Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Cage Warriors 116 results: Mason Jones becomes double champion, calls for UFC lightweight chance
Cage Warriors’ upcoming “Trilogy” events in Manchester have received official approval from the U.K. government.
Cage Warriors’ upcoming triple-header in Manchester is set to make history in more ways than one.
The U.K.-based promotion’s “Trilogy” events, which will take place on Sept. 24, 25 and 26 at the BEC Arena, represent the first time the promotion has hosted back-to-back events across three days. But, more significantly, the upcoming events have received something no other U.K. MMA promotion or event has ever had before – official government approval.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-changing guidelines regarding public gatherings and event protocols, the promotion applied to the U.K. government to get their three-night run rubber-stamped by lawmakers in Westminster.
The resulting approval, signed off by the U.K. government’s Secretary of State Grant Shapps, permits elite sportspersons taking part in government-specified events to be permitted exemptions to the standard self-isolation requirements upon their arrival in the U.K.
Under this week’s amendment, Cage Warriors’ upcoming shows have been officially added to the list of approved events, along with two championship boxing cards, an under-18 British Gymnastics meet and a Matchroom Snooker event.
[lawrence-related id=536041,529663,529650]
The approval not only means Cage Warriors’ event is cleared to go ahead with full government approval, it also represents the first time the U.K. government has officially recognized the sport of MMA.
While MMA is governed by state athletic commissions in the United States, the sport remains unregulated by the U.K. government. The English Mixed Martial Arts Association (EMMAA) has been established under the global IMMAF umbrella to help promote best practices for organizations holding events in the U.K., while Safe MMA was set up as a voluntary organization to provide third-party medical screening and record-keeping services, as well as to act a point of information and medical advice for athletes competing in the U.K. and Ireland.
However, Cage Warriors’ official recognition via the government’s COVID-19 event legislation represents a notable landmark for the sport in the U.K.
Cage Warriors 114, 115 and 116 take place Sept 24, 25 and 26 at the BEC Arena, Manchester. All three events will stream live worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.
[vertical-gallery id=501964]
Lightweight champion Mason Jones will take on Adam Proctor for the vacant welterweight title at Cage Warriors 116.
Cage Warriors lightweight champion [autotag]Mason Jones[/autotag] will chase “champ champ” status when he returns to action on September 26.
The promotion confirmed Monday that “The Dragon,” who captured the promotion’s lightweight title last time out with a first-round knockout of Joe McColgan at Cage Warriors 113 in March, will move up a weight class to challenge for the vacant 170-pound title against top welterweight contender [autotag]Adam Proctor[/autotag] at Cage Warriors 116.
Undefeated Jones (9-0) will get the chance to add his name to a shortlist of fighters who have captured Cage Warriors gold in two weight classes, with Dan Hardy and Conor McGregor achieving the feat before heading on to compete at the sport’s highest level in the UFC.
“Adding the welterweight title to my lightweight belt is going to cement my legacy as a Cage Warriors legend,” said Jones, via press release.
[lawrence-related id=501995,501452,541891]
“Being the first Welsh fighter and only the second since McGregor to win two titles is something that I have no doubt will catapult me to the UFC, especially on a night which is set to make history as one of the biggest ever for European MMA.”
Jones faces a stiff test of his welterweight credentials, however. Proctor (12-1) hasn’t lost since 2016 and is riding a seven-fight win streak heading into Manchester next month. “The Love Doctor” will be hoping to prescribe a first career defeat for Jones, who says he plans on making it as short a night as possible when the pair face off for the vacant title.
“Proctor is an extremely dangerous opponent with a lot to offer,” the lightweight champion admitted. “Overall, I know I’m going to be the better fighter everywhere and will be looking to get him out of there early.”
Cage Warriors 114, 115 and 116 will take place on successive nights from September 24-26 at the BEC Arena in Manchester. All three shows will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
France’s Morgan Charriere and Germany’s Max Coga will do battle for the newly-vacated featherweight title at Cage Warriors 116 in Manchester.
Cage Warriors has wasted no time in addressing the departure to Bellator of their featherweight champion Mads Burnell, by booking a fight for the vacant strap at the organization’s upcoming triple-header.
The U.K. promotion announced Thursday that the newly-vacated 145-pound title will be contested by French contender [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] and promotional newcomer [autotag]Max Coga[/autotag] at Cage Warriors 116 on Saturday, Sep. 26 at the BEC Arena, Manchester, England.
After losing his Cage Warriors debut by majority decision, Charriere (15-7-1) picked up back-to-back wins against Lewis Monarch and Dean Trueman to establish himself as a legitimate contender for Cage Warriors’ 145-pound title. His knockout of former champion Trueman at Cage Warriors 109 cemented the Frenchman’s title credentials and claimed the promotion’s Knockout of the Year award in the process.
[lawrence-related id=541500,539954,536041]
Charriere said: “I’ve worked so much to get this title shot and the opportunity to become Cage Warriors featherweight champion. You guys are in for a hell of a fight.”
Now “The Last Pirate” will take on 31-year-old German Coga (22-6-1), who has finished 19 of his 22 wins inside the distance, with 11 of them coming via submission. “Mad” Max has lost just twice since 2015 – against Timur Valiev and Lance Palmer during a stint with the PFL in 2018 – but heads to Manchester riding a two-fight win streak, thanks to a pair of victories on the regional circuit in Germany.
“I can’t wait to win another prestigious belt while entertaining an international crowd,” said Coga. “This fight has chaos and violence written all over it.”
“Cage Warriors: The Trilogy” features three events in three days at the BEC Arena in Manchester. Cage Warriors 114, 115 and 116 will be held on September 24, 25 and 26, with all three shows set to be streamed live globally on UFC Fight Pass.
Cage Warriors will return this fall with an ambitious triple-header in England.
Cage Warriors will return this fall with an ambitious triple-header in England.
Cage Warriors 114, Cage Warriors 115 and Cage Warriors 116 will take place on three consecutive days on Sept. 24, 25 and 26 at BEC Arena in Manchester. Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan previously revealed the plan to MMA Junkie, but the promotion made it official Friday.
The events will be Cage Warriors’ first since Cage Warriors 113 took place March 20 in Manchester just as most of the world was starting to shut down due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve pulled off big events before, but this is something else entirely,” Boylan stated. “(We’ll have) all our biggest names across one weekend. We’re leaving no stone unturned.
“It’s taken a lot of planning, but we’re ready to get back on the road. We’re back to doing what we do best, and that’s showcasing Europe’s best talent and providing the proven pathway to the top.”
[lawrence-related id=529663,529650,528388]
No actual fights have been announced for the trio of shows, but the promotion said lightweight champion Mason Jones, bantamweight champ Jack Cartwright, flyweight titleholder Samir Faiddine and middleweight champ Nathias Frederick will put their titles on the line. Plus, standouts like Paddy Pimblett, Morgan Charriere, Rhys McKee and Adam Proctor also are expected to be part of the lineups.
The series of events, which Cage Warriors has dubbed “The Trilogy,” will take place without fans in attendance at BEC Arena. The events will stream on UFC Fight Pass.
[vertical-gallery id=501964]
