If Luke Riley’s goal heading into Cage Warriors 178 was to make an undeniable case for a UFC call-up, he did a pretty good job, with a highlight-reel finish in his main event appearance taking his undefeated record to 10-0.
Riley was due to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series, but delays in his visa application put those plans on the back burner, and he instead returned to action in Cage Warriors, where he faced Brazil’s 6-1 Alexandre Junior in the main event at the BEC Arena, Manchester.
And, with the UFC’s brass likely watching from afar, Riley delivered a show-stopping performance with a first-round knockout, courtesy of a huge overhand right and follow-up punches.
Luke Riley sends his opponent to another dimension with a NASTY one punch KO 💥 Now undefeated at 10-0 🤩
📞 Surely that phone is already ringing? #CW178 on @UFCFightPass o pic.twitter.com/sYWkr4Esnf
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) September 21, 2024
It gave the 25-year-old Next Generation MMA product the seventh KO/TKO of his 10-fight career, and added another impressive finish to his growing highlight reel.
Ieuan Davies needed little time to put his opponent in danger and submit him 👏 6-0, just like that! Lightweight has a new contender.
📺 Watch #CW178 live on @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/z7FQC7002i
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) September 21, 2024
In the co-main event, another undefeated prospect added another finish to his record, as Ieuan Davies needed just 97 seconds to submit Brazil’s Amaury Junior, while bantamweight Jack Humphries needed only slightly longer to claim a TKO finish of Norway’s Fabian Ufs in their 139-pound catchweight contest.
Jack Humphries was relentless, what a performance 😮💨
Chasing down his opponent and securing the TKO win in round 1 👏📺 Watch #CW178 live on @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/Cnk8wPqXZ5
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) September 21, 2024
Also on the main card, a battle of lightweight veterans saw Gavin Hughes claim a submission finish of returning former featherweight champion Dean Trueman after an entertaining back-and-forth scrap that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
It looked like Trueman was starting to get the upper hand in a bruising encounter, but early in the second round Hughes jumped into a guillotine choke as Trueman looked for a takedown, and forced the tap from the Ilkeston man to claim an emotional victory.
Gavin Hughes with an unbelievable sequence to get the submission finish at #CW178.
The crowd loved that, what a fight!
📺 Watch #CW178 live on @UFCFightPass
🔗 https://t.co/a5zwSoPaXx pic.twitter.com/unTJVi5TRo— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) September 21, 2024
There was an interesting finish early on the main card as George McManus claimed a submission victory over Dara Ward in their welterweight matchup after instant replay intervened at the end of the second round.
There was confusion in the closing moments of the round, as McManus locked up a belly-down armbar on Ward, and appeared to signal that his opponent had tapped. But, with referee Rich Mitchell not able to see the tap, the action continued to the end of the round.
George McManus gets the submission win after officials review the footage between rounds.
The action continues here at #CW178 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YT5Xm0jySI
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) September 21, 2024
But, between rounds, senior official Marc Goddard was able to check the footage, and informed Mitchell that there was a tap, and that it was “as clear as day” on the replay. It meant that the fight was stopped between rounds, with McManus declared the victor.
The main card opener saw a well-contested back-and-forth lightweight scrap between pro debutants Shay Ingram and Marc-Phillippe Ngatchou, with “The Fridge” taking the victory in a bout that showcased both men’s skills over 15 valuable minutes as the two amateur standouts made their first pro appearances.
Cage Warriors 178: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Luke Riley def. Alexandre Junior via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:05
- Ieuan Davies def. Amaury Junior via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:37
- Jack Humphries def. Fabian Ufs via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:12
- Gavin Hughes def. Dean Trueman via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 0:48
- George McManus def. Dara Ward via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 5:00
- Shay Ingram def. Marc Ngatchou via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Joe Fields def. Costin Bunha via technical submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 2:24
- Nick Beukema def. Cameron Chamberlain via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:24
- Gregory Wamytan def. Sheldon Ryan via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 1:09
- Harry Shaw def. Stef Murray via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jordan Molinari def. Matthew Friel via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
