News – Five Rounds with Emma

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

u.getAttribute(“content”);x&&(v?e(“_meta[“+v+”]”,x):w&&e(“_meta[“+w+”]”,x))}j=q.getElementsByTagName(“link”)||[];for(var y=0;y=50);y++){var z=j[y],A=z.getAttribute(“rel”);”canonical”!==A&&”icon”!==A&&”shortlink”!==A||e(“_links[“+A+”]”,z.getAttribute(“href”))}b.body.getElementsByClassName&&(k=b.body.getElementsByClassName(“hfeed”)[0]),k=b.getElementById(“content”)||k||b.body,l=k.getElementsByTagName(“img”)||[];for(var B=0;B=100);B++)n=l[B],n.src.indexOf(“avatar”)>-1||n.className.indexOf(“avatar”)>-1||n.width&&n.width<256||n.height&&n.height<128||e(“_images[]”,n.src);m=b.body.getElementsByTagName(“iframe”)||[];for(var C=0;C=50);C++)e(“_embeds[]”,m[C].src);b.title&&e(“t”,b.title),h&&e(“s”,h),p.setAttribute(“method”,”POST”),p.setAttribute(“action”,d),p.setAttribute(“target”,r),p.setAttribute(“style”,”display: none;”),a.open(“about:blank”,r,”location,resizable,scrollbars,width=”+f+”,height=”+g),b.body.appendChild(p),p.submit()}})(window,document,top.location.href,”https:\/\/emmaboxinbramford.wordpress.com\/wp-admin\/press-this.php?v=8″);

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 15^th 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’.

BKFC 27 – Michael “Venom” Page makes his bare knuckle debut against Mike “Platinum” Perry

BKFC make their UK debut on Saturday, August 20th, as they take over London’s Wembley Arena with a massive headline bout, as local hero Michael “Venom” Page takes on former UFC fighter Mike “Platinum” Perry.

Bellator MMA has undoubtedly done BKFC a massive favour by lending “MVP” to BKFC for this event. The knockout artist has considerable drawing power and ticket selling ability, given his brash style and outgoing personality.

Not only this, but by lending Page to BKFC for their London event, they will have undoubtedly made things harder for PFL, as they head to London on Saturday too for their first card in the city, with fans now being forced to pick between the pair.

Style wise, little is known about what Page could bring to the ring on Saturday. The Londoner has never fought without gloves before but has previously boxed with a pro record of 2-0, both wins coming by knockout. “Venom” has also shown one punch knockout power inside the cage, luring opponents onto his sniper like a right cross, sending them to the mat, but MMA and bare knuckle boxing are two very different beasts.

Page will also have to contend with the brazen style of Perry, a fighter who only has forward gears and will try to take the bout into his wheelhouse, bringing Page into a brawl at every possible opportunity.

The American is no slouch, having won his last BKFC bout against Julian “Let Me Bang Bro” Lane (a former TUF contestant) and winning 11 of his 14 MMA bouts by KO.

This is the perfect fight to headline BKFC’s UK debut, a well known home town fighter against a well known American brawler, in what could potentially be a fantastic scrap.

On a slightly sour note, Paige Van Zant, who was scheduled to fight in Saturday’s co-main event, will no longer be on the card.

The former UFC fighter who has recently ventured into bare knuckle boxing and pro wrestling revealed that the decision not to fight wasn’t hers and that she was pulled from the fight with Charisa Sigala earlier this week for undisclosed reasons, stating she was disappointed to not be able to compete.

The rest of the BKFC card looks to have some fun fights, with notable names like Tyler Goodjohn, who made a name for himself in BKB with his aggressive style competing on the undercard, and former Cage Warriors lightweight champion and UFC fighter, Chris Fishgold, also making his first appearance for BKFC.

BKFC 27 can be watched via BKFC’s APP with a monthly subscription for $4.99, allowing fans to watch every fight the promotion puts on.

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.

Cage Warriors 142 Preview

By Kieran Cobley

Cage Warriors returns to Wales for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, taking over the Ebbw Vale sports centre with a night of great action.

Flyweight champion Sam Creasey (15-4, 5 KO/TKO, 6 Submissions) tops the bill as he looks to become the first man in Cage Warriors history to successfully defend the 125lbs title.

The champion takes on Stipe Brcic, a formidable Croatian fighter training out of Germany with a 10-2 record and six finishes to his name.

A win here for Creasey could see him take a significant step towards joining the UFC, but it has been a long wait for a title defence. The Bedfordshire fighter should have defended the title against the man he took the belt off, Luke Shanks, in December following a “phantom tap” incident in the first bout. Shanks knocked out Creasey in a rugged fashion but failed to take the strap home due to losing his battle with the scales.

Creasey was scheduled to take on a title defence, this time at Cage Warriors’ 20th Anniversary show in July, but Italian contender, Dylan Hazan, failed to make 125lbs, and Creasey opted to sit the fight out, having already fought opponents over the weight limit in his last two outings.

Expect fireworks in this one as both men look to prove their metal.

If Chris Jericho is the “Man of 1004 moves”, Oban Elliott is the “Man of 1004 nicknames”, and the Welsh hometown hero gets to put on a show in front of his fans against former middleweight champion Matthew Bonner.

“The Welsh Gangster” is taking a considerable step up in competition for this bout, having never faced a former CW champ before. Still, it should also be worth noting that in previous attempts to take a step up, he has been brought down by Mike Figlak and “The Latvian Express” Madars Fleminas.

Bonner was the breakout star of Cage Warriors’ Covid era, going from 6-6 to putting on dominating wins over George Smith, Matt Inman and former champion James Webb before submitting Nathias Frederick in the fourth round of their epic contest in 2021 to win the middleweight title.

Even in defeat, Bonner looked game against Djati Melan, almost stopping the Frenchman but ultimately coming just short, but since shrinking down, he has dominated once again.
Elliott’s boxing has been his strong suit in past fights, but when put against the striking of Matt Bonner, who trains with his brother Daniel (a world Muay Thai champion), “Angel Eyes” could find himself in hot water.

Both men have shown they can grapple with the best of them and possess suffocating top games, but this one will likely be a fist fight for the ages.

In the shark tank that is the Cage Warriors 170 lbs division, it’s unclear whether a win for either man would get them a title shot, with Justin Burlinson, Matt Figlak and Jimmy Wallhead all circling the champion, Rhys McKee.

Can “Evil” beat “The Beast”?

While Cage Warriors president, Graham Boylan, serves as the brains of Europe’s top promotion and matchmaker Ian Dean serves as the heart of CW, there can be no doubt about who embodies the spirit of Cage Warriors, Aaron Aby.

Aby (13-4-1, 1 KO/TKO, 5 Submissions) has overcome a battle with Leukemia and Cystic Fibrosis. This condition can be life shortening in many, to become one of the best 125lbs fighters in Europe.

The Wrexham native is on a run of two wins, with his latest coming in Manchester earlier this year at CW 136, where he forced former bantamweight title challenger and kickboxing ace, Gerardo Fanny, to submit to a Rear Naked Choke.

Michelanglo Lupoli (5-2, 2 KO/TKO) makes his promotional debut against Aby and will be looking to show the Welsh veteran up in front of his home crowd.

Aby’s ground game has been his strong suit, but only time will tell if he can implement his takedown and submission offence in combat with the Italian.

Luke Riley, the latest prospect to come out of the renowned Next Gen gym in Liverpool, will look to extend his unbeaten record to 4-0 on Saturday night.

The featherweight fighter took home the honours of being Cage Warriors’ breakout fighter of the year in 2021 and currently holds a 100% KO rate, partially down to his outstanding striking ability and conditioning.

At CW 136, Riley showed he could overcome adversity after being put on the backfoot against Jack Eglin before striking a KO blow.
Cherif Larossi (1-1, 1 Submission) steps in for Scott Pedersen and will hope to be the first man to blot Riley’s impressive record, but it will be an uphill battle after accepting the bout on short notice.

All the Cage Warriors 142 action will be live on UFC Fight Pass from 5.30 pm BST on Saturday.

Main Card

Sam Creasey vs Stipe Brcic – flyweight title bout

Matt Bonner vs Oban Elliott – welterweight bout

Michelangelo Lupoli vs Aaron Aby – flyweight bout

Luke Riley vs Cherif Larossi – featherweight bout

Jasmine Favero vs Stephanie Evans – lightweight bout

Prelims

Erick Da Silva vs Chris Bungard – 161lbs catchweight bout

Sean McCormac vs Owain Williams – middleweight bout

Milton Cabral vs George McManus – 174lbs catchweight bout

Matty Byfield vs Szymon Szynkiewicz – light heavyweight bout

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Complete Raged UK MMA Fight Results

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: