On the eve of a huge UFC event emanating from the O2 in London, England, Cage Warriors is set to run the Indigo At The O2 for a special show headlined by a key rematch for the promotion’s middleweight championship.
Fight fans can catch Cage Warriors 157 streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT for the prelims with the main card set to get underway at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
Cage Warriors Middleweight Championship — Stanton vs. Webb
Friday’s main event is a rematch from 2020, which took place over three rounds. James Webb, the challenger, won a unanimous decision, but plenty has changed since then with Mick Stanton, a winner of four of his last five, winning the middleweight title. One of those victories came against UFC veteran Darren Stewart, and with Stewart currently riding a three-fight winning streak of his own, another rematch could be on the books for later this year if Stanton and stop Webb. Stanton is coming off arguably the greatest win of his career, taking out Will Currie in a fun five-round affair to win the strap.
Tonight, we to run it back! 😤
📺 Watch @MickyStano 🆚 @JamesWebbMMA at #CW157 on @UFCFightPass! pic.twitter.com/QfLytqQ3So
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) July 21, 2023
Both fighters come from a striking background, so the reasonable expectation is for this fight to be contested largely on the feet, particularly when factoring in the possibility of a five-round pace. Stanton has, however, mixed in some grappling competitions in his off time, which could be an x-factor, though Webb is also not a fighter to discount on the ground. Six of his nine victories have come by way of submission, and his killer instinct makes it fair to question whether or not he is even capable of going five rounds.
However, Webb’s past victory over Stanton will make for an interesting dynamic, and he is favored on the odds. Most sportsbooks see Webb as a slight favorite at -140, while Stanton can be had at around a +120 price tag.
Rest of the Card
The rest of Friday’s Cage Warriors card is loaded with fan-friendly fights. The co-main event will see former featherweight champion Jordan Vucenic take on promotional newcomer Brice Picaud. Both fighters enter the co-main event coming off wins, with Judo and Karate blackbelt Picaud a victor in four straight and six of his last seven and Vucenic coming off a submission win over Tiziano Ferranti in March.
Insane card tonight. Very excited for this show! https://t.co/MzmSzf1kHp
— Harry Williams (@Harry_Williams) July 21, 2023
Filling out the main card is a battle between another former featherweight champion in France’s Morgan Charriere and LFA veteran Diego Silva. The fight is something of a mini-grudge match, as Silva was flown in as the backup fighter for Charriere’s fight at Cage Warriors 154. However, the two exchanged words backstage after Charriere took out Pedro Souza with the doctor stopping the action after the first round.
The main card will be rounded out by fan-friendly fights between Daniel Skibinski and Madars Fleminas at 170 pounds, and Matheus Malta and Luke Riley at 145 pounds. All main card fighters made weight, with Picaud even coming in two pounds under weight.
With scheduled fights subject to change as always, be sure to stay locked in to MMA Sucka for up-to-the-minute results and updates.
Cage Warriors 157 Results
Main Card
Mick Stanton def. James Webb via TKO (strikes) at 4:21 of Round 1 — For the Cage Warriors Middleweight Championship
Jordan Vucenic def. Brice Picaud via Submission (RNC) at 1:38 of Round 2
Morgan Charriere def. Diego Silva via TKO (strikes) at 4:13 of Round 3
Madars Fleminas def. Daniel Skibinski via KO (strikes) at :44 of Round 2
Luke Riley def. Matheus Malta via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Preliminary Card
Harry Hardwick def. Vitor Estevam via Submission (RNC) at :33 of Round 2
Will Currie def. Jorge Bueno via TKO (elbows) at 3:00 of Round 2
Angus Hewett def. Connor Hayes via TKO (strikes) at 3:54 of Round 2
Omiel Brown def. Jesse Urholin via Knockout (uppercut) at 3:43 of Round 1
Taka Mhandu def. Grant Ogborne via TKO (strikes) at 4:04 of Round 2
Weslley Maia def. Shirzad Qadrian via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Liam Gittins def. Janne Elonen-Kulmala via TKO (strikes) at 3:17 of Round 1
Tom Mearns def. Bailey Gilbert via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
George Tanasa def. Wesley Machado via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Tom Creasey def. Ander Sanchez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
