American Jake Murphy (6-2) has withdrawn from facing Curt Warburton (12-3) at BAMMA 13 due to a shoulder injury keeping him out of action for 10-12 weeks. Stepping in to challenge for the vacant BAMMA world lightweight championship on September 14 is Paris based Tunisian Mansour ‘Tarzan’ Barnaoui (9-2).
A 20-year-old M-1 and Cage Warriors veteran, Barnaoui (pictured, left) most recently defeated Russian Zulfikar Usmanov with a rear-naked-choke submission on August 21. With 9 career victories including 6 submissions, 2 TKO’s and just 1 decision, Barnaoui has only lost twice, and only via the judges scorecards, having never been finished. ‘Tarzan’ appeared at CWFC Fight Night 4 in Dubai, on March 16, 2012, where he defeated Brad Wheeler with a rear-naked-choke in the third round.
UFC veteran Curt Warburton (ptictured, right) finally challenges for BAMMA world crown, having last defeated Scotland’s Steven Ray for the BAMMA-Lonsdale British lightweight title in March. Warburton was scheduled to challenge for the world title at BAMMA 12, however then champion Rob Sinclair withdrew due to injury, making way for Warburton vs Ray. Sinclair has since vacated the strap upon signing with Bellator MMA.
BAMMA are expected to officially confirm the news early in the week.
BAMMA 13 takes place on September 14 at Birmingham’s NIA Arena, headlined by three title fights including Warburton vs Barnaoui, Max Nunes vs Jason Jones for the light-heavyweight world championship, and Jim Wallhead vs Eddy Ellis for the world welterwight crown.
