With victories over Jaime Rogers, Arnold Quero, and Tommy Maguire all in one night Martin Stapleton won the Cage Contenders lightweight tournament December 1st in Liverpool. The event was broadcast in the UK and 103 countries but not in the US.
Both Stapleton and fellow finalist Maguire used strong wrestling skills in the quarter and semifinal rounds with Maguire taking out Chris Stringer and Uche Ihiekwe along the way to the finals. Unfortunately this made the finals a little drawn out as most of the bout was clinching for position. Stapleton’s conditioning gave him the edge and after three rounds the decision bringing the English fighter to 12-1 on an eight-win streak.
In the co-main event Alexei Roberts took just 0:26 to submit Danny Welsh. So far 8-3 Roberts’ fights have either ended in the first round or he has lost by decision, this night marked his fourth first-round submission but amazingly his second fight in a row to end at 0:26, the first being by guillotine choke in November.
Cage Contenders results:
Dez Parker def. Lee Williams 2:53 R1 by armbar
Patrick Pimblett def. Dougie Scott 2:09 R1 by flying triangle choke
Dan Rushworth def. Russell Smith 2:53 R1 by TKO
Shay Walsh def. Saul Rogers 1:49 R3 by arm-triangle choke
Martin Stapleton def. Jaime Rogers by unanimous decision
Arnold Quero def. Mihail Kazaku 1:49 R1 by TKO
Tommy Maguire def. Chris Stringer by unanimous decision
Uche Ihiekwe def. Phil Flynn 1:13 R1 by KO
Mike Wooten def. Alan Philpott 1:43 R3 by triangle choke
Martin Stapleton def. Arnold Quero 4:59 R1 by heel hook
Tommy Maguire def. Uche Ihiekwe by majority decision
Alexei Roberts def. Danny Welsh 0:26 R1 by keylock
Martin Stapleton def. Tommy Maguire by unanimous decision
