Cage Warriors returns to Dublin’s 3Arena for the blockbuster Cage Warriors 153 event. The event will be headlined by the welterweight champion, Rhys McKee and interim champion, Jimmy Wallhead with the undisputed strap on the line.
Rhys ‘Skeletor’ McKee
McKee (12-4-1) won the Cage Warriors welterweight strap during his second stint with the promotion. Originally McKee fought under the BAMMA banner, going 6-2-1 (with one fight outside of the organisation) before joining Graham Boylan‘s promotion in 2018 and debuting at Cage Warriors 100.
He would go 3-0 with the promotion, finishing all fights before signing for the UFC and debuting on extremely short notice. Unfortunately for McKee, he would be debuting against the wrecking machine that is Khamzat Chimaev. Skeletor would not land a punch on his debut, however, would be given another chance. It was unsuccessful again, however, and McKee would be cut from the organisation.
He would yet again join Cage Warriors, defeating Aleksi Mantykivi on his return. Next, he took on England’s Justin Burlinson in June of last year in a bout which was voted ‘Fight of the Year’ for the organisation. He’ll be looking to go 3-0 since his return when he makes the walk in the 3Arena.
With a win on Saturday night, Rhys McKee could very well punch his ticket back to the UFC. At just 27, McKee could still compete in the ‘big leagues’, however, he’ll have to get past the always-game Jimmy Wallhead first.
‘Judo’ Jimmy Wallhead
A certified legend of English MMA, Jim Wallhead will be looking to take the undisputed belt after winning the interim belt last November. On the night, Wallhead scored his second consecutive knockout when he slept Mateusz Figlak in the first round. Wallhead is also a UFC veteran having joined the promotion back in 2016 and like McKee, went 0-2.
He has since gone 4-0 with two wins in Bellator and two in cage Warriors. It would be fairytale stuff for Wallhead to win the belt in Dublin, some 17 years after the 39-year-old debuted with the promotion.
