Cage Warriors Fighting Championship

Cage WarriorsEvents, champions and history

Europe's longest-running MMA promotion, founded in London in 2001. More than 210 numbered events, the promotion that launched Conor McGregor.

  • Founded 2001
  • London
  • UFC Fight Pass
  • Amateur academy
Tickets Official site Upcoming events
210numbered events
285events including the Academy
16countries visited
70+alumni in the UFC

Upcoming events

17Oct 2026

CW 211

PalaPellicone, Rome

Main event: Bellandi vs Valente

Tickets
07Nov 2026

CW London

BBC Studioworks Television Centre, London

Card to be announced

Tickets
14Nov 2026

CW London

BBC Studioworks Television Centre, London

Card to be announced

Tickets
28Nov 2026

CW 213

BEC Arena, Manchester

Main event: Davies vs Vucenic

Tickets
05Dec 2026

CW 214

Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle

Card to be announced

Tickets

Champions

Middleweight

Gustavo Sousa 馃嚙馃嚪

CW 210, September 2026

Lightweight

Ieuan Davies 馃嚞馃嚙

CW 207, June 2026

Featherweight

Nik Bagley 馃嚞馃嚙

CW 200, February 2026, 1 defense

Bantamweight

Weslley Maia 馃嚙馃嚪

CW 203, March 2026

Flyweight

Nicolas Leblond 馃嚝馃嚪

CW 199, December 2025

Welterweight

Vacant title

Light heavyweight

Vacant title

From Cage Warriors to the UFC

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor

UFC 路 2013

Two-division champion in 2012

Tom Aspinall

UFC 路 2020
Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett

UFC 路 2021

Featherweight champion
Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria

UFC 路 2020
Ian Machado Garry

Ian Machado Garry

UFC 路 2021
Morgan Charri猫re

Morgan Charri猫re

UFC 路 2023

Featherweight champion

William Gomis

UFC 路 2022

CW 125

Michael Bisping

UFC 路 2006

Light heavyweight champion

The story of Cage Warriors

Cage Warriors was founded in London in 2001 by Dougie Truman. The first event, "Armageddon", took place on July 27, 2002 at York Hall. Graham Boylan took control in 2010, bought the promotion back in 2015 after a hiatus, and has run it since with matchmaker Ian Dean. It bills itself as Europe's longest-running MMA promotion.

The promotion has been a springboard for a long list of UFC fighters: Conor McGregor, featherweight and then lightweight champion in 2012, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy, Paddy Pimblett, Tom Aspinall, Gegard Mousasi, Ian Machado Garry and Ilia Topuria. It has held events in 16 countries, including England, Ireland, Italy, the United States and Jordan.

French fighters hold a special place. Morgan Charri猫re was featherweight champion before debuting at UFC Paris in 2023, William Gomis fought there in 2021 before signing with the UFC, and Nicolas Leblond has been flyweight champion since December 2025. Karl Amoussou, Ga毛l Grimaud and Samir Faiddine also held Cage Warriors titles. No event has been held in France yet.

Events have streamed live on UFC Fight Pass since 2016. Cage Warriors also runs an amateur pathway, the Cage Warriors Academy, in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and South East England.

Standout facts

2001

founding year, making it Europe's longest-running active MMA promotion.

2

belts for Conor McGregor in 2012, featherweight then lightweight, before the UFC.

1st

MMA event officially sanctioned by the UK government, with CW 114.

4

Cage Warriors alumni on the UFC Paris 2023 card, including Charri猫re and Gomis.

Cage Warriors events of the last two years

EventDateVenueMain eventWinner
CW 210Sep 26, 2026RDS, DublinSousa vs McCorrySousa
CW 209Jul 4, 2026Vertu Motors Arena, NewcastleG. Hardwick vs S谩vioG. Hardwick
CW 208Jun 27, 2026Indigo at The O2, LondonBagley vs A. LeeBagley
CW 207Jun 20, 2026BEC Arena, ManchesterBrown vs DaviesDavies
CW 206Jun 19, 2026BEC Arena, ManchesterBinder vs U莽arBinder
CW 205Apr 25, 2026Braehead Arena, GlasgowStephen vs AbrahamStephen
CW 204Apr 11, 2026PalaPellicone, RomeNuzzi vs M. SilvaNo contest
CW 203Mar 20, 2026Indigo at The O2, LondonMaia vs SarwaMaia
CW 202Mar 14, 2026BEC Arena, ManchesterBrown vs S. SilvaBrown
CW 201Mar 13, 2026BEC Arena, ManchesterA. Lee vs de LaraA. Lee
CW 200Feb 21, 2026RDS, DublinBagley vs SimonBagley
CW 199Dec 6, 2025Vertu Motors Arena, NewcastleClancy Jr vs van SuijdamClancy Jr
CW 198Nov 22, 2025BEC Arena, ManchesterBrown vs TugarevBrown
CW 197Nov 21, 2025BEC Arena, ManchesterA. Lee vs D. WilsonA. Lee
CW 196Nov 15, 2025Indigo at The O2, LondonVucenic vs MerjoevVucenic
CW 195Oct 4, 2025PalaPellicone, RomeScatizzi vs K臋paScatizzi
CW 194Sep 27, 2025RDS, DublinHill vs BlascoHill
CW 193Sep 13, 2025Vertu Motors Arena, NewcastleG. Hardwick vs Nonato JuniorG. Hardwick
CW 192Jul 12, 2025Indigo at The O2, LondonHaque vs ScottHaque
CW 191Jun 28, 2025BEC Arena, ManchesterTugarev vs PowerTugarev
CW 190Jun 27, 2025BEC Arena, ManchesterL枚枚f vs A. LeeL枚枚f
CW 189May 31, 2025PalaPellicone, RomeMichelis vs U莽arMichelis
CW 188Apr 26, 2025RDS, DublinBurlinson vs SheehanBurlinson
CW 187Apr 19, 2025Braehead Arena, GlasgowClancy Jr vs GomesClancy Jr
CW 186Mar 21, 2025Indigo at The O2, LondonH. Hardwick vs GarciaH. Hardwick
CW 185Mar 15, 2025BEC Arena, ManchesterRiley vs AbbasovRiley
CW 184Mar 14, 2025BEC Arena, ManchesterOrozco vs AugustoOrozco
CW 183Mar 8, 2025PalaPellicone, RomeGittins vs GiordanoNo contest
CW 181Nov 23, 2024Vertu Motors Arena, NewcastleH. Hardwick vs LopesH. Hardwick
CW 180Nov 15, 2024Indigo at The O2, LondonWebb vs ClampWebb
CW 179Nov 2, 2024RomePatern貌 vs BuenoPatern貌

Rules and format

  • Unified rules of MMA, overseen by local commissions.
  • Title fights over five rounds, other bouts over three.
  • Seven divisions, from flyweight (125 lb) to light heavyweight (205 lb).
  • Invitation-only "Unplugged" events in Manchester.
  • Cage Warriors Academy: amateur pathway in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and England.

Broadcast and partners

UFC Fight Pass live worldwide since 2016. Regional partners: Viasat (Nordics), Eleven Sports (Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg). Shows hosted by Dan Hardy.

Official links

Official siteTicketsInstagramYouTubeXTikTok

FAQ

When was Cage Warriors founded?

Cage Warriors was founded in London in 2001 by Dougie Truman. The first event took place on July 27, 2002 at York Hall. Graham Boylan is the president.

Where can I watch Cage Warriors?

Events stream live worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.

Which Cage Warriors champions made it to the UFC?

Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy, Paddy Pimblett and Morgan Charri猫re were all Cage Warriors champions before the UFC. Tom Aspinall, Ilia Topuria and Ian Machado Garry also fought there.

Is there a French Cage Warriors champion?

Yes. Nicolas Leblond has been flyweight champion since CW 199 on December 6, 2025 in Newcastle.

Page updated on September 28, 2026. Sources: cagewarriors.com, en.wikipedia.org, sherdog.com.

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