with his most recent two wins coming against a former flyweight champion, Samir Faiddine and former bantamweight title challenger, Gerardo Fanny, and not only that,  this was the first time in his career that he would be fighting on home soil.

    Michelangelo Lupoli was tasked with ending that story and easily fulfilled that task.

    Lupoli was causing Aby major issues with leg kicks on the feet, and when the Welshman could get the fight to the floor, Lupoli stopped any offence Aby had to offer.

    In the end, Lupoli would take a unanimous decision win, with the judge’s scorecards reading: 30-27, 29-28 and 30-26.

    Stephanie Evans and Jasmine Favero made their pro debuts at CW 142 in a rematch of their IMMAF fight from a couple of years ago in the women’s lightweight division.

    Coming into the bout, Favero gave up a lofty six pound weight advantage to the Welsh fighter and looked noticeably smaller in the cage, but showed her opponent’s larger frame was no match for her technical ability.

    Favero would judo throw Evans in round one and outclassed her on the feet two before finishing her in round two with some nasty close range boxing against the fence.

    Lupoli and Favero could now find themselves looking at a fight on Cage Warriors’ first ever Italian card in Rome on 7th October after such impressive wins.

    Luke Riley kept his undefeated record in the min card opener, knocking out Cherif Larossi in round two.

    Round one saw Riley preview what was to come in round two, landing hard shots from the clinch and securing a takedown.

    In round two, Riley showed his clinch is not somewhere you want to find yourself, rocking Larossi with hard knees to the head before executing a perfect boxing combination, finishing with a left hook to the body to put Larossi away.

    On the prelims, Matty Byfield picked up a win in the heavyweight division after a suspect elbow knocked out Szymon Szynkiewicz, with action replays showing the final two elbows landing on the back of Szynkiewicz’s head.

    George McManus would take his record to 3-3 after submitting Milton Alfonso Cabral in round one with a rear naked choke. At the same time, Owain Williams and Chris Bungard picked up decision wins in their promotional debuts against Sean McCormac and Erick Da Silva, respectively.

    Cage Warriors returns on 23rd September with CW 143 in San Diego before heading back to Europe for CW 144 in Rome in early October.