European mixed martial arts promotion Cage Warriors returned to the Echo Arena for the second time in 2017. The Liverpudlian crowd showed their fine voice, turning up in large numbers to support their local mixed martial arts stars.
In the main event, Chris Fishgold put on a stunning, technical masterclass to defeat Norwegian Alexander Jacobsen inside the first round. Supported by his home crowd, Fishgold submitted the challenger with a rear-naked choke to defend his title for a record three times.
The champion was under pressure to perform, but certainly delivered on the big stage by dominating his opponent in all aspects. His boxing appears to have improved to the next level after almost a year without a fight.
Chris Fishgold gets the submission win AGAIN here at #CW88. What a beast. 👏😱
After the bout, he paid tribute to the crowd before announcing his intention to move to featherweight to take on the current champion Nad Narimani, who won the title by beating Fishgold’s teammate Paddy Pimblett earlier this year.
Lee Chadwick captured the vacant middleweight title, narrowly outpointing Sweden’s Victor Cheng over five rounds in the co-main event. It was a close, cagey affair and certainly not one to recommend watching back, with the rounds so close that a takedown or any output of strikes would be enough to steal the round.
Chadwick was delighted to clinch the title infront of his home crowd, with Cheng left dejected. The new champion had previously won a couple of bouts to earn a title shot and made sure that he was going home with the middleweight crown.
Soren Bak won in devastating fashion, submitting Mancunian Martin Stapleton with just over a minute to go in the first round. The Viking put on an incredible performance, demonstrating his pedigree as he moves to 10-1 and possibly into the title picture.
Female flyweight sensation Molly McCann outpointed experienced Brazilian Priscila de Souza over three rounds to secure three straight wins in a highly-entertaining bout to open the main card.
McCann struggled to deal with her opponent’s wrestling in the first round but came back to win both the second and third rounds with her high output to seal the victory in front of a massive crowd of support for the Evertonian.
Unbeaten Scottish featherweight Paull McBain extended his professional record to five perfect outings with a first-round stoppage of Mancunian Sam Spencer. McBain dropped Spencer in the first with a heavy strike and in the break, the doctor ordered the fight to be stopped.
Mick Stanton outwrestled Josh McManus to earn a victory on the judges’ scorecards. Stanton dominated the first two rounds before McManus locked in two tight submissions in the final round. Stanton managed to work his way out of it and earn the nod from the judges.
Jack Grant earned a first-round knockout victory over fellow lightweight Perry Goodwin. Grant utilised his muay-thai and finished with brutal knees dropping Goodwin to the canvas.
Australian Jack Della submitted James Duckett after sinking in a rear-naked choke, forcing the Englishman to tap. Della had previously come close to finishing Duckett inside the first round.
Cage Warriors will return to the Echo Arena on February 24th next year!
