LONDON – Cage Warriors returns to the BT Sport studios on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for its second invitation-only event, Cage Warriors Unplugged 2.
The night will feature a battle for the vacant Cage Warriors bantamweight title, with a four-man, one-night tournament set to crown a new 135-pound champion to follow in the footsteps of former champions Brett Johns, Nathaniel Wood and Jack Shore, who each went on to earn UFC contracts after their respective championship reigns.
Now four more fighters will do battle for the vacant title, with the semi-finals taking place on the preliminary card and the tournament final forming the night’s main event later in the evening.
Former title challengers Marko Kovacevic (11-2) and Josh Reed (9-3) will face off in one semi-final, with another former challenger, Scott Malone (6-2), set to take on undefeated contender Jack Cartwright (5-0) in the second semi.
Also on the card is a lightweight clash between Mehdi Ben Lakhadar (4-0) and Joe McColgan (5-2), while Cage Warriors veteran and former UFC welterweight Craig White (14-10) returns to action against Denmark’s Louis Glisman (5-1).
Follow along with up-to-date results here as they happen. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from MMA Junkie’s on-site reporter Simon Head (@simonhead).
MAIN CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 p.m. ET)
- Jack Cartwright def. Marko Kovacevic via KO (punches) – Round 1, 3:31 (for vacant Cage Warriors bantamweight title)
- Mehdi Ben Lakhdar vs. Joe McColgan scored a majority draw (29-27 [Ben Lakhdar], 28-28, 28-28)
- Louis Glisman def. Craig White via verbal submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:18
- Tom Mearns def. Decky McAleenan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Ian Garry def. Matteo Ceglia via KO (question-mark kick) – Round 2, 1:01
PRO PRELIMS (UFC Fight Pass, 1:30 p.m. ET)
- Paul Hughes def. Mateusz Makarowski via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:34
- Jack Cartwright def. Scott Malone via KO (punch) – Round 1, 0:49 (bantamweight tournament semi-final)
- Marko Kovacevic def. Josh Reed via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18 – bantamweight tournament semi-final)
- Ayton de Paepe def. Tanio Pagliariccio via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-17 – bantamweight tournament alternate bout)
