A LIGHTWEIGHT title bout between Conor McGregor and Ivan Buchinger will bring the curtain down on a hectic 2012 for Cage Warriors.
The pair will clash in the main event at Cage Warriors 51 at The Helix in Dublin on New Year’s Eve, as the organisation makes its second visit to the Irish capital this year.
McGregor, the reigning CWFC featherweight champion, had been due to defend the 145lbs belt for the first time against Jim Alers on the December 31 card.
However, a hand injury has now forced Alers out of the fight. It marks the second occasion the meeting of McGregor and Alers has had to be postponed. The pair were originally scheduled to clash at CWFC Fight Night 7 in Jordan back in September, but McGregor sustained a facial injury.
However, the Dublin native remains on course for a title bout in front of his hometown crowd, with the 24-year-old set to take on Buchinger for the CWFC lightweight strap.
The belt is up for grabs once again following a mutual agreement between Cage Warriors officials and previous champion Ivan Musardo, who clinched the title with a victory against Joseph Duffy over 12 months ago.
Buchinger (21-3), who’s signed exclusively to Cage Warriors, had an impressive second-round TKO victory over Diego Gonzalez at May’s CWFC Fight Night 6 in Bahrain.
Currently ranked as one of Europe’s top ten lightweights, the 26-year-old Slovak has secured 19 of his 21 wins by stoppage, with two of his three losses coming via decision against UFC duo Anton Kuivanen and Akira Corassani.
McGregor (11-2), who fights out of SBG Ireland, was crowned CWFC featherweight champion at June’s Cage Warriors 47 in Dublin when he submitted Dave Hill in the second round of their clash for the vacant title.
The Irishman is ranked as one of Europe’s top ten featherweights but also fights regularly at lightweight. Two of McGregor’s four bouts under the Cage Warriors banner have been at 155lbs.
Victory over Buchinger on New Year’s Eve would see McGregor become the first fighter to simultaneously hold Cage Warriors titles in two unified weight classes.
Tickets for Cage Warriors 51 will go on sale on Thursday, December 6, with more bouts still to be announced. Keep track of Cage Warriors on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates.
MAIN CARD
Conor McGregor v Ivan Buchinger
Aisling Daly v Katja Kankaanpaa
Liam James v Alan Philpott
PRELIMINARY CARD
Philip Mulpeter v Tommy Quinn
Charlie Watts v Henry Fadipe
