With the year winding down, the schedule of events in MMA is dwindling to a precious few. In addition to CFFC holding its final show of 2023 on Friday night, a UK-based promotion is going stateside again for a finale. Graham Boylan’s Cage Warriors returns to San Diego for its last card before the old year goes to the history file.
San Diego is also where the promotion’s 2024 schedule of events will begin. According to Cage Warriors’ 2024 itinerary, Cage Warriors 166 will take place on Feb. 23 from the very same Sycuan Resort and Casino where Cage Warriors 165 and the Cage Warriors 165 main event will take place. More on that card when the time comes.
Getting back to Friday night’s activities, live coverage will be seen bell-to-bell on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8:30 pm ET/ 5:30 pm PT. All told, absent of any postponed fights between now and then, the final version of Cage Warriors 165 features 13 fights.
Hernandez Fights UFC Alum Jones in Cage Warriors 165 Main Event
Highlighting the night’s activities is a bantamweight showcase in the Cage Warriors 165 main event. Roberto Hernandez (8-1 MMA, 6-0 CWFC) seeks to remain perfect under the Cage Warriors promotional banner when he takes on UFC alumnus Trevin Jones (14-10, 1 NC MMA, 1-0 CWFC) in a nontitle affair.
With no championship at stake on Friday night, the Cage Warriors 165 main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close out the show and the year’s activities for the promotion.
Our Most Exciting San Diego Fight Card to Date 🔥
This Friday, the West Coast's finest fighters collide at @SycuanCasino for #CW165 ⤵️
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) December 11, 2023
Cage Warriors 165 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the Cage Warriors 165 main event on Friday night, Roberto Hernandez stands as the taller man at 5-foot-8, compared to the 5-foot-7 frame of Trevin Jones. The latter owns a 70-inch reach, with no such information available for the former at press time.
As of Wednesday morning, the oddsmakers have installed Roberto Hernandez as a -175 favorite on the money line, with Trevin Jones countering as a +145 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Is Roberto Hernandez UFC Ready?
Roberto Hernandez comes into Friday night’s headliner having posted a perfect 5-0 record in his last five MMA fights. As previously stated, he’s undefeated in Cage Warriors at 6-0 and is currently on an eight-fight winning streak.
Most recently, he knocked out Toby Misech (12-8 MMA, 0-1 CWFC) in the second round of their fight during Cage Warriors 159 on Sept. 8 with shots to the body. After the fight, Hernandez talked to Edith LaBelle backstage about picking up a new hobby to help him train.
“Rock climbing, guys. Rock climbing,” Hernandez began. “If you are a grappler out there, rock climbing is the sport to do. Finger strength, grip strength, your balance. You’ve got to be able to hold these holds on these rocks, pinches. I recommend for any MMA fighter that wants to get stronger, look at me. I don’t even look like a strong guy but I feel like I’ve been a bodybuilder, just putting that weight on and strength.”
Rock climbing aside, a victory in the Cage Warriors 165 main event on Friday night would be nine in a row for Hernandez and seven in a row in Cage Warriors. Could that be enough for UFC President Dana White to notice him and possibly give him a contract in the new year?
Trevin Jones Continuing Redemption Tour
In the other corner, Trevin Jones has gone 1-4 in his last five fights with the lone win in that stretch coming on Sept. 8. That night, he scored a split decision against Wilson Reis (27-13 MMA, 3-1 CWFC) in the Cage Warriors 159 main event.
After his win, Jones told Edith LaBelle that he believed he finished Reis during the fight upon landing a knee strike to his face.
“I thought it was a TKO,” Jones admitted. “I stopped a little bit when I hit him with the knee. He turned over like that. When you turn over like that, the fight’s over. You gave in already, so honestly, I stopped for a little bit and then I wailed on him, wailed on him.”
When the UFC cut Trevin Jones earlier this year, Cage Warriors stepped in and gave him an opportunity. He stopped a four-fight losing streak and now, he’s ready to continue a redemption tour in the same venue where it began. Can he win two in a row?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
This looks to be another toss-up in the Cage Warriors 165 main event. Both of these men can finish the assignment in vicious fashion.
Watch Hernandez to Work Down the Middle
If the situation calls for it, Roberto Hernandez can end a fight with a devastating strike to the body. Toby Misech found this out the hard way back in September.
At the start of the second round, after scoring with some leg kicks, Hernandez stalked Misech and teed off with a few punches, including one to the midsection. Upon that punch landing, Misech crumpled like a piece of paper, ending the fight in 50 seconds.
Look for him to work the body. One such shot can result in another win for Hernandez in the Cage Warriors 165 main event.
Trevin Jones Can Wobble His Adversary
In the other corner, Trevin Jones has been known to get the momentum of a fight in his column by landing a decent shot, something he did twice against Reis earlier this year.
Upon knocking him down and pinning Reis to the ground in round one, round three saw Jones unload with a knee to the face with 90 seconds to go. From there, Jones landed more punches to Reis’ face and shot for a takedown.
Reis eventually dropped Jones and went to the clinch but it wasn’t enough. While Trevin Jones may not go for the knockout, as long as he stuns Roberto Hernandez, he can earn some style points in the main event and come away with the victory.
Final Thoughts
Although there’s no belt on the line in the Cage Warriors 165 main event on Friday night, San Diego has a good fight coming up to close out the schedule. Don’t miss it.
Prediction: Roberto Hernandez by Unanimous Decision.
