Danny Roberts vs Jimmy Wallhead to headline Cage Warriors 68 in Liverpool

Welterweight battle announced as main event for Cage Warriors 68

A huge welterweight match-up has been set for the main event at Cage Warriors 68.

Danny Roberts and Jimmy Wallhead will collide in the headliner when Cage Warriors Fighting Championship returns to Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Also confirmed for the CWFC 68 bill is a middleweight bout between Che Mills and Leeroy Barnes, in addition to another big welterweight contest between Matt Inman and Mauro Chimento.

But in the evening’s main attraction, Danny Roberts (10-1) will be hoping for his sixth consecutive CWFC victory as he aims to strengthen his claims for a shot at the CWFC welterweight crown, which is up for grabs this weekend at CWFC 66 in Copenhagen.

Roberts, who’ll be fighting in his hometown of Liverpool, has climbed into the top-five in the UK rankings courtesy of impressive wins over Jack Mason, Diego Gonzalez, Henry Fadipe and Juan Manuel Suarez.

With all but two of his wins coming inside the distance, 26-year-old Roberts says fans can expect fireworks when he takes on Wallhead in what will surely be the biggest test of his career to date.

He said:

“Fighting in front of my friends, family and fans in my adopted hometown again for a top organisation is going to be special, and I’m looking forward to welcoming Jimmy Wallhead into one of the toughest welterweight divisions in the world.

“He is a very well-respected fighter and is one of the biggest names in the sport in the UK. This is going to be one that people won’t want to miss.”

Wallhead (25-8), who turned 30 last week, recently signed to fight exclusively for Cage Warriors, having previously competed for the promotion on 15 occasions, more than any other fighter.

A judo black belt and veteran of 25 professional victories, 18 of which have come via stoppage, Wallhead holds notable wins over several fighters with UFC experience, including Igor Araujo, Matt Veach, Che Mills and Frank Trigg.

The Leicester native, who competed for Bellator on three occasions between 2010 and 2012, hasn’t been stopped in his last 20 outings, with his last loss inside the distance coming at the hands of current UFC star Dennis Siver back in 2006.

“I’m really excited to be back on Cage Warriors and I’m especially pleased to be fighting in Liverpool on May 3,” said Wallhead.

“The opponent is irrelevant to me as all fights at this level are tough, but I’m really motivated by the prospect of beating him in his hometown. I expect a war, which is great for the fans and great for me, as I just love fighting.”

Meanwhile, having impressively disposed of Gregor Weibel at CWFC 64 last month, Matt Inman (13-5) will also be keen to stay in the CWFC welterweight title hunt when he goes in search of a fifth straight win, with Brazilian star Mauro Chimento (15-10) providing the opposition as he returns to Cage Warriors after a lengthy lay-off due to illness.

Elsewhere, after both fighters endured a disappointing 2013, Che Mills (15-7-2nc) and Leeroy Barnes (12-13-1nc) will be looking to return to winning ways when they clash in a middleweight bout.

Cage Warriors 68, for which many more bouts are still to be announced, will take place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, on Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Leeroy Barnes is ready to put a dent in the Cage Warriors Middleweight Division

Kingdom MMA Caught up with Leeroy Barnes before his Cage Warriors 57 fight

by Tom Rooney @oldmanrooney

Tom Rooney talks to Leeroy Barnes ahead of his clash with Frenchman Norman Paraisy at Cage Warriors 57 in Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday night, his first fight for the promotion in almost six years.

The landscape of the European MMA scene is now almost unrecognisable in comparison to when Leeroy Barnes (12-10-0-1) last fought in a Cage Warriors show at CWFC-Enter the Rough House 4 in Nottingham back in October 2007, where he was on the wrong end of a unanimous decision loss to Peter McGurk.

Since then he has had mixed fortunes fighting for numerous promotions across the UK and Europe, but now that he’s back fighting under the Cage Warriors banner, he couldn’t be happier, particularly being on the main card, and is impressed with the changes in the promotion under the stewardship of Graham Boylan.

“The promotion has undergone a huge change since 2007 and has become the top promotion in Europe under the new guidance of Graham Boylan. It's an honour to be on such a stacked fight card on such a big promotion full stop. I honestly didn't think I would make the main card but I have and I'm going to put a performance on that deserves its place.”

Barnes, 28, inked a five-fight, 18-month exclusive deal with Cage Warriors back in May, and is on a two-fight win streak, the last of which was a submission victory over Steve Watson via guillotine less than a minute into the first round at BAMMA 12, this past March. He has been matched with Paraisy, whose last fight ended in a majority draw against ex-champion Chris Fields at Cage Warriors 55 in Dublin. Barnes has been working harder than ever and is confident he’ll have too much for the Frenchman.

“My camp has been excellent; I've been sparring with the Next Gen lads Danny Roberts, Ste Dinsdale and Chris Fishgold as we are all on the same card and there has been a really good vibe. I've not worked on anything different just the same stuff, trying to improve every day. I've just made sure that my cardio is unbelievable as I'm going to set a pace he has never seen before."

“I don't think it’s any specific areas I'm better than him at. My striking is definitely better than his but I think I'm just the better athlete. I'm faster, more explosive, more flexible and fitter and I'll be far more relaxed on the night.... ultimately that’s what will win me this fight.”

Many pundits and fans alike felt that Paraisy was very lucky to come away with a draw against Fields, having gassed in the latter stages of the fight, particularly in the final round. Barnes says that training in the MMA Academy, Liverpool, he is in the best shape of his life and plans to overwhelm his opponent with sheer intensity.

“I completely have the edge in cardio, my fitness and cardio is the best it's ever been. I will be starting fast and I will be pushing a pace he will not cope with.”

For all intents and purposes this is a hometown fight for Barnes and he is excited about putting on a show for the Liverpool fans, as well as being eager to repay the faith Cage Warriors have placed in him. He has given little thought to what ramifications a win will have on his place in the rankings.

“I've fought in nearly every major Arena in the UK from the Manchester M.E.N. to London Wembley but no I've never fought at the Echo in fact this is the first major MMA show at the Echo and it's going to be great to be part of that. I've trained my whole career in Liverpool, so it's going to be special to fight there. Of course the support helps me, I have amazing support and it drives me to repay their belief with great performances."

“Cage Warriors have already told me they see me as being in the top end of their middle weight division and the fact they are promoting a fight with Paraisy as my first fight in a five fight deal shows that. I really appreciate their belief and I'm turning up to prove them nothing but right."

“I don't even want to think about where the win will place me; I'm just focused on the fight and the process of winning. I would like to thank my sponsors, coaches and training partners, I would also like to say a special thank you to my manager Chris from Elite MMA Agency for always having my back.”

Paraisy v Barnes Set for Cage Warriors 57

Paraisy v Barnes Set for Cage Warriors 57
by Chris Houten - @KingdomMMAChris

French Middleweight Norman Paraisy will meet new signed Leeroy Barnes at Cage Warriors 57 at Liverpool's Echo Arena in July, in Barnes' Cage Warriors Debut.

Paraisy (11-2-1) a 3 time Bellator vet, and TUF 11 contestant, will be making a swift return to the cage against Barnes having fought on Cage Warriors most recent card, Cage Warriors 55 in Dublin, where he fought former CW Middleweight Champion Chris Fields to a draw.

“I’m really excited to be fighting on this amazing card and in a fantastic venue like the Echo Arena,” said Paraisy.

“Only Cage Warriors can keep fighters busy like this. I’m very much looking forward to putting on a show in Liverpool."

Ranked as one of the UK’s top 15 middleweights Barnes (12-10-1) who recently signed an exclusive five-fight deal with Cage Warriors, has taken all 12 of his victories by stoppage including a submission victory over Matt Ewin.

The 28-year old from Blackpool said "Paraisy is awesome and I know this, but it’s about time people started giving me the credit I’m due as a middleweight.

“Cage Warriors believe in me enough to put this fight on and I’ll prove them right. Paraisy is tailor-made for me so this is a fight I can shine in. I’ll put him away.”

Stay tuned to Kingdom MMA for more on Cage Warriors 57

UK Veteran Leeroy Barnes Signs with Cage Warriors

Leeroy Barnes Signs Multi-fight deal with Cage Warriors
By Chris Houten - @kingdomMMAChris

UK Veteran Leeroy Barnes has signed a 5 fight deal with Europe's top MMA promotion Cage Warriors, and will make his debut for the promotion at July's Cage Warriors 57 in July.

Kingdom MMA caught up with Barnes (12-10) earlier in the day to discuss the deal:

"Cage Warriors are only signing the top guys in Europe to exclusive deals right now. The fact they offered me this contract shows they consider me to be on this level, I take that as a challenge to prove them right.

I'm really excited to make my debut in Liverpool the city I've trained in for my whole MMA career and let's face Cage Warriors needed somebody as handsome as me in the middle weight division Since Danny Roberts dropped to welterweight"

Hailing from Blackpool, fan favourite Barnes who has fought for Bamma and Made 4 the Cage, has finished all 12 of the opponents he has beaten, and joins Tom Breese, as well  asTUF Smashes Bola Omoyele, Luke Newman, and Valentino Petrescu as the latest addition tof the growing, talent filled roster.

Barnes' opponent for Cage Warriors 57 is yet to be confirmed.