Europe’s biggest MMA promoters announce Newcastle return
Written by Rob Smith on 27th September 2024
Middlesbrough fighter Harry Hardwick (right) faces off with Nathan Rose at Bellator London.
Cage Warriors (CW) has announced that it will be returning to Newcastle in November, with a fight card featuring plenty of North East talent.
The Irish-owned mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company says its event at the Vertu Motors Arena on November 23 will be headlined by featherweight champion Harry Hardwick, the Middlesbrough battler looking to defend his belt for the first time against Brazilian Keweny Lopes.
CW was last in Newcastle on May 25, when Hardwick won his title, again on a night also featuring many other North East fighters, like Kennedy Freeman and Josh Abraham.
Hardwick will be fighting to retain his belt against a fighter riding an 11-fight winning streak, with nine of those coming via stoppages. This match-up is sure to be an all-out war, with both fighters having entertaining styles.
Other familiar North East fighters are coming back for this event will include Kennedy Freeman, making her return as she looks to work her way to a title shot.
Kennedy is the daughter of UK MMA pioneer Ian Freeman and wants to carry on the Freeman legacy with a statement victory.
Sunderland’s Justin Burlinson will be taking on Turkish fighter Sado Ucar in a welterweight match-up. Burlinson has most notably fought on Dana White’s Contender series, but lost via a first-round stoppage. He will be looking to battle his way back to the series.
Newcastle’s Josh Abraham is also back for this event, looking for redemption after losing to Aiden Lee in his last fight at the previous Cage Warriors Newcastle event.
The Newcastle crowd always gets behind Josh, so fans can expect some great atmosphere when he makes his appearance.
