Cage Warriors – Europe’s Main MMA Organisation – have at present revealed a blockbuster championship bout for his or her long-awaited return to Dublin.
Native favorite James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan will make his first defence of the 170lbs title when he faces resurgent former challenger Justin Burlinson on Saturday, April twenty sixth on the iconic RDS.
The competition will happen over 5, 5 minute rounds and air dwell on UFC Struggle Go and worldwide broadcast companions.
The bout has come to fruition after Welterweight PrizeFighter winner Omiel Brown opted to forego his title shot in favour of dropping to the light-weight division.
Group Ryano’s Sheehan (8-3) has been a mainstay within the stacked Cage Warriors welterweight pack since first strapping on the Well-known Yellow Gloves in 2019, having competed solely within the promotion from that time ahead.
A tough-hitter able to setting a relentless tempo each standing and on the canvas, Sheehan holds victories over the likes of Omiel Brown, Olli Santalahti and Jamie Richardson, and regardless of dealing with a wealth of elite opposition together with UFC stars Ian Machado-Garry and Oban Elliott, has but to be completed in twenty contests throughout the newbie {and professional} ranks.
The Dubliner captured CW gold on the primary time of asking earlier this 12 months, along with his fourth-round submission of Daniel Konrad in a ‘Struggle of the 12 months’ nominated slug-fest.
Sheehan’s first challenger is not any stranger to combating Irishmen for championship gold.
Sunderland, England’s Justin Burlinson (9-2) shall be making his second bid for a Cage Warriors title on the evening, having beforehand fallen inches quick towards present UFC star Rhys McKee in an all-time traditional Belfast brawl.
The 27 12 months outdated has since notched up wins over Jamie Richardson and – most lately – Theodor Berggren in an absolute thriller in Newcastle.
Simply as notable are Burlinson’s victories exterior of the cage; the Group Fish Tank stalwart has fought again from a major knee damage, whereas battling – and defeating – testicular most cancers.
“2025 shall be an enormous 12 months for Cage Warriors…” stated CW President Graham Boylan, “…so there’s no higher technique to kick off the bulletins than with one of many greatest and greatest title fights we may presumably put collectively.”
“James Sheehan and Justin Burlinson are two of probably the most thrilling, dynamic and proficient athletes on our roster; they’re each offensively minded and neither has a reverse gear.”
“This has all of the makings of an all-time traditional.”
“Cage Warriors is an Irish-owned organisation, and I’m proud to carry fights of this high quality to Dublin as we proceed to champion the Irish MMA revolution!”
Extra bouts for CW 188: Dublin shall be revealed in the end. Tickets can be found by way of Ticketmaster.ie, with the occasion streaming dwell on UFC Struggle Go and worldwide broadcast companions.
