5 Fights to Make Following Cage Warriors 74
by Chris Houten - @chrishoutenMMA
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| Credit Cage Warriors/ Dolly Clew |
Cage Warriors 74 is in the history books. After an impressive night for Scandinavia with Nicolas Dalby retaining his Welterweight title, Pannie Kianzad win the first ever Cage Warriors women's title, and a number of lightweights staking claim as the number 1 contender in the division, we take a look at some of the fights which could follow on from Cage Warriors 74.
Following Nicolas Dably’s impressive victory over a tough Mohsen Bahari, Cage Warriors CEO Graham said that Danny Roberts was the likely to be the next challenger for Dalby’s welterweight title, and there is not one many in the country that disagrees.
Since 2012, Roberts has been on a steady run of victories, which has seen him beat Jack Mason, Diego Gonzalez, Henry Fadipe, Juan Manuel Suarez, and most recently Jim Wallhead with an impressive 1st round TKO at Cage Warriors 68 in Liverpool. Roberts is without doubt the number one contender in the welterweight division.
At 13-0 with 2 big wins under the Cage Warriors banner Dalby has solidified himself as one of the very best Welterweight in Europe and its entirely possible Dalby may be offered a UFC contract after this win over Bahari especially with a card coming up in Sweden. If not, Dalby vs Roberts is a must.
With a host of lightweight battling it out last night to prove who was the number 1 contender, no one staked their claim more than Joe Duffy.
Since returning to MMA from a career as an undefeated professional boxer, Joe Duffy has impressed with a submission victory over Damien Lapilus at Cage Warriors 70, and one of the most brutal knockouts you will see all year against Julien Boussuge at last nights Cage Warriors 74.
With wins over current UFC high flyers, Conor McGregor and Norman Parke, Duffy has huge hype around him, and he is so far living up to that hype since his return. Likely on the cusp of a shot in the UFC himself, Duffy might need a signature win over a top 5 guy and Stevie Ray offers just that.
Ray himself not far off a shot in the UFC will no doubt be interested in a chance to kill the hype behind Duffy, and a fight between both men would certainly sell out a show in both Ireland and Scotland.
With no other lightweight making a better claim at a title shot against Ray, 2015 should see Stevie Ray put his belt on the line against the man from Donegal.
After putting in a dominant performance against Mick Sinclair to move to 3-0 under the Cage Warriors banner, Rogers isn’t too far of a shot at the light title. Although the SBG man looked impressive, unfortunately for him, Joe Duffy looked even more impressive in victory.
With Joe Duffy now the obvious challenger for Stevie Ray’s lightweight strap, a fight with Sean Carter who defeated Tim Wilde by submission in a fight of the year candidate, makes sense for both men. At 6-1 under the Cage Warriors banner and now riding a 3 fight win streak since being defeated in the lightweight title tournament by Stevie Ray at Cage Warriors 60, a fight Carter took as stand in for injured finalist Ivan Buchinger, Carter is certainly in title contention himself. A bout between both men might be just what each of them need to earn the title shot.
While Eeva Siiskonen certainly made a good account of herself coming in on a weeks notice to challenge Pannie Kianzad for the Women’s 135lb title, Siilskonen didn’t offer much that trouble the new champion and was defeated in a clear cut unanimous decision.
Kianzad has proven over the last 2 years, she is one of the best 135 women in Europe, and while she has won the title she may feel she needs to beat Agnieszska Niedzwiedz (7-0), her original opponent for the vacant bantamweight title before injury pull Niedzwiedz out of the fight, to prove she is the real champ.
When Niedzwiedz recovers from injury, she is the obvious opponent for Kianzad’s first defence.
With both Bola Omoyele and Leeroy Barnes pretty desperate for a win at this point in time in their career a battle between both men makes a lot of sense.
At 0-5 since signing for Cage Warriors back in 2013, questions have been asked if Barnes deserving of another fight under the Cage Warriors banner at this stage in his career, however to his credit he does have a huge following, and has never back down from a fight, and Ian Dean has certainly put him in with some really tough guys. He does really need a win in his next fight though.
Also ridding a pretty disappointing losing streak, Bola Omoyele will be forced to go back to the drawing board following last night lost to Andy Manzolo. While he is currently on a 3 fight losing streak, the skid doesn't tell the full story, as in all of those fights Omoyele has been been winning by a clear margin right up until the point where he loses. Omoyele is a good fighter, but he really needs a win to get himself back on track.
Both men being signed to the same management company could prove to be a stumbling block, but with both men having huge following Omoyele vs Barnes would actually be a pretty big fight, and its not often you can say that for guys who have a combined record of 0-8.
Nicolas Dalby vs Danny Roberts
Following Nicolas Dably’s impressive victory over a tough Mohsen Bahari, Cage Warriors CEO Graham said that Danny Roberts was the likely to be the next challenger for Dalby’s welterweight title, and there is not one many in the country that disagrees.
Since 2012, Roberts has been on a steady run of victories, which has seen him beat Jack Mason, Diego Gonzalez, Henry Fadipe, Juan Manuel Suarez, and most recently Jim Wallhead with an impressive 1st round TKO at Cage Warriors 68 in Liverpool. Roberts is without doubt the number one contender in the welterweight division.
At 13-0 with 2 big wins under the Cage Warriors banner Dalby has solidified himself as one of the very best Welterweight in Europe and its entirely possible Dalby may be offered a UFC contract after this win over Bahari especially with a card coming up in Sweden. If not, Dalby vs Roberts is a must.
Stevie Ray vs Joe Duffy
With a host of lightweight battling it out last night to prove who was the number 1 contender, no one staked their claim more than Joe Duffy.
Since returning to MMA from a career as an undefeated professional boxer, Joe Duffy has impressed with a submission victory over Damien Lapilus at Cage Warriors 70, and one of the most brutal knockouts you will see all year against Julien Boussuge at last nights Cage Warriors 74.
With wins over current UFC high flyers, Conor McGregor and Norman Parke, Duffy has huge hype around him, and he is so far living up to that hype since his return. Likely on the cusp of a shot in the UFC himself, Duffy might need a signature win over a top 5 guy and Stevie Ray offers just that.
Ray himself not far off a shot in the UFC will no doubt be interested in a chance to kill the hype behind Duffy, and a fight between both men would certainly sell out a show in both Ireland and Scotland.
With no other lightweight making a better claim at a title shot against Ray, 2015 should see Stevie Ray put his belt on the line against the man from Donegal.
Saul Rogers vs Sean Carter
After putting in a dominant performance against Mick Sinclair to move to 3-0 under the Cage Warriors banner, Rogers isn’t too far of a shot at the light title. Although the SBG man looked impressive, unfortunately for him, Joe Duffy looked even more impressive in victory.
With Joe Duffy now the obvious challenger for Stevie Ray’s lightweight strap, a fight with Sean Carter who defeated Tim Wilde by submission in a fight of the year candidate, makes sense for both men. At 6-1 under the Cage Warriors banner and now riding a 3 fight win streak since being defeated in the lightweight title tournament by Stevie Ray at Cage Warriors 60, a fight Carter took as stand in for injured finalist Ivan Buchinger, Carter is certainly in title contention himself. A bout between both men might be just what each of them need to earn the title shot.
Pannie Kianzad vs Agnieszska Niedzwiedz
While Eeva Siiskonen certainly made a good account of herself coming in on a weeks notice to challenge Pannie Kianzad for the Women’s 135lb title, Siilskonen didn’t offer much that trouble the new champion and was defeated in a clear cut unanimous decision.
Kianzad has proven over the last 2 years, she is one of the best 135 women in Europe, and while she has won the title she may feel she needs to beat Agnieszska Niedzwiedz (7-0), her original opponent for the vacant bantamweight title before injury pull Niedzwiedz out of the fight, to prove she is the real champ.
When Niedzwiedz recovers from injury, she is the obvious opponent for Kianzad’s first defence.
Bola Omoyele vs Leeroy Barnes
With both Bola Omoyele and Leeroy Barnes pretty desperate for a win at this point in time in their career a battle between both men makes a lot of sense.
At 0-5 since signing for Cage Warriors back in 2013, questions have been asked if Barnes deserving of another fight under the Cage Warriors banner at this stage in his career, however to his credit he does have a huge following, and has never back down from a fight, and Ian Dean has certainly put him in with some really tough guys. He does really need a win in his next fight though.
Also ridding a pretty disappointing losing streak, Bola Omoyele will be forced to go back to the drawing board following last night lost to Andy Manzolo. While he is currently on a 3 fight losing streak, the skid doesn't tell the full story, as in all of those fights Omoyele has been been winning by a clear margin right up until the point where he loses. Omoyele is a good fighter, but he really needs a win to get himself back on track.
Both men being signed to the same management company could prove to be a stumbling block, but with both men having huge following Omoyele vs Barnes would actually be a pretty big fight, and its not often you can say that for guys who have a combined record of 0-8.
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