Last night in Newport, Wales Cage Warriors returned with a big night of fights. Unfortunately on Friday the main event was pulled from the fight as an injury to Gael Grimaud forced him out of his title shot against champ Nicolas Dalby. However with the card that was left you certainly wouldn't know the main event had been lost. What then took place was a great night of fighting in which a new bantamweight champion was crowned and the middleweight division may now have a new challenger for Jack Hermansson's belt.
Toni Tauru vs Cory Tait for the vacant Bantamweight World Title
With the vacant title on the line in this fight and its recent promotion to main event it was time for both men to put on a show in front of the Welsh fans.
Tauru made sure that he didn't give Tait any space to get off his explosive striking game which he has showcased in the past. Tauru controlled most of the fight, was happy to stand with Tait and when he got him down to the ground where he could shine was happy to take his time when it mattered. With three rounds down and Tauru probably three rounds up on the scorecards we went in to the championship rounds where Tauru again controlled the fight got it on to the ground where he took Tait's back. From this position he waited for the perfect opportunity before advancing his position until he trapped Tait's right arm with his leg to prevent Tait from being able to defend the rear naked choke. As soon as he locked it in it was only a matter of time and at 4:49 of round 4 a new champion was crowned and Cage Warriors has another Scandinavian champion.
Toni Tauru def. Cory Tait via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 4:49 Round 4
Jack Marshman vs Che Mills
Before the event started this was my pick for fight of the night and boy did it deliver.
The first round started as many thought with Mills going for the leg kicks and carried on with some crazy exchanges in which both men got rocked and Marshman ended up cut above his right eye. Both men were pushing for takedown attempts with Mills getting Marshman down before being reversed. It was a very good round by these two warriors who were leaving it all in the cage in Newport and the fans were certainly enjoying what they was seeing.
Che comes out again in the second and works the front leg with some more leg kicks before both men open up again and start swinging with all they could looking for the finish. As the second round got just past the one minute mark Marshman lands a huge blow which takes rocks Mills who goes down. Marshman doesn't waste this opportunity and charges in timing perfectly another huge shot on the downed Mills before finishing the fight with ground and pound.
The crowd went wild and Marshman proved once again that he is a hero to these fans. It may not have been the biggest of arenas but the Welsh crowd made it a great atmosphere and are pound for pound up there with some of the best fans I've heard.
This was a massive win for Marshman who has now won four of his last five fights but could missing weight have cost him the shot at the title?
Jack Marshman def. Che Mills via TKO 1:32 Round 2
Mateusz Gamrot vs Tim Newman
Undefeated Polish prospect Mateusz Gamrot stepped in to this fight on just over a weeks notice and you certainly couldn't tell. Gamrot came prepared and proved to the UK crowd why he is the Polish #3 Ranked lightweight making quick work of the hometown fighter finishing Newman with a brutal heel hook in just over 90 seconds. This took his record to 7-0 and he really looks like one for the future.
Mateusz Gamrot def. Tim Newman via Submission (Heel Hook) 1:37 Round 1
Steve Dinsdale vs Lew Long
This was certainly a fight of two halves, in round one Dinsdale had the better round tagging and rocking Long with a big shot, which still had Long wobbling at the post fight interviews and sent Long in to defensive mode to stay in the fight for the round. Then in round two when the fight hit the mat it was Long who took over the fight attempting numerous submission attempts before finally finishing the fight with his punches to get a hard earned TKO victory.
Lew Long def. Steve Dinsdale via TKO 2:45 Round 2
Jordan Desborough vs Kris Edwards
This fight had both men coming in to the fight on losing streaks and a win was crucial if they are serious about working there way back in to title contention. Desborough controlled the fight from start to finish in a very technical affair with most of the action coming against the fence. Desborough was clearly the stronger fighter and had a solid performance for a guy returning to the cage for his first fight in 10 months. Now it's time for Desborough to build on this win and banish some of the demons from his previous fight against Martin Sheridan.
Jordan Desborough def. Kris Edwards via Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Azi Thomas vs Mario Saeed
For a fight which was made 6 hours before the weigh ins it had a lot of attention on it due to a clash at the weigh ins. Saeed was controlling the action early getting the take downs but it was when the fight hit the floor that the talking point happened. Thomas from the bottom threw and landed an illegal up kick which caught Saeed in the head. What happened after is open for discussion but as far as was concerned, Saeed was unable to fight anymore and the fight was over.
Mario Saeed def. Azi Thomas via DQ (illegal up kick) 3:52 Round 1
Nick Nembhard vs Simon Norkus
This was largely a uneventful affair which saw very little action between both guys with a lot of punches thrown and missed but in the end the judges gave it in favour of Nembhard by split decision.
Nick Nembhard def. Simon Norkus via Split Decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Paulina Bonkowska vs Kate Jackson
Both women came in to the fight making their Cage Warriors debuts and it was the English fighter who took to the new stage with ease. Jackson was dominant in this fight lighting up Bonkowska with strikes against the cage and just as the ref was coming in to stop the fight Bonkowska's corner had seen enough and also threw in the towell. A great performance from Jackson.
Kate Jackson def. Paulina Bonkowska via TKO 4:05 Round 1
Non Streamed Prelims
Phil Raeburn def. Damien Weedon via TKO 3:15 Round 1LJ Adams def. Amanda Kelly via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 3:33 Round 3
Amateur Fights
Jack Shore def. Simon Maksimovic via Unanimous Decision 30-26, 30-26, 30-26Aidan James def. Sean Scrivens via Submission (armbar) 2:31 Round 2
Ryan Legge def. Lawrence Tracey via Submission (triangle) 1:25 Round 3
Ian Dalby def. Ben Harrison via Submission (triangle) 2:42 Round 1
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