Top European promotion Cage Warriors returned to Wales with Cage Warriors 83 which took place at The Newport Centre in Newport, Wales and did not disappoint, treating fans to thrills, spills, submissions and knockouts. Once again we at MMA Plus, have taken a look at the winners from last night’s main card and consider who’s next for those who came out on top in the latest edition of ‘Fight That Make Sense’.
Fights That Make Sense after Cage Warriors 83
Lew “The Foot” Long (15-4)
Just 18 seconds into the 1st round Lew Long picks up a TKO win #CW83 pic.twitter.com/e8jVdJQLSY
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) May 6, 2017
Surely it’s time to make the man known as “The Foot” the UFC’s fourth Welsh signing? With UFC Glasgow looming large on the horizon and The Mat Academy Wales trained called for a fight with England’s “Judo” Jim Wallhead in the lead up to his CW 83 fight with Che Mills. Some may say that the nature of the welterweight’s most recent victory meant that fans didn’t and indeed UFC matchmakers didn’t get a chance to adequately assess Long but what more do they need to see?
After his 15th professional win, the time is now for Long and if Wallhead comes out of his bout next month at UFC 212 against Brazil’s Luan Chagas unscathed the 28-year old may get his wish, failing that a fight with someone of the caliber of Sérgio Moraes or Colby Covington could fit the bill.
Søren “The True Viking” Bak (8-1)
The highly anticipated Cage Warriors debut of Søren Bak did not disappoint as the Dane treated fans to a three-round grappling masterclass against cinderella man Scott Clist.
Although some would say a fight with recently embattled CW lightweight champion Chris Fishgold would be ideal for “The True Viking” I think the 24-year-old is in need of another impressive win before he can be considered a genuine contender.
Therefore a potential rematch with Finland’s Aleksi Mantykivi who along with Bak was among six new signings to the Graham Boylan owned promotion’s 155lb division, would be a solid test. Mantykivi inflicted the first defeated (via TKO) of the Danes career last October at Euro FC 1 and would give the 24-year-old a chance at revenge. If that fight doesn’t happen a clash with Sean Carter or Perry Goodwin upon his return to action around September would be well received.
Josh “Crazy Horse” Reed (7-0)
The world seems to be the oyster of top prospect Josh Reed who earned his third straight victory under the Cage Warriors banner by stopping Gavin Kelly in the opening round of their encounter.
Following his seventh total career win at Cage Warriors 83, the Tillery Combat MMA Academy trained fighter made it known that he had his sights firmly set on the winner of next month’s showdown between Nathaniel Wood and Marko Kovacevic for the vacant CW bantamweight belt.
With Cage Warriors president Boylan heaping praise on the youngster following the win, a title shot later in the year could be a realistic possibility for Reed.
Giovanni “The Punisher” Melillo (7-1)
If you didn’t know who Giovanni Melillo was before Cage Warriors 83, you do now. He needed less than three minutes to dispatch former title contender Mohsen Bahari.
With the only loss in his career coming against current welterweight champion Karl Amoussou last May at Venator 3, a rematch between the two under CW would be a welcomed fight.
But with Amoussou seemingly holding out for a UFC call-up, a fight later this summer with the winner of next month’s CW84 co-headline bout between Matt Inman and Brad Wheeler could be ideal for the Italian knockout artist.
Jack “Tank” Shore (5-0)
The fight with France’s Konmon Deh was meant to be the sternest test of Jack Shore’s young career. Despite these claims, the former IMMAF European Open champion needed just 4:46 of the opening round to lock in an armbar for the win.
Like his Tillery Combat teammate Reed, the featherweight has the world at his feet after notching up a fourth promotional win which saw his undefeated streak as an amateur and professional stretch to 17-fights.
Despite his impressive win streak a fight with newly crowned featherweight champion Nad Narimani seems a little premature for “Tank” but a fight with UKMMA veteran Ashleigh Grimshaw or former title challenger Johnny Frachey would make sense.