The previously cancelled clash between Nathaniel Wood and Vaughan Lee will go ahead after all, at Cage Warriors 82 in Liverpool next month.
The two were set to collide at Cage Warriors 80 in London, but the fight fell off at the last minute after doctors found an anomaly with Wood’s brain scan.
Subsequent tests and scans have revealed that the issue, which was initially suspected to be a bone spur pushing on an artery, is not likely to affect Wood, and he has been cleared to fight once again.
The fight features two of the UK’s top Bantamweights colliding. Birmingham’s Lee (14-12-1) is in dire need of a win, having lost his last three straight. Despite this, the 34-year-old is still an extremely tough customer and is an eight-fight veteran of the UFC to boot.
For Nathaniel “The Prospect” Wood (9-3), this fight will undoubtedly be his toughest challenge to date. Having won three of his last four fights, the Team Titan fighter returns to Cage Warriors after a stint competing under the Bellator and BAMMA banners.
On the news of Wood’s return, Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan said:
“I was gutted for both Vaughan and Nathaniel when their fight had to be postponed, but fighter safety is our number-one priority at all times.
“We were excited to learn of Nathaniel’s medical clearance and, once we received full confirmation of that, were delighted to rebook this matchup and add it to our Liverpool show, which just gets better and better as the fight card grows.”
The Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship is currently vacant, and the winner will likely put himself in a strong position to compete for the gold later this year.
Updated Cage Warriors 82 fight card:
Paddy Pimblett (13-1) v Nad Narimani (9-2) – Cage Warriors featherweight title (145lbs)
Chris Fishgold (16-1) v Jani Salmi (9-2) – Cage Warriors lightweight title (155lbs)
Vaughan Lee (14-12-1) vs Nathaniel Wood (10-4) – bantamweight bout (135lbs)
Dean Trueman (7-3) vs Frantz Slioa (4-0) – featherweight bout (145lbs)
Molly McCann (4-1) vs TBC – flyweight bout (125lbs)
Lee Chadwick (21-13-1) v Tommy Quinn (6-3) – middleweight bout (185lbs)
Ellis Hampson (6-3, 1NC) v Perry Goodwin (6-4) – catchweight bout (160lbs)
