More MMA action is on the way this Saturday afternoon as the number of events for the month of March dwindle to only two. While children the world over go on Easter egg hunts this holiday weekend and sports fans inside the United States sit down to watch either baseball, the UFL‘s opening games, or the Elite Eight in March Madness, the United Kingdom plays host to the first of two consecutive weekends of action in Cage Warriors.
Two weeks removed from a doubleheader weekend of action, Cage Warriors closes out the first quarter of its 2024 in London for Cage Warriors 169. Live coverage of the event begins at 1:45 pm ET/ 10:45 am PT Saturday afternoon on UFC Fight Pass with the undercard, which will also be streamed live on Fight Pass’ YouTube channel.
Main card fights follow at 5 pm ET/ 2 pm PT on the subscription-based platform. There have been a number of adjustments to the card, so barring any new postponements or cancellations between now and the weekend, Cage Warriors 169 will feature 14 bouts from Indigo at the O2 Arena in London.
Featherweights Do Battle in Cage Warriors 169 Main Event Saturday
Highlighting the night’s activities is a featherweight showcase in the Cage Warriors 169 main event. Jordan Vucenic (11-2 MMA, 7-1 CWFC), a onetime titleholder at 145 lbs., will make his first appearance of the year when he takes on Bellator and Venator alumnus Simone D’Anna (10-4, 1-0 CWFC).
No championship will be at stake here, so the Cage Warriors 169 main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round.
Cage Warriors 169 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the Cage Warriors 169 main event on Saturday afternoon, both of these men stand level at 5-foot-9. Vucenic owns a 72-inch reach, with no such information accessible for D’Anna at press time. At the moment, the oddsmakers have Jordan Vucenic installed as a -500 favorite on the money line, while Simone D’Anna counters as a +350 underdog.
If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Can Jordan Vucenic Make it Three in a Row?
Jordan Vucenic enters this main attraction having posted a record of 4-1. At present, he’s on a two-fight winning streak with both victories coming by way of rear-naked choke in the second round of the bout.
Back in July of last year, he stopped Brice Picaud (15-9, 1 NC MMA, 0-1 CWFC). After the fight, he used his interview with Edith LaBelle to give some encouragement to his sons as he seeks to eventually reclaim the title.
“I just want them to know that no matter how far they get put down, set back, it’s not the end,” Vucenic said. “They can build themselves back up. Many times, it seemed like that was sort of the end of the dream for me. I’m here, I’m still alive, still kicking and still marching on.”
A victory on Saturday in the Cage Warriors 169 main event could be what he needs to get another shot at the title down the road, but can he score his third win in a row?
Simone D’Anna Playing the Heel
In the other corner, Simone D’Anna has gone 3-2 himself over the last five fights. Currently, he’s on a three-fight winning streak. Last time out, he scored a unanimous decision victory over Alberth Dias (6-4 MMA, 0-1 CWFC) on Oct. 28 during Cage Warriors 162.
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Simone D'Anna has some scary plans for Saturday's #CW169 London show! pic.twitter.com/TsCHfVWHtM
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) March 28, 2024
If the above-embedded tweet is any indication, D’Anna is already playing the role of the villain before the fight even begins this weekend. With him making the trek to London from Rome, he can expect a chorus of boos and hisses when he makes the walk out from backstage ahead of Saturday’s main event.
Simone D’Anna’s goal for the Cage Warriors 169 main event is a simple one: Make the fans in London go home frowning.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Expect some fireworks on Saturday night in the Cage Warriors 169 main event. Get your popcorn ready.
Vucenic a Submission Specialist
In Jordan Vucenic’s last three wins, he’s secured the victory by rear-naked choke. Brice Picaud found this out the hard way last summer. During the second round of the fight, Vucenic dumped Picaud and went to work right away, taking back mount.
It was only a matter of time before Vucenic locked a submission up, forcing Picaud to tap and nap in a minute and 37 seconds. Once Jordan Vucenic gets a guy to the canvas, it’s game, set, and match in the Cage Warriors 169 main event.
D’Anna Can Counterstrike
In the other corner, Simone D’Anna can withstand an attack from his adversaries and return fire with shots of his own. In his recent fight against Alberth Dias, the action was paused momentarily due to a low blow. This gave him the time he needed to recover and turn it up offensively.
While Dias got in a few blows, D’Anna landed a few counterpunches, including an effort at a spinning back fist during the first round and punching his way out of a Dias clinch later on.
As the round neared its end, D’Anna dumped Dias and gained some ride time while fighting off a submission attempt from his adversary. While he wouldn’t finish Dias that night, the first round of the contest played a role in getting the win by decision.
If Simone D’Anna can keep Jordan Vucenic standing in the Cage Warriors 169 main event, he’ll be in good shape.
Final Thoughts
Even though there won’t be a championship on the line on Saturday night in London, the Cage Warriors 169 main event will be a thrilling affair.
Prediction; Jordan Vucenic by First-Round Submission.
