British MMA promotion Cage Warriors celebrated their 20th
birthday last weekend with a stacked card at the O2 Arena in
London.
The organization has been the starting point for some of the biggest stars in MMA history such as Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
Dan Hardy was the first-ever Englishman to compete for UFC gold when he faced Georges St-Pierre at UFC 211 in March 2010, but before that he made a name for himself in the UK. United with Cage Warriors.
After two decades of epic shows, wild fights and top-level talent, ‘The Outlaw’ explained why Cage Warriors have enjoyed such longevity in a sport that has notoriously seen countless promotions rise and fall while they are remained constant.
“Cage Warriors are a mainstay of the UK MMA scene and you would be hard pressed to find another promotion that has done so much for the UK,” Hardy told talkSPORT.
The 40-year-old joined UK outlet MMA in 2004 and has been amazed at how far he’s come since then.
He credits the current owner of Cage Warriors and his matchmaker for taking things to the next level.
“I remember signing with Cage Warriors because it was the pinnacle of the UK scene. I wanted the belt. It was a very important belt for me to win. The champions were always strong and the links with the game. UFC were always good,” Hardy said.
“Graham Boylan is doing a really good job with that right now. I think the production value and the way the shows are put together is way more professional than it’s ever been.
“They’re a bit more ruthless with their pairing than a lot of other organizations. Again, it comes down to Ian Dean. I had a lot of wins over Cage Warriors but I also had a few losses.
The British MMA legend thinks Cage Warriors was able to
constantly create stars and elite level fighters because they refuse to give anyone fights.
“There was no quarry building. For example, the fighters are not supported, they are challenged at the right pace. A lot of times when fighters come to the UFC, they’re already well prepared,” Hardy continued.
“By the time I came to the UFC, I had experienced everything I needed at Cage Warriors. It set me up for a four-fight title run.
“If you look at McGregor, by the time he came to the UFC he was already a very, very composed forward. Bisping was already a fierce fighter.
Hardy thinks there are currently a ton of talented fighters on the Cage Warriors roster who are capable of joining the UFC and becoming the next Bisping or McGregor.
“You have to look at those who come out of Next Generation, there are quite a few. Luke Riley is the one who stands out. He has a real swagger and can stir up a crowd. You can definitely tell he has a good fan base, which is definitely one of them,” he said.
“The other is Nathan Fletcher [who] follows the suit of a next generation fighter very well. He pulls them down, grabs their backs, climbs them and chokes them.
“A very humble fighter, who speaks softly and who is very sympathetic. By the time he’s had a few more fights and really established himself in his own game, I really think he’ll be one to watch.
“Elsewhere in the country, the GB Top Team is doing great things. I think Will Currie is also one to watch, his fights have been impressive and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.
After another stellar weekend for British MMA with UFC London and Cage Warriors 141, Hardy thinks now is the best time to be a fight fan and things will only get better in the years to come. come.
“We’re spoiled for choice right now,” he said. “British MMA is at its all-time high in my opinion. There are so many packed gyms, the amateur events are packed with 20 or 30 fights on the schedule, it’s a good time.
With the UFC, Bellator, PFL and Cage Warriors all investing heavily in the UK market, the next 20 years could see MMA become a mainstream sport in this country.