Cage Warriors Academy Wales returns to Ebbw Vale this Saturday with yet another incredibly stacked card. The card’s which feature some of the UK’s best young mixed martial artists always deliver and that isn’t expected to change this weekend.
Fans in attendance will be treated to four title fights. Levi Batchelor is set to headline the event as takes his second crack at bringing home the featherweight belt. Ellis Clement will look to defend his bantamweight title for the first time. Befan Hall and Tallon Jones will rematch, this time for flyweight gold. And Jay Aspinwall and Kunle Lawal will scrap it out for the vacant welterweight championship.
Ahead of what is sure to be another memorable night in South Wales, here are five fights, outside of the intriguing title bouts, you will not want to miss.
Cage Warriors Academy Wales: Dan Kitchen v Jack Beazley
These two were scheduled to meet in 2022 and we should all be very thankful it’s rebooked for this Saturday. Dan Kitchen v Jack Beazley is an all-action, highly skilled battle that should have you on the edge of your seat. A fight that could be an all out war or over in seconds. You just don’t know.
Kitchen is no stranger to fighting on these CWAW cards and is undefeated in Ebbw Vale. He’s a tricky grappling specialist who is always looking to submit you. A product of Lions Den Fighters, he is a highly skilled competitor who loves to show-off the work that he puts in. His last time fighting in Wales, he picked up a first round triangle choke over Dan Morris. He’ll be hoping to make it a quick day at the office once again when he meets SMMA’s Jack Beazley.
Beazley holds a 3-1 record and has fought all three of his amateur bouts at these events. He knows what to expect when he steps into that cage and he always brings his war-like mentality when he does. Training with some of the best in Wales had moulded Jack into a truly exciting young prospect. Two of his three wins have come by finish and he’ll hope to improve upon that this week.
Expect the unknown when these two face-off inside the cage at Cage Warriors Academy Wales 9.
Cage Warriors Academy Wales: Christina Papasotiriou v Lauren Woolf
There are certainly a lot of eyes on this one. Kickboxing sensation, Lauren Woolf will be taking her talent over to MMA when she faces Greece’s Christina Papasotiriou.
Woolf will make her much anticipated MMA debut after dominating the kickboxing world for so long. A holder of several world and national titles in the sport, Welsh MMA may have a real star on their hands here. Now training with Shore MMA, she’ll be hoping to kick-off her transition in style.
Her task is, however, no easy one. She’s taking on Greece’s Christina Papasotiriou. With experience at IMMAF level and already on pro bout under her wing, she’s hoping to spoil Woolf’s debut this Saturday. The 27-year-old will make the trip to Wales and will want to put on a show in front of, what will be, a hostile Welsh crowd.
Woolf has predicted a KO victory when she steps into the cage and given her unbelievable arsenal of striking, it’s fair to say you won’t want to miss this. Don’t blink.
Ryan Lockyer v Raheem Joseph
A cracking matchup between two highly experienced fighters who are always fun to watch. “Iron” Ryan Lockyer takes on Raheem “The Cannon” Joseph will both be hoping for a big night when they meet in Ebbw Vale.
Ryan Lockyer is a name that is associated with Welsh amateur MMA. Competing since 2016, Lockyer has a very experienced record to boast. Working out of The MAT Academy, with the likes of, Lewis Long, Ben Ellis and Aaron Khalid. He loves taking you down and does some of his best work he’s got you on the mat. Don’t give him your back, cause he’ll catch you.
Raheem Joseph holds a 2-2 record and most recently fought at Raged UK 15. A round one kimura meant he came away with a massive victory for him and his team. Joseph trains with the guys at Sweatbox Gym in Bristol and is one powerful man. He’ll be looking to make 2023 his year and that starts this Saturday night.
A battle of power and technique. Fans should be interested to see who comes out on top in this matchup.
Aaron Towns v Kenzie Jones
Two former title challengers will collide in the form of Scotland’s Aaron Towns and Wales’ Kenzie Jones. Last October, Towns competed for the vacant bantamweight title, but was defeated. Nearly a year prior to that, Jones lost in his featherweight title bout, after breaking his hand. Now, the two will face-off with each other.
Towns will be hoping to make his second trip to Ebbw Vale a successful one. The experienced Scotsman has a point to prove and he’ll not want to let this one go to the judges decision. He has a good mix of finishes on his résumé, which should certainly excite you.
Shore MMA’s Kenzie Jones has been out of action since December 2021. An unfortunate hand injury meant he was forced to retire from his fight with Ieuan Mackenzie. Before his first shot at gold didn’t go his way, Jones was riding high in the Welsh ranks. He was 4-0, with three excellent finishes. Now, it’s time for his highly anticipated return to the cage.
Which former title challenger will come out on top in this one? Jones will be hoping to bounce back in a huge way so expect fireworks.
Louis Riggs v Josh Sinnett
Both Louis Riggs and Josh Sinnett hold 1-0 records as amateurs. But trust me when I tell you, this fight will deliver on Saturday night.
Louis Riggs, who, like Raheem Joseph, trains out of Sweatbox Gym, is a highly skilled young fighter. His last win in Ebbw Vale came against Dylan Cochran, where he bagged a dominant decision in what was a very successful debut. He’ll tell you himself that he’s prepared for wherever the fight takes him and believes he has the skills to come out on top.
Fans of the events should remember Josh Sinnett for his last outing in October. A first round flying triangle choke was the talk of the town when Sinnett bagged just that against Joe Wood. Training with both Blaenavon and Shore MMA, his skillset is only getting deeper. He explained after that his flying triangle was something he works on a lot during training. So, don’t be surprised to see him attempt one or two this weekend…
The matchmaking for this card is sensational and it’s sure to be another very memorable night in South Wales. Cage Warriors Academy Wales 9 goes down this Saturday in Ebbw Vale. We’ll be covering the event right here. Stay tuned.
Cage Warriors Academy Wales
