Ray/Warburton Trilogy Fight Set For CWFC 73

Cage Warriors Lightweight Champion Stevie Ray will defend his title against former UFC fighter Curt Warburton at Cage Warriors 73 in Newcastle, the promotion has announced. The pair will complete their trilogy in Newcastle this November, having met twice in the last eighteen months – Warburton defeated Ray, who took the fight at short notice, for the BAMMA British title in March 2013, and the two met again this past June at Cage Warriors ‘Super Saturday’ with Stevie Ray emerging with the previously vacant Cage Warriors strap. This is Ray’s second stint with the CWFC belt, having won the vacant title in 2013 before losing it to Ivan Buchinger in his first defence. After Buchinger departed Cage Warriors the Dinky Ninjas fighter bested Warburton to reclaim the strap, and will be looking to successfully defend the title for the first time in his career. Warburton had three fights in the UFC and was released after his loss to Joe Lauzon in 2011. Following his return to European MMA Warburton is 6-2 with his only losses to BAMMA lightweight champion Mansour Barnaoui and the loss to Stevie Ray in June. After two close decisions in their previous encounters, both will be looking for a decisive victory in Newcastle on November 1. Cage Warriors airs live and free in the US and Canada on MMAJunkie.com.