Cage Warriors 86 Preview, Betting Tips, and Odds
Europe’s leading and longest-running mixed martial arts promotion Cage Warriors is ready to put on another solid card. “After two sell-out shows at our London home in February and June, we’re delighted to head back to the Indigo at The O2 this Saturday” says Cage Warriors President Graham Boylan.
The Cage Warriors 86 card will feature a title fight with champion Nathaniel Wood looking to make his first defense of his bantamweight crown. Josh Reed will be challenging for the strap and looks to extend his undefeated record of 7 wins in the night’s headliner.
There are betting opportunities for all of these bouts as Betsafe is the official betting partner of the Irish-owned promotion that has produced such well-known names as Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy, and Conor McGregor. Let’s take a closer look at the fight card.
Cage Warriors 86 prelim Card
Eric Nolan (1-0) Vs. Mehdi Saadi (Pro debut)
Team Ryano’s Nolan makes the journey over from Ireland for his second professional bout after winning at Cage Warriors 81 in March. He previously held a 5-3-1 amateur record and competed at the 2016 IMMAF World Championships. Saadi makes his debut and fights out of the MMA Factory in Paris, France.
Alex Thorne (7-5) Vs. Arvydas Juska (1-3)
Thorne makes his second appearance in the Cage Warriors promotion after losing to Jamie Richardson in June this year. Juska has lost his previous three bouts with his last win coming back in 2014. He will have to find a way to take advantage of his muay thai skills and stay off the mat against Thorne.
Maciej Gierszewski (2-0) Vs. Marcus Paul (1-0)
After a 4-2 amateur career, Gierszewski turned pro this year, winning his first two bouts in the first round. Marcus Paul is from the same gym as headliner Wood. He won his only professional bout in 2015 and after a few fight cancellations will finally make his Cage Warriors debut.
Fabien Gallinaro (3-5) Vs. Jean N’Doye (8-1)
Gallinaro ended a four fight losing streak in April, winning in Switzerland by first round submission. He competed at Cage Warriors 80, losing to Aiden Lee. N’Doye returns for the first time in almost four years having previously won his last three Cage Warriors bouts.
Darren O’Gorman (5-2) Vs. Brian Bouland (5-2)
In this pick’em in the odds, both bright prospects will be looking to improve their identical five win and two loss records. Ireland’s O’Gorman will want to build on the impressive submission victory over Bryan Creighton at Cage Warriors 84. Belgium’s Bouland will look to return to winning ways after losing to former bantamweight title challenger Marko Kovacevic last year in Switzerland. The bantamweight had previously won five consecutive bouts.
Cage Warriors 86 Main Card
Adel Ghaddou (4-6) Vs. Junior Karanta (1-0)
After six consecutive losses at the start of his pro career, Ghaddou spent nearly eighteen months out before coming back with four consecutive victories in the space of just over a year. Junior ‘Fatty’ Karanta hasn’t competed since 2011, but returns to the cage. He towers in at nearly two metres tall!
Joe McColgan (3-1) Vs. Sean Carter (12-5)
Despite being only at the start of his career, Joe McColgan has amassed an impressive array of victories over Peter Queally and most recently Richard Williams, in a brilliant performance at Cage Warriors 83 in Wales. Carter previously competed on the Ultimate Fighter Season 22 and a long-time Cage Warriors vet with victories coming over Tim Wilde, Mario Saeed and Myles Price. “Sexy Curls” is coming off of a loss and is an underdog here, but could be worth a play.
Sam Creasey (8-1) Vs. Paul Marin (12-6)
Creasey will look to make it back-to-back victories in London after his first-round submission victory over Iuri Bejenari at Cage Warriors 84. Creasey is the biggest favorite of the night as he faces Marin. The Romanian is experienced in Cage Warriors with seven previous bouts with the promotion. He holds a victory over Shajidul Haque, who is the only man to defeat Creasey.
Hakon Foss (8-4) Vs. Jamie Richardson (5-3)
Norway’s Foss will be looking to return to winning ways following a disappointing defeat to Craig White at Cage Warriors 84 in London. The “Ferocious” one hold impressive victories over the likes of Zebaztian Kadestam and Charlie Leary, and will look to do the same against Richardson. Richardson is an underdog and will want to build on his first victory in Cage Warriors in Bournemouth over Alex Thorne with another one in London. The welterweight is riding a three-fight winning streak and will attempt to upset the Frontline Academy fighter.
Cage Warriors Bantamweight Title
Nathaniel Wood (11-3) vs. Josh Reed (7-0)
Nathaniel Wood looks to make his first defense of his bantamweight crown after winning the belt at the Indigo at the O2 Arena in June, stopping Marko Kovacevic in the first round to win the previously vacant title. Wood, cornered by the legendary Brad Pickett, has won his last three bouts with all of those coming inside the distance. Wood is the big favorite here.
Flying the Welsh flag in London is the unbeaten Josh Reed. Four wins under the Cage Warriors banner alongside a perfect 7-0 professional record, backed up by a 4-0 amateur record, shows the threat of the upcoming bantamweight. A first-round stoppage of Gavin Kelly at Cage Warriors 83 in May secured his shot at the title. Another opportunity to bet on a underdog with a good-sized payoff is here for the taking.
About Ryan O’Leary
Ryan O’Leary is a veteran mixed martial arts journalist and commentator. The Swedish-based writer is the founder and editor at MMAViking.com, which is the premier source for Nordic mixed martial arts news.
