5 Cage Warriors Fighters You Need To Watch In 2025
Read Time:6 Minute, 11 Second
Cage Warriors hosted seventeen events across five countries last year. The promotion currently leads the UK and European MMA scenes. They also have an ever-growing presence in California on the side. It is an organization that boasts former champions in Conor McGregor, Tom Aspinall, Ian Machado Garry, and Paddy Pimblett. Current UFC Featherweight Champion, Ilia Topuria, even made an appearance in 2018. Further back, Michael Bisping, Gegard Mousasi, and Dan Hardy were notable champions. They held the gold while wearing the famous yellow gloves in their illustrious careers.
In fact, thirty-four reigning Cage Warriors champions have vacated their titles to go to the UFC. This has happened throughout the organization’s twenty-three year history. The total number of fighters making the direct jump from Cage Warriors to the Octagon is well over one-hundred. To sum up, if you like to be ahead of the curve in finding a future star, Cage Warriors is your first port of call. It is a place you should watch regularly.
Here are five fighters that are primed to make a huge splash in the organization next year.
Nik Bagley
The owner of the āNik Bagley Rear Naked Chokeā, is the Ukrainian born Featherweight. Bagley has six wins by that method in his first eight pro fights. He is sitting at 6-1 with four of his patented chokes in a row. Even more, three were in the first round. He is ready and waiting to make a big step towards title contention in 2025.
Physically, Bagley is an imposing threat. It is not easy to stop him gaining complete control of the fight once he gets in close. His versatility has been shown with a flying knee knockout also on his record (although in an exhibition fight). An interesting fact is that he has an amateur draw against rising UFC flyweight Loneāer Kavanagh. The two now train together under the stewardship of UFC veteran and UK MMA legend Brad Pickett. They are at Great Britain Top Team in London. It is arguably the top team in the UK currently, as the name implies.
With a win in November, Cage Warriors 186 in March seems to be the logical return date in 2025. The event takes place at the Indigo in London. Another win here would put him in perfect stead for a title shot. Presumably, against Harry Hardwick in the back end of the year, or perhaps an appearance in the Prize Fighter Tournament. Which his style is perfect for, only should they run one in the Featherweight Division.
Bagley is a man I would bet money on making it to the UFC, perhaps as early as 2026. So, he is absolutely someone you must be watching over the next twelve months.
Anthony Orozco
At Cage Warriors 182, Anthony Orozco took another step into the pro ranks with a 69-second finish of Dominico Salas.
The sole American on this list, Orozco is now 5-0. He has been looking comfortable in each fight, securing four finishes in the process. Anthony is a well-rounded fighter who has the look, charisma, and the ability to become a big name. As a member of promoter Graham Boylan’s MMA Fight Academy based in San Diego, he is seen by those around Cage Warriors as someone that can go to the very top of the sport.
As an IMMAF veteran, the 5-0 record does not fully represent the experience he has, holding a 9-1 amateur record. The only loss he has came in his final fight against BRAVE super-prospect, Sultan Omarov. Orozco has been keen to stay active too. He has been one of the few Americans on the promotion’s circuit to make multiple trips across the pond to fight and keep busy.
With last night’s win in the “People’s Main Event”, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him headline a Cage Warriors San Diego card next year. Maybe a Contenders Series call after winning that.
Luke Riley
Perhaps the first name that comes to mind when you think of a rising star in Cage Warriors is Liverpoolās Luke Riley.
In 2024, he graduated from a prospect to a full-blown star for the organization. He has the style, the ability, and the look to become a star in the near future. Luke put himself in position for a big 2024, following the organization’s fight of the year in 2023 against Alexander Lƶƶf. He did not disappoint.
A victory early in the year over Bellator veteran John De Jesus earned him a spot on Dana Whiteās Contender Series. However, this fight falling off due to visa issues allowed him to step into his first Cage Warriors main event. It was here where he truly stamped his ticket to superstardom, sensationally finishing Alexandre Junior in the first round to move to 10-0 as a professional.
Riley trains out of Next Generation MMA with Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann. As he progresses further in his career, it doesn’t appear that the scouse takeover of the UFC will slow down anytime soon.
Sean Clancy Jr.
Scotlandās Sean Clancy Jr is ready and waiting for a step up in competition in 2025. He is 6-0 with six finishes, including a violent destruction just a couple of weeks ago.
Scottish MMA is due a star, and Clancy feels like the man to be it. Unbelievably just 22-years old, he is a man with time on his side. But based on his dominance thus far, you cannot keep him out of the welterweight division’s upper-echelon for long. Unfortunately drawn in the alternate fight for the recent one-night prizefighter tournament, he dispatched his opponent with ease in just 68-seconds.
Activity is key for the Paisley native, with his six pro fights taking place in a period of just twenty months, so look for him to be back in the cage as soon as possible in 2025
Omiel Brown
A furious power-puncher who also carries a submission threat, Team Renegadeās Omiel Brown won the Welterweight Prize Fighter Tournament back in September.
This would have set him up for a welterweight championship fight in the near future. But, he chose to forego that shot in favor of a move down to the lightweight division. If he can make that drop safely while retaining his strength and power, he should prove dangerous at the new weight. Omiel could quickly earn himself a shot at Cage Warriors Lightweight Champion, George Hardwick.
A teammate of former UFC Welterweight Champion, Leon Edwards, Brown has been on the cusp of Cage Warriors gold for a long time. But, he failed to get over the hump on a couple of occasions. A loss to Daniel Skibinski in what could have been a title eliminator, as well as a shocking defeat in a vacant title fight against Giannis Bachar meant a return to the drawing board. Fireworks personified at his best, heāll be hoping that he can keep this going at the new weight division. It will be one of the more interesting plot points to keep an eye on in Cage Warriors in 2025.
Happy
40 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
40 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
20 %
About Post Author
Average Rating