Tag: Morgan Charriere

Morgan Charriere ready to make up for lost time after he missed out on first UFC Paris event

Morgan Charriere didn’t get the call from the UFC when the promotion came to France for the first time. Now he’s ready to make up for it.

PARIS – [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] didn’t get the call from the UFC when the promotion came to France for the first time in 2022. Now he’s ready to make up for it.

Charriere (18-9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) takes on Manolo Zecchini (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a featherweight bout Saturday in Paris. It’s a year to the weekend after the UFC’s debut in the “City of Lights,” and at the time, Charriere was less than a year removed from a Cage Warriors interim featherweight title loss.

But after that, he went on a three-fight winning streak for Cage Warriors, including back-to-back stoppage wins earlier this year. Now he has his shot at the UFC.

Charriere talked about that and more at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 226 media day in Paris.

Check out the full interview in the video above. UFC Fight Night 226 takes place Saturday at Accor Arena and is the UFC’s second visit to France. The event streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 226.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 31-Aug. 6)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by a promotion from July 31-Aug. 6.

UFC signs French star Morgan Charriere ahead of Paris event

The UFC has signed Morgan Charriere, a former Cage Warriors champion and arguably the biggest star on the French regional scene.

“The Last Pirate” has hit shore on his voyage to the UFC.

French MMA star [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] has signed with the UFC, the promotion confirmed on social media Wednesday following an initial report by Maitres Fumiers.

One of the most popular fighters in all of Western Europe, Charriere (18-9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has grown a significant online presence not only through his fights – but through Twitch. Charriere served as a trainer for star Twitch user Kamet0 in a publicized weight loss attempt and gained notoriety in the online gaming community. Charriere has since expanded his brand on his YouTube channel as well.

It is unclear when Charriere will make his UFC debut, but with a UFC Fight Night event Sept. 2 in Paris, it could be less than two months away. In fact, that’s what he was told when he found out he was going to the UFC.

Charriere, 27, has 13 finishes in 18 career victories. He briefly held the Cage Warriors featherweight title in 2020 but was unsuccessful in his first defense, a controversial decision dropped against Jordan Vucenic. The defeat was followed by a loss to Paul Hughes. Since the skid, Charriere has won three straight fights.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the UFC Fight Night on Sept. 2.

Cage Warriors 128 results: Paul Hughes claims interim belt in classic with Morgan Charriere

Paul Hughes’ superior grappling was the difference in claiming interim featherweight gold against Morgan Charriere at Cage Warriors 128.

[autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag]’ superior grappling was the difference in claiming interim featherweight gold against [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] in Friday’s Cage Warriors 128 main event.

The second headliner of Cage Warriors’ three-event weekend saw Hughes (8-1) put his pressure fighting and grappling to work to rack up points over the course of five rounds and net a majority decision over Charriere (17-9-1) by scores of 48-46, 47-47 and 49-45

Cage Warriors 128 took place at York Hall in London. The entire event streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

The first round was high intensity as both men came out throwing big strikes and exchanging grappling positions against the clinch and briefly on the ground.

Things picked up right where they left off in the second frame, with Charriere charging after Hughes and looking to take the fight to the ground. Hw ent for a submission attempt that left him in bottom position, but found his way up and fought from there.

The momentum started to swing significantly in the favor of Hughes in the third round. He landed a hard punch and subsequently found massive success in the grappling department, establishing top position and working to finish Charriere from the mount and back control. Charriere hung tough, though, and avoided a stoppage.

As the fight spilled over into the championship rounds, Charriere had bad swelling around his right eye. Hughes went hunting for it with head shots, but wasted no time trying to take the fight back to the ground, too. He spent the majority of the frame controlling from on top, securing another round in his favor.

With the fight seemingly in the bag for Hughes going into the final frame, Charriere showed some desperation in the form of some heavy strikes. He tagged Hughes with some of his best punches of the fight, but the pressure of Hughes caused him some issues until the final belt.

With the win, Hughes claimed interim 145-pound gold and put himself in position for a title unification contest with Jordan Vucenic (8-1).

Complete Cage Warriors 128 results include:

  • Paul Hughe def. Morgan Charriere via majority decision (48-46, 47-47, 49-45) – for interim featherweight title
  • [autotag]Jesse Urholin[/autotag] def. [autotag]Ioannis Palaiologos[/autotag] via TKO (strikes – Round 2, 3:36
  • [autotag]Michele Martignoni[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Adam Amarasinghe[/autotag] ruled a no contest (eye poke) – Round 2, 1:48
  • [autotag]Gerardo Fanny[/autotag] def. [autotag]Liam Gittins[/autotag] via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:32
  • [autotag]James Sheehan[/autotag] def. [autotag]Omeil Brown[/autotag] via split decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-29)
  • [autotag]Aidan James[/autotag] def. [autotag]Philippe Rouch[/autotag] via TKO (elbows) – Round 2, 1:06
  • [autotag]Luke Riley[/autotag] def. [autotag]Kamil Wincenciak[/autotag] via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:39

Morgan Charriere vs. Paul Hughes interim featherweight title fight headlines Cage Warriors 128

An interim Cage Warriors title will be on the line this fall.

An interim Cage Warriors title will be on the line this fall.

With champion Jordan Vucenic still sidelined with an injury, [autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag] (7-1) will take on former champ [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] (16-8-1) for the interim featherweight belt in the Cage Warriors 128 main event, the promotion announced Monday.

Cage Warriors 128 takes place Oct. 1 at York Hall in London. The card streams on UFC Fight Pass and will be the second night of the promotion’s latest “trilogy” series, in which it puts on cards on three straight nights.

“It’s a shame that Jordan Vucenic is still injured, but the division must move forward,” Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan stated. “Hughes vs Charriere will decide our interim champion, which works out perfectly, seeing as both men want to avenge losses to Vucenic in the future.”

The only loss of Hughes’ career came against Vucenic in December 2020 by split decision. Hughes had a perfect 6-0 start to his career with six finishes before the setback at Cage Warriors 119. Vucenic got a title shot against Charriere after the win and took the belt.

“I wasn’t impressed by (Charriere’s) performance against Jordan,” Hughes stated. “I called him boring for a reason. He was stalling a lot, and I wasn’t impressed by him at all. When it comes to our fight, there’ll be no stalling at all. I’ll be putting a pace on him and getting a finish in the fourth or fifth round.”

Charriere stopped Perry Andre Goodwin with a third-round TKO at Cage Warriors 119 to win the vacant featherweight belt. It gave him a three-fight winning streak. But against Vucenic in his first title defense at Cage Warriors 122 in March, he dropped a split call – and the belt along with it.

A rematch between Charriere and Vucenic for Cage Warriors 124 before Vucenic’s injury shut the fight down.

“This fight is the road back to my title,” Charriere stated. “I don’t care about the interim title, the opponent or anything. I’m just focusing on winning and putting on a performance.”

Cage Warriors 122: Jordan Vucenic edges Morgan Charriere, captures featherweight title in London

England’s Jordan Vucenic went toe to toe with rising French star Morgan Charriere for five rounds and came out victorious as the man known as “The Epidemic” claimed a split-decision win, and the featherweight title, at Cage Warriors 122 in London. …

England’s [autotag]Jordan Vucenic[/autotag] went toe to toe with rising French star [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] for five rounds and came out victorious as the man known as “The Epidemic” claimed a split-decision win, and the featherweight title, at Cage Warriors 122 in London.

Vucenic (8-1) started strongly and used his range and jab to good effect to bank the early rounds against reigning champion Charriere (16-8-1), who was making his first defense of the title. The Frenchman upped his intensity through the middle rounds and briefly stunned the challenger, but he was unable to shake the composure of the 25-year-old, who dealt with everything the champion threw at him and kept firing back over the full five-round duration to earn the split-decision win with scores of 46-49, 48-47, 48-47 from the cageside judges at York Hall.

“I put everything that I’ve got into this sport. I love it, man. I don’t have a life outside of it. I put so much into it, it’s nice to get (the belt). It’s been a lifelong dream,” he said after his victory.

“I just treated it like sparring. It might look like I was being cocky to people at home when I talk and smile, but I just love being in there. It was just amazing to be in there. That was the best I’ve ever felt in there, as well. No pent-up emotion, no nothing.”

When it was suggested that a potential matchup with former featherweight champ Paddy Pimblett could be a possibility, Vucenic instead highlighted the fighter he thinks should get the first shot at his title.

Vucenic defeated Paul Hughes via split decision at Cage Warriors 119 to earn his shot at the title, and the Irishman bounced back from that loss on Thursday with a unanimous decision win over James Hendin. Now Vucenic says the time is right for a rematch, with the title on the line.

“Listen, I’m the champion, I’ve gotta fight whoever,” he said. “I like Paddy, but I think we all know who’s next in line, and I’m not going to deny who’s next in line, and it is Paul Hughes. I’m not going to shy away from anybody, I’m not scared of defending it against anybody. He deserves it, so he’ll get the shot.”

https://twitter.com/CageWarriors/status/1373403109549039624

Cage Warriors 122 live results

France’s Morgan Charriere puts his featherweight title on the line on the final leg of Cage Warriors’ first “Trilogy” event of 2021.

The final leg of Cage Warriors’ first “Trilogy” series of 2021 features one of the biggest rising stars of European MMA as he looks to defend his newly won title.

France’s [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] (16-7-1) captured the Cage Warriors featherweight title with a body-shot knockout of Perry Goodwin at Cage Warriors 119 in December and now “The Last Pirate” will return to action at Cage Warriors 122 as he puts his belt on the line for the first time against top contender, England’s [autotag]Jordan Vucenic[/autotag] (7-1), in the main event.

Also set to return is another of Cage Warriors’ most recognizable stars. Former featherweight champion [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] (15-3) is has his sights set on a UFC contract, and will be looking to deliver another irresistible performance when he takes on Italy’s [autotag]Davide Martinez[/autotag] (8-2) in the co-main event.

Cage Warriors 122 takes place Saturday at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. The card streams on UFC Fight Pass.

Full Cage Warriors 122 results include:

MAIN CARD (4:00 p.m. ET, UFC Fight Pass)

  • Champ Morgan Charriere vs. Jordan Vucenic – for featherweight title
  • Davide Martinez vs. Paddy Pimblett
  • Tobias Harila vs. Aidan Stephen
  • Brian Bouland vs. Liam Gittins
  • Corrin Eaton vs. Jean N’Doye

PRELIMINARY CARD (2:30 p.m. ET, UFC Fight Pass)

  • Nathan Fletcher vs. Michele Martignoni
  • Yassine Belhadj vs. Tom Mearns
  • Nicolas Leblond vs. Darren O’Gorman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CjpxuSlLJY

Cage Warriors signs featherweight champion Morgan Charriere to exclusive deal

Cage Warriors featherweight champion Morgan Charriere has signed an exclusive deal with the U.K.-based promotion.

One of the hottest prospects in European MMA has committed his immediate fighting future to Cage Warriors.

French featherweight [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] captured the Cage Warriors 145-pound title and was named the promotion’s 2020 Fighter of the Year following his body-shot knockout of Perry Goodwin at Cage Warriors 119 last December.

Now the 25-year-old has signed an exclusive three-fight contract with the U.K.-based promotion, and is set to make his return to action during the upcoming “Trilogy” series in London in March.

Charriere (16-7-1) will face top contender Jordan Vucenic (7-1) in the main event of Cage Warriors 122 on Saturday, March 20 in the final event of the promotion’s three-night run at York Hall.

“Cage Warriors are committed to showcasing the best European fighting talent, so I am delighted that Morgan will continue to compete under our banner,” said Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan, via press release.

“As a fan-favorite and our featherweight champion, he is integral to our plans in France, and we are working hard to give our army of French supporters the chance to watch him live in action.

“However, he has a tough fight against Jordan Vucenic on March 20th, first, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out.”

Cage Warriors 120, 121 and 122 take place from March 18-20 at York Hall, London. All three events will stream on UFC Fight Pass.

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Cage Warriors 119 live results

Follow the action with MMA Junkie’s live results and recaps as U.K. promotion Cage Warriors rounds out its “Trilogy Strikes Back” series.

The final night of Cage Warriors’ three-night residency at London’s York Hall is upon us, and the U.K. promotion has stacked the deck with two title fights topping a packed card of fights in the English capital.

The main event of Cage Warriors 119 will see a new featherweight champion crowned, as France’s [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag] takes on England’s [autotag]Perry Goodwin[/autotag] for the vacant 145-pound belt.

There’s championship gold up for grabs in the co-main event, too, with [autotag]Jack Grant[/autotag] set to take on [autotag]Agy Sardari[/autotag] for the vacant Cage Warriors lightweight title.

Also on the main card, rising Irish featherweight [autotag]Paul Hughes[/autotag] returns to action against fellow prospect [autotag]Jordan Vucenic[/autotag], while another emerging prospect from Ireland, [autotag]Ian Garry[/autotag], takes on [autotag]Lawrence Tracey[/autotag] at 170 pounds.

Follow the results with MMA Junkie through the night via our live results and recaps below.

Morgan Charriere, Max Coga to face off for vacant featherweight strap at Cage Warriors 116

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.

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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.