A Review of Cage Warriors 56

Cage Warriors 56 Omoyele vs Del Guerra

by Tommy Strong @Strong_tea


Saturday 6th July, 6pm the doors opened at "The Forum" Kentish Town, London which was the venue for Cage Warriors 56.

Bola Omeleye def. Vincent del Guerra via 1st round TKO 

Headlining the main event was Londoner and ex 'TUF' contestant Bola Omoyele vs Vincent del Guerra in a 3 x 5 minute round bout. 

Bola making his debut fighting for Cage Warriors since signing an exclusive contract for them and competing in his first fight in just over a year, wasted little time in dismantling Vincent del Guerra.

From the bell, Bola was looking to take the Frenchman down, and done so with ease. With Bola on top controlling the fight and looking to put some ground and pound onto del Guerra, Marc Goddard called a halt to the action del Guerra complaining of an eye poke. The doctor was called in to inspect the damaged eye, and was deemed fit to continue.

This seemed to have lit a flame under del Guerra who after the restart came out swinging and putting pressure on Bola, using this anger to take Bola down, which proved to be a bad decision. Bola used his bigger frame and strength difference to reverse his position and get on top of del Guerra. Landing a barrage of unanswered punches and elbows down on del Guerra, Goddard had no option but to call a stop to the fight to prevent further damage. The official time of the stoppage was 3:21 in the first round.

The house seemed packed of Bola fans as the roof nearly came off the venue when Bola's hand was raised in victory. A very impressive victory and performance considering the man he was facing and his experience over Bola.

In the post fight interview Bola mentioned that he'd signed for the best organisation in Britain and Europe and the fight went as he planned. He went onto say he wants a belt "anyone who's going to take me to that belt, show me the path"

This victory puts Bola (7-1) and a six fight win streak in which he has finished all of his opponents inside the first round.

Catchweight (150lbs) Robbie Olivier def. Patrik Berisha unanimous decision (30/27 x 3)

At Cage Warriors 56 Robbie "The Flame" Olivier was making his first appearance for Cage Warriors in almost 10 years since he last fought at Cage Warriors 4 which saw Robbie lose inside the first round to Emmanuel Fernandez.

The fight was made at a catchweight of 150lbs due to Olivier carrying an injury into the fight and unable to make the 145lb limit. Despite the injury, Olivier dominated over the three rounds in which Berisha had no answer for.

Olivier's Jiu-Jitsu was the key to this fight, he took every opportunity to take Berisha to the mat and done so at will. Berisha managed to get to his feet on a couple of occasions but was soon pinned down on his back again with Olivier in full mount.

In what wasn't the most exciting fight of the night, Olivier got into some dominating positions but was unable to get the finish. At times the fans seems to get restless at the action going on and at one stage Marc Goddard was forced to stand the fighters up. Though it was only seconds before Olivier took Berisha back to the mat again to grind it out for the rest of the round and earn a 30/27 x 3 victory.

Robbie would be the first to admit it wasn't his finest performance saying "I'm not 100% happy, I think i dominated the fight, but i struggled to make the weight. Fair play to my opponent, he was prepared to do a catchweight to make sure the fight happened.

Middleweight Denniston Sutherland def. Brett Bassett via 3rd Round TKO

With a very tentative start from both fighters, the first round was much a feeling out process with Sutherland and Bassett clinging up against the cage for most of the round.

Into the second round and it started much of the same as the first until Sutherland started applying more pressure and landed some big shots onto Bassett until the ref Rich Mitchell stepped in and deemed Sutherland had landed blows to the back of the head, thus taking a point from Sutherland which could've proved decisive on the scorecards. Though moments later it wouldn't prove to be the case, Sutherland landed a beautiful knee to the body of Bassett which dropped him to the mat. Sutherland was raining down with punches and looked like the end was near. Though the bell rung saving Bassett from a certain TKO.

With Bassett clearly still in trouble walking back to his corner, and only a minute to recover he was really up against it. Sutherland took the advantage and came out throwing punches to the body of Bassett and seconds into the third round drops Bassett again and swarms in for the kill. Rich Mitchell has seen enough and jumps in to stop the fight!

Featherweight Graham Turner def. Nad Narimani via Split Decision 30-27 28-29 29-28

Scotland's Graham Turner came into this fight on the back of four wins, who was taking on the undefeated Nad Narimani in what proved to be a very closely fought battle!

Straight from the off both fighters were looking to counter strike and keep things standing. Back and forth punches were exchanged until late in the first round Turner picks up Nad and dumps him into the mat (rampage esq) with seconds to spare in the round and in what was a very close round , might just have pinched in with that.

Into the second , both men wanting to keep the fight standing trying to land that one punch that might finish the fight, but it doesn't come. Both rounds have been so close it was all to play for in the third. In the third round, Nad starts to pressure more and take control of the fight landing a punch that makes Turner instinctively fire back with his own punches. In an entertaining fight , the bell ends the third round with both men exhausted and thinking they've done enough to win.

Turner takes a split decision 30-27 28-29 29-28 adding the first defeat to Narimani's professional record and stretching his win streak to five fights.

Catchweight (160lbs) Philip Mulpeter def. Warren Kee via 2nd Round TKO

Philip "Honeybadger" Mulpeter had Connor McGregor by his side on Saturday night when he fought Warren Kee. England's Kee came in to this fight having lost his last 2 fights prior and Mulpeter losing his last fight to Tommy Quinn at Cage Warriors 51 on new years eve, both men were looking to get back to winning ways!

Though it was Mulpeter who came out the stronger fighter, both men come out throwing punches and its Mulpeter thats getting the better of the work and takes Kee down to the mat. Landing some ground and pound to Kee, Mulpeter secures a tight triangle late in the round but the bell rings before he can submit Kee.

Mulpeter takes Kee down again in the second, Kee replies with some elbows from below but the ref deems them illegal and to the back of the head. Neil Hall takes a point away from Kee for the elbows.  Mulpeter starts to land punches and elbows down from mounted position that have Kee in trouble. Kee covers up from the punches and Neil Hall steps in and calls a halt to the fight on 3:24 inside the second round.

A powerful display from Mulpeter that impressed not only his fans but also McGregor.

Middleweight Fabio Ferrari def. Brett Sizeland via 1st round Submission (Rear Naked Choke)

Brett Sizeland entered the ring with almost a year out between his last fight which was a loss to Denniston Sutherland at Cage Warriors 48, Ferrari himself was also coming into the fight on the back of a loss himself!

The fight started brightly and Fabio Ferrari and Brett Sizeland had the fans on the edge of their seats, as they come out from the bell throwing hands from the off. Ferrari lands a beautiful right hand flush on Sizeland that stuns hims, Ferrari taking advantage of this jumps of Sizelands back and locks in a tight rear-naked choke that left Sizeland with only one option, To tap!!

Ferrarri (6-2-1) bounces back with a win, and leaves Brett Sizeland (6-3) with back to back losses.

Premliminary Card Results:

Sean Carter def Adam Bousiff via Submission (arm-triangle choke) Rd 2 (3:58)
Arnold Allen def Andy Green via Submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (4:00)
Brad Wheeler def Aymard Guih via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
Paddy Pimblett def Florian Calin via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,29-28)


Ending note:

Amateur Light heavyweight bout Darren Springer def Emmanuel Cammarata via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

I just wanted to honour one fight that wasn't televised and it was also an amateur fight, but felt I couldn't leave it out of my article as it was such a great fight.

It was between two light heavyweights Emmanuel Cammarata vs Darren Springer in a 3 round x 3 mins fight.

Both men came from their corners with only one thing in mind, that was to knock their opponent out! Springer landed some huge and flush punches onto Cammrata and looked like this fight would be over within minutes, but boy how wrong I was. Cammarata just wouldn't go down, instead firing back with punches of his own. How he survived that onslaught in the first round takes a great chin and courage.

Into the second and its much of the same, Springer landing the better of the punches and doing the cleaner work, though he's starting to tire and Cammarata isn't going anywhere! Into the 3rd Cammarata looks to have more in the tank but has left it too late to take the decision from Springer.

It goes to the official score cards and Springer def Cammarata (30-27 x 3)

Both fighters take a bow, as that was a brilliant fight!!


**Thanks to Cagewarriors for the allowing KingdomMMA press accreditation to cover CWFC56**