Mixed fortunes for former champions at Cage Warriors 137 and 138
Two former Cage Warriors middleweight champions headlined the promotion's double-header in Colchester, but only one of them emerged with a victory on an explosive weekend of fights in Essex.
Former Cage Warriors middleweight champions Matthew Bonner and James Webb headlined Cage Warriors 137 and 138, respectively, but experienced contrasting fortunes on a wild weekend of fights at Charter Hall, Colchester.
Friday night saw Cage Warriors 137, where Bonner produced a superb performance to score a second-round submission finish of France's Joel Kouadja.
But fellow ex-champ Webb had a night to forget as he was knocked out in the first round by Italy's Leon Aliu in the Cage Warriors 138 headliner on Saturday night.
Both events featured a feast of finishes, with eight of the total 11 bouts ending inside the distance.
Among the standout performers from the double-header were England's Adam Cullen, who produced another eye-catching performance to finish Arnaud Kherfallah via first-round anaconda choke on Friday, while former flyweight champion Luke Shanks announced himself as a legitimate threat to the bantamweight title with a first-round submission of Josh Reed on Saturday.
There were also standout performances from former IMMAF world amateur champion Shoiab Yousaf, who knocked out Michal Folc with vicious knees in the first round, and Wales' Oban Elliott, who defeated Herkus Lukosiunas.
Cage Warriors 137: Official Results
Matthew Bonner def. Joel Kouadja via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:44
Daan Duijs def. Bogdan Barbu via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:55
Adam Cullen def. Arnaud Kherfallah via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 1:21
Tanio Pagliariccio def. Benoit Blanc via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Shoaib Yousaf def. Michal Folc via knockout (knees) – Round 1, 2:37
Omran Chaaban def. Jack Dedames via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 4:07
Cage Warriors 138: Official Results
Leon Aliu def. James Webb via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:42
Luke Shanks def. Josh Reed via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:41
Tom Mearns def. Orlando Wilson Prins via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Oban Elliott def. Herkus Lukosiunas via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:37
George Tanasa vs. Scott Pedersen ruled a unanimous draw (via technical decision: 28-28, 28-28, 28-27)
Photo credit: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors