Daytime MMA is always a treat for fans of competitive violence. Throughout this month, we’ve been getting plenty of MMA in the afternoon, and we’ll have even more to enjoy this coming weekend. Friday, while sports fans in the United States will be knee-deep in major conference tournaments in college basketball, the attention of fight fans will turn to the United Kingdom.
Manchester’s BEC Arena will be the intimate setting for Cage Warriors‘ first of two live events over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Cage Warriors 167. The card will also be another edition of the promotion’s “Unplugged” series, where the crowd is reduced by design. BEC Arena will also be the host venue for Saturday’s Cage Warriors 168.
Live coverage kicks off at 2:30 pm ET/ 11:30 am PT with the prelims and continues at 5 pm ET/ 2 pm PT with main card action on UFC Fight Pass. All told, absent of any postponed fights between now and Friday, 12 bouts will be held.
Welterweight Action Friday in Cage Warriors 167 Main Event
It’s a packed weekend of title fights in Manchester, starting with the Cage Warriors 167 main event. Former Cage Warriors Welterweight Champion Stefano Paterno (16-4-1 MMA, 1-1 CWFC,) a veteran of Venator FC, Bellator MMA, and most recently Oktagon MMA, returns to Graham Boylan‘s promotion in an attempt to reclaim the title against Scottie Stockman (10-3 MMA, CWFC promotional debut.)
No title is at stake here, so it’ll be a three-round fight at five minutes per round to close the show.
BREAKING 🚨
Former Cage Warriors welterweight champ Stefano Paternò is back in the Yellow Gloves on March 15th when he faces Scottie Stockman at #CW167 🏴
Sign up for a chance at attending Unplugged 👉 https://t.co/7w58qloVml pic.twitter.com/siqW3iwfhu
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) February 27, 2024
Cage Warriors 167 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the Cage Warriors 167 main event on Friday, Stefano Paterno stands as the taller man at 5-foot-11, compared to the 5-foot-10 frame of Scottie Stockman. No reach advantage information was accessible online at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Stefano Paterno installed as a -260 favorite on the money line, with Scottie Stockman countering as a +200 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Paterno Returns for First Cage Warriors Fight Since 2018 on Friday
Stefano Paterno has posted a mark of 4-1 in his last five fights. At the present time, he’s on a three-fight winning streak.
Right before the new year began, he scored a second-round submission via armbar versus Ion Surdu (14-6 MMA) during Oktagon 51 on Dec. 29, seen on DAZN. The Cage Warriors 167 main event is Paterno’s first fight under the promotional banner since Oct, 20, 2018.
That evening, he made an unsuccessful defense of the title, dropping the belt (split decision) against Ross Houston (8-1, 1 NC MMA, 6-0, 1 NC CWFC) during Cage Warriors 98 from Genting Arena in Birmingham, England. Since then, he’s made the rounds on the MMA circuit throughout the world, including a combined 8-0-1 run over Venator and Oktagon between May of 2016 and December of last year.
Will he be able to make an example of the adage “What’s old is new again?” Tune in on Friday and find out.
Scottie Stockman Comes In on Short Notice
In the other corner, Scottie Stockman enters Friday’s headliner having posted a record of 4-1 in his last five fights. Most recently, he saw a four-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Rodrigo Sezinando (6-1 MMA) on Feb. 8 in BFL 79 on Fight Pass.
He’ll be the fresher fighter of the two, having just fought a little more than a month ago, but this fight could be a daunting task for Scottie Stockman and his camp. The Cage Warriors 167 main event was announced on Feb. 27, just 19 days after his fight in Vancouver.
With such a quick turnaround, what kind of a training camp has he been able to have ahead of Friday’s contest? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Both of these fighters can score the win by stoppage, though a slight edge can be given to Scottie Stockman’s wrestling background. Will either get the victory inside the distance on Friday?
Paterno Can Punch His Way to a Win
Stefano Paterno is a man who’s been here before in a championship fight under the Cage Warriors banner. During his original bid for the welterweight belt, he stopped Mehrdad Janzemini before the first round was over.
Paterno secured a takedown and tried to score with leg kicks to a grounded Janzemini before getting to the mat and taking top mount. Janzemini’s submission efforts were thwarted by Paterno, who kicked away from danger and retook top position.
From there, Paterno accumulated ride time from half-guard and rained down a flurry of ground and pound shots. It was game, set, and match for Paterno, who put the exclamation point on a win with another burst of punches.
All Stefano Paterno has to do to reclaim the belt in the Cage Warriors 167 main event is dump Scottie Stockman once. If he gets his opponent to the canvas a single time, he’ll gain the momentum in this fight.
Scottie Stockman Can Close the Show in a Hurry
In the other corner, look for Scottie Stockman to try and land a knockout at the first opportunity. Brandon Meyer found this out the hard way during APFC 2 in August of 2022.
Although the fight was scheduled for three rounds, Stockman needed less than 90 seconds to earn his paycheck that summer night in Milwaukee. He immediately went to work, knocking Meyer down with a right-handed punch and teed off with ground and pound strikes, though his surge was momentarily tempered by a caution from the referee against punches to the back of Meyer’s head.
After the warning was administered, Stockman was more mindful of the target of his shots, yet still unloaded on Meyer, who had no chance to even try and defend against the onslaught. After a minute and 11 seconds, the ref saw enough.
If Scottie Stockman throws the first punch, this one could be a done deal in expedient fashion.
Final Thoughts
This is a great way to kick off the weekend in MMA. With no other fights happening in the time slot on Friday, you have no excuse not to watch the Cage Warriors 167 main event.
Prediction: Stefano Paterno by Third-Round Knockout.
