Fight Network Presents Cage Warriors 73 LIVE This Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. ET

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release TORONTO (Oct. 30, 2014) -- Fight Network, the world's premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents the return of Cage Warriors Fighting Championship action with a bang this Saturday, Nov. 1, with two Cage Warriors 73 main cards headlined by world championship fights set to begin at 2 p.m. ET, emanating from Newcastle, England's Metro Radio Arena. Fight Network's live broadcast will air on Cablevision's Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Headlining the first main card set for 2 p.m. ET, Alex Enlund battles Nad Narimani for the vacant Cage Warriors featherweight title. In other featured bouts, Moktar Benkaci meets Ronnie Mann,Leeroy Barnes takes on Kyle Redfearn, Liam James throws down with Dean Trueman, Ellis Hampson squares off with Lewis Monarch, plus Mark Connor and Ian Malone kick off the televised festivities. The action heats up with the second main card set for 5 p.m. ET, as Stevie Ray defends the Cage Warriors lightweight strap against Curt Warburton. The co-feature pits Juan Manuel Suarezagainst Jim Wallhead, while other contests include Shaj Haque vs. Damien Rooney, Matt Inmanvs. Lewis Long, Brett Caswell vs. Marcin Lasota and Stephen Martin vs. Paddy Pimblett. Enlund (10-2-0-1nc), who'll have the benefit of vocal home support as a native of the north-east of England, has accumulated a 4-1 record since joining CWFC. After a move to bantamweight in March 2013 was aborted following a difficult weight-cut and subsequent loss to Martin McDonough, Enlund has looked extremely impressive, embarking on a three-fight win-streak. The 27-year-old jiu-jitsu specialist rebounded with wins over Sebastian Romanowski and Danny Lawson, before disposing of Artem Lobov at CWFC 65 in Dublin earlier this year. Nine of his ten wins have come by way of submission, and Enlund has been taken out of the first round just once in his professional career. "Fighting for the CWFC world title is an absolutely massive opportunity for me," Enlund said."Winning this belt, especially in front of a home crowd at the Metro Radio Arena, would be a huge achievement. Nad Narimani is a good opponent and someone I've seen a lot of, so I'm looking forward to testing my skills against a well-rounded competitor and bringing the belt home." Narimani (7-1) has risen rapidly through the rankings having made his professional debut just over three years ago, starting with a 5-0 run that included notable victories against Marcin Wrzosek and Karsten Lenjoint. The 27-year-old Englishman then kicked off his CWFC career against future title challenger Graham Turner in July 2013, but was edged out via split decision, tasting defeat for the only time in his career so far. But Narimani, who has taken five of his seven wins by stoppage, returned to winning ways courtesy of first-round submissions of previously-undefeated pair Theo Michailidis and Benjamin Brander. Narimani, who hails from Bristol, said: "This is a huge event and opportunity for me, and I'm proud to be getting this chance to show what I can really do against a very highly-ranked opponent. I've been working extremely hard so you can expect me to showcase some new skills and come away with another big win in Newcastle on November 1." Enlund and Narimani will be vying for a title that was most recently held by Jim Alers, who vacated the belt earlier this year after two successful defenses prior to his move to the UFC. Ray (15-5) is currently in his second stint as CWFC lightweight world champion, having first clinched the belt courtesy of wins over Jason Ball and Sean Carter in CWFC's four-man, one-night lightweight title tournament at CWFC 60 in October 2013. The 24-year-old relinquished the strap following a fourth-round submission defeat to Ivan Buchinger last New Year's Eve at CWFC 63 in Dublin, but the title returned to Scotland in June after Ray exacted revenge against Warburton. "I'm looking forward to defending my belt, particularly in Curt's hometown," said Ray. "It's not too far from home for me either, so you can expect an invasion of Scottish fans and a crazy atmosphere." Warburton (13-5) signed to compete exclusively for Cage Warriors Fighting Championship last year, and made a successful debut for the promotion at CWFC 62 with of a first-round submission of Wesley Murch. A three-fight veteran of the UFC, 33-year-old Warburton has put together a 6-2 record since his departure from the UFC following a defeat to Joe Lauzon in June 2011. Warburton said: "The judges won't save Stevie Ray this time. I'm going to put things right in Newcastle on November 1." The full fight card for Cage Warriors 73 live on Fight Network includes: Part 1 (2 p.m. ET) -Alex Enlund vs. Nad Narimani - vacant CWFC featherweight world title bout -Moktar Benkaci vs. Ronnie Mann -Leeroy Barnes vs. Kyle Redfearn -Liam James vs. Dean Trueman -Ellis Hampson vs. Lewis Monarch -Mark Connor vs. Ian Malone Part 2 (5 p.m. ET) -Stevie Ray (c) vs. Curt Warburton - CWFC lightweight world title bout -Juan Manuel Suarez vs. Jimmy Wallhead -Shaj Haque vs. Damien Rooney -Matt Inman vs. Lewis Long -Brett Caswell vs. Marcin Lasota -Stephen Martin vs. Paddy Pimblett For a full listing of Fight Network's broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com and follow on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

TOP STARS REAFFIRM THEIR COMMITMENT TO CAGE WARRIORS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 7, 2014 Seven of Cage Warriors Fighting Championship's top athletes, including undefeated CWFC welterweight world champion Nicolas Dalby have penned brand new deals with the promotion.   (London, United Kingdom | Monday, July 7, 2014) - Seven of Cage Warriors Fighting Championship’s leading athletes have committed to extending their tenures with the promotion. New contracts have been signed by Nicolas Dalby (pictured), Danny Roberts, Mohsen Bahari, Bruno Carvalho, Dave Hill, Alex Enlund and Ronnie Mann, which will tie them exclusively to CWFC for a further five fights after their respective current deals expire. CWFC chiefs are currently in the process of negotiating contracts with both new and existing fighters, as the promotion continues its development and expansion ahead of a busy schedule of events in the second half of 2014 – and beyond. “To have seven fighters of this calibre renewing their commitment to Cage Warriors tells its own story,” said Cage Warriors Fighting Championship CEO Graham Boylan. “It’s a clear indication that we’re a promotion top fighters want to be a part of, and that Cage Warriors is the place to be for fighters who possess the ambition to take a legitimate route to the top of this sport. “We have a proven track record of creating stars and we’ll continue to do that – but on an even grander scale than before. When fighters commit to this promotion, we commit to doing what’s best for them and their careers. “We’ve shown that on countless occasions in recent years and that remains our policy. If you’re a fighter with genuine long-term goals and loyalty to the promotion, we’ll reward you by providing you with the opportunities you deserve and require to achieve those goals.” Undefeated Nicolas Dalby (12-0), the reigning CWFC welterweight world champion, will defend his title shortly following March’s stunning KO of Sergei Churilov in the main event at CWFC 66 in his native Denmark. Fellow welterweight Danny Roberts (11-1), who recently overcame Jimmy Wallhead in the CWFC 68 headliner in Liverpool, has accumulated a 6-0 record under the CWFC banner, giving him the longest current winning streak of any fighter on the roster. Mohsen Bahari (8-1) is another top contender for the 170lbs strap, having picked up his fourth CWFC victory at CWFC 69: Super Saturday in London last month when he edged out three-time UFC veteran Benny Alloway. This year has seen Bruno Carvalho (15-9) drop decision losses to Mohsen Bahari and Jack Mason, but the experienced BJJ black belt remains a major player in the CWFC welterweight division. Following back-to-back wins over Brian Moore and Miguel Haro, Dave Hill (12-3) is moving closer to another shot at the CWFC featherweight crown, as he aims to make amends for his 2012 defeat to Conor McGregor. Alex Enlund (10-2-0-1nc) has also climbed towards the summit of the 145lbs division and, with a trio of consecutive submission wins under his belt, the 27-year-old will be aiming to affirm his title credentials when he returns from injury. In spite of his slip-up against Marcelo Costa at CWFC 68 in May, Ronnie Mann (23-7-1) is still very much in bantamweight title contention and will be keen to pick up his third CWFC victory when he returns to action with a view to contesting the vacant belt in the near future. Graham Boylan added: “The seven fighters who have inked new deals have all been exemplary professionals, both inside and outside the cage, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with them as we move forward together as a promotion.” - ENDS - For the latest Cage Warriors Fighting Championship news and updates, keep track of us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View past CWFC action, free and on-demand, online via Cage Warriors TV. Photo: Nicolas Dalby - Dolly Clew for CWFC (high-resolution images available upon request)

www.CageWarriors.com CAGE WARRIORS FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP is Europe's leading and longest-running mixed martial arts promotion. An Irish-owned brand with offices in the UK, Ireland and Jordan, CWFC is the sport's fastest-growing organisation, having staged 80 events in 12 countries across three different continents since its establishment in 2002. Home to some of biggest stars of MMA's past, present and future, Cage Warriors' broadcast footprint spans 140 million homes worldwide via a network of partners that includes Channel 4, FOX Sports, ESPN, Viasat and Setanta Sports.

Cage Warriors signs UK & Ireland broadcast deals

London, England (June 26, 2013) - Cage Warriors Fighting Championship is pleased to confirm that it has penned deals with Premier Sports and Setanta Sports, which will see the broadcasters carry all CWFC events for the remainder of 2013.

Cage Warriors main cards, featuring stars like Jim Alers, Ronnie Mann and Che Mills, will air live throughout the UK exclusively on Premier Sports, the subscription channel available on the Sky platform.

Setanta Sports, which is also accessible via subscription on the Sky platform, will have exclusive rights to the action in Ireland, with events airing with a one-hour delay to avoid a clash with the station’s football programming.

Click HERE for the full press release...

Cage Warriors secures services of Ronnie Mann from Bellator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London, England (June 6, 2013) - Cage Warriors Fighting Championship is pleased to confirm that it has signed top English bantamweight Ronnie Mann.

The five-fight deal will see the 26-year-old compete exclusively for Cage Warriors over a minimum of 18 months, after CWFC paid a fee of $5,000 to Bellator to have Mann released from his contract with the promotion.

Cage Warriors 57 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on July 20 has been pencilled in for Mann’s CWFC debut, with the Cheltenham native keen to make his mark on Europe’s most competitive bantamweight division.

“I’m extremely happy to have signed with Cage Warriors,” said Mann. “It’s very flattering that they were willing to buy my contract from Bellator.

“Graham Boylan and all the guys at CWFC are great, and I’m very thankful for what they’ve done. In my opinion it’s the best promotion in Europe and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Currently ranked fourth in the UK, Mann accumulated a 3-3 record in Bellator after debuting for the promotion in April 2011. In his 28 professional bouts, Mann has been stopped just twice.

He added: “Bellator are a good promotion but I needed to be active again because I wasn’t fighting as regularly as I would have liked.

“I’m looking forward to having regular fights again, especially on the UK scene and in front the great fans we have here. I want to get my name out there again in Europe and hopefully work my way to a title shot. But for me, it's one step at a time.”

Cage Warriors CEO Graham Boylan said: “I’d like to thank Bellator for their co-operation in this deal. I don’t like to see fighters not active in the prime of their careers and Bellator understood that, at his age, Ronnie needed to be busy.

“Like all of our fighters, Ronnie will have plenty of opportunities here at Cage Warriors. Our bantamweight division is extremely strong and Ronnie has got the ability to make a big impact.”

World Title Fight & Two Tournament Championships Headline Bellator 73’s Live from Harrah’s Tunica August 24th

Curran Battles Pitbull for Featherweight Title; Bantamweight and Light Heavyweight Finals

Newport Beach, Cali. (August 2, 2012) — Bellator’s Summer Series will come to close as the world’s top tournament-based MMA promotion features THREE championship fights in one night at Bellator 73: Curran vs. Pitbull on Friday, August 24 from Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi. In one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year, Bellator Featherweight World Champion Pat Curran makes his first title defense against the explosive Brazilian phenom, Patricio Pitbull, plus the Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Championship will be on the line as submission aces Marcos Galvao and Luis Nogueira square off. The night will also feature the Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament Championship, as 68 win MMA veteran Travis Wiuff battles Attila Vegh and a stacked preliminary card with some of the best local talent in the area.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Ticket prices range from $25-$100.

The event will take place LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX with the preliminary fights being streamed online at Spike.com. The night will begin at 7pm EST/6pm CST on Spike.com, while the televised portion of the card will begin at 8pm EST/7pm CST. As the largest casino resort between Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Harrah’s Tunica offers a state of the art, 2,300 seat event center perfect for live MMA action. Along with 140,000 square feet of casino entertainment, the resort is also home to Willows Sporting Clays & Hunting Center.

Heavyweight Ryan Martinez will make his Bellator debut on August 24 when he battles Mike Wessel in a Bellator Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Qualifier fight. Martinez, The Infinite MMA product, joins Bellator with a dominating 7-1 record including an impressive victory over former two-time NCAA heavyweight champion Mark Ellis.

Headlining the preliminary card will be a battle of Tennessee natives who already have the area buzzing with their long awaited rematch. After a controversial decision victory in 2009 that earned Clarksville native Chris Coggins his first career win, Zach Underwood is ready for a rematch that can only be described as a lightweight grudge match. Both competitors will be looking for the finish, and both fight camps will have a ton of support in their respective corners.

Kickboxing sensation Cosmo Alexander will continue his MMA journey at Bellator 73 as the Muay Thai expert will battle Memphis native Harry Johnson in a lightweight affair. With only three professional MMA fights under his belt, Alexander is riding a two fight win streak and will look to continue his winning was from Harrah’s Tunica on August 24.

Welterweights collide as undefeated California product Joe “Mongo” Williams takes on Memphis native Andy Uhrich. With both fighters always looking for the knockout, Bellator fans should expect fireworks on August 24.

Capoeira sensation Marcus “Lelo” Aurelio will make his long awaited Bellator debut on August 24 when he takes on Amaechi Oselukwue in catchweight action. After beginning his professional career in 2005, "Lelo" has compiled an impressive 6-1 record, including five highlight-reel knockouts. Marcus, who is a practitioner of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira, is well known for using his unpredictable and violent art to confuse and devastate opponents that choose to step in the cage with him.

"I feel that my style of fighting is very dynamic and explosive," said Aurelio. "I certainly don't enter the cage to win on points. It's instinct for me, I'm always looking to finish my opponent. I think it's exciting for the fans."

Light Heavyweights square off as Brian Albin battles the pride of Tennessee Jacob Noe, who brings an impressive 8-1 record into the contest. With a strong local following, Noe looks to have the fans on their feet.

The night rounds out with two fights sure to have the Tunica crowd buzzing as Memphis bantamweights Jay Black and Brian “The Law” Hall square off in a three round battle, while Maurice Jackson and Chris Miller lock horns in heavyweight action. 

Bellator 73:

MAIN CARD:

Featherweight Title Fight: Pat Curran vs. Patricio Pitbull

Bantamweight Tournament Finals Fight: Luis Norueira vs. Marcos Galvao

Light Heavyweight Tournament Finals Fight: Travis Wiuff vs. Attila Vegh

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Ryan Martinez vs. Mike Wessell

PRELIMINARY CARD:

Lightweight Feature Fight: Chris Coggins vs. Zach Underwood

Lightweight Feature Fight: Cosmo Alexander vs. Harry Johnson

Catchweight Feature Fight: Marcus Aurelio vs. Amaechi Oselukwue

Heavyweight Feature Fight: Chris Miller vs. Maurice Jackson

Welterweight Feature Fight: Joe Williams vs. Andy Uhrich

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Jacob Noe vs. Brandon Albin

Bantamweight Feature Fight: Jay Black vs. Brian Hall

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran puts title on the line Against Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 73, August 24th

CHICAGO, Ill. (May 25, 2012) — After capturing the Bellator Featherweight Championship with one of the most devastating knockouts in Bellator history (Watch Here: http://bit.ly/ztVmVh), Pat Curran is set for his first title defense when he takes on Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 73 on August 24th. The event will take place LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX with the preliminary fights being streamed online at Spike.com.

“This will be an offensive clinic between two devastating finishers,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “Both Pat Curran and Patricio Pitbull can finish with relentless strikes or vicious submissions. This is a fight between two of the best Featherweights in MMA and will be a title fight to remember.”

Widely regarded as one of the top featherweights in the world, Curran’s road to the title was an impressive one. After an incredible Peruvian necktie submission victory over Luis Palomino in the Bellator Season 5 quarterfinals, Curran collected a unanimous decision win over Ronnie Mann. With the victory, Curran secured a spot in the Featherweight Finals against Marlon Sandro. Curran pushed the pace early, and in the second round delivered a devastating, highlight-reel roundhouse kick to the head of Sandro that earned the Crystal Lake, Ill. product his eventual title shot against Warren at Bellator 60. After two back and fourth rounds, Curran delivered a barrage of strikes that ended the fight in the third round and earned Curran the Bellator Featherweight Title.

“This fight with Patricio is one I’ve been looking forward to for a while,” Curran said. “This will be my first title defense, and I just want to get back in the cage and keep developing as a fighter. Pitbull is an outstanding fighter, so this should be a great fight.”

For Pitbull, the explosive Brazilian has been away from the cage for over a year after suffering a broken hand that kept the 17-1 striker out of action. After collecting his title shot with a dominating run through the Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament, to say Pitbull is eager to get back in the cage would be an understatement.

“I’m very happy and relieved this fight is finally happening,” said Pitbull. “I've been through a lot with my hand injury and can't wait to get back in the cage. I’m 100 percent now and all I want is to fulfill my dream of getting the belt and pay tribute to my late teacher Bruno Gouvea. He’s the reason I’m here today and he’ll be with me in spirit cageside watching his work pay off. All is can say is Pat better be ready. I’ve never been so motivated for a fight, and I’ve never wanted the belt so much.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator