Cage Warriors 168: Fight Card Breakdown

Mark Lawson
Cage Warriors 168: Fight Card Breakdown

Cage Warriors 168 is the second part of a two-night double header being held at BEC Arena in Manchester on Saturday 16 March 2024. With two title fights and a tradition of great Cage Warriors cards in Manchester, this is a must-see event.

What fights are on this card and what are the fighters’ records? Read on for details.

Main Card

Main Event: Andy Clamp vs Matty Byfield (Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight)

Andy Clamp

  • Height: 6′ 4″ (193 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA Record: 12-2-0, 1 NC.
  • 7 wins by KO/TKO, 4 by submission and 1 by decision.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO and 1 by submission.
  • Cage Warriors record: 1-1-0.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Ghassan Abdenabi (4-0-0) at Cage Warriors 156 on 1 July 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by 1st round KO/TKO vs Chuck Campbell (4-1-0) at Cage Warriors 146 on 12 November 2022.

Matty Byfield

  • Age: 31.
  • Height: 6′ 6″ (198 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 6-1-0, 1 NC.
  • 4 wins by KO/TKO and 2 by submission.
  • 1 loss by decision.
  • Currently on 3-fight win streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 3-0-0, 1 NC.
  • Last fight: Won by 2nd round submission vs Prince McLean (9-9-0) at Cage Warriors 151: Unplugged on 24 March 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 2nd round KO/TKO vs Daniel Ladero (3-0-0) at Cage Warriors 147 on 20 November 2022.

Co-Main Event: Luke Riley vs John De Jesus (Featherweight)

Luke Riley

  • Age: 24.
  • Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 8-0-0.
  • 6 wins by KO/TKO and 2 by decision.
  • Currently on a 12-fight win streak (amateur and professional).
  • Cage Warriors record: 8-0-0.
  • Last fight: Won by 3rd round KO/TKO vs Alexander Lööf (5-0-0) at Cage Warriors 160 on 29 September 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by decision vs Matheus Malta (10-3-0) at Cage Warriors 157 on 21 July 2023.
  • Won Fighter of the Year at the Cage Warriors end of year awards for 2023. Also featured in the fights that were voted first and second in the Fight of the Year category.

John De Jesus

  • Age: 33.
  • Height: 5′ 10″ (178 cm).
  • Represents: United States.
  • Pro MMA record: 17-11-0.
  • 5 wins by KO/TKO, 2 by submission and 10 be decision.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO, 4 by submission and 6 by decision.
  • Currently on a 2-fight win streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 3-1-0.
  • Fought in Bellator from 2020 to 2021. Bellator record: 2-2-0.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Elijah Leggett (5-1-0) at Cage Warriors 159 on 8 September 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by decision vs Damon Wilson (6-1-0) at Cage Warriors 155 on 2 June 2023.

James Power vs Gianluca Rocca (Lightweight)

James Power

  • Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm).
  • Represents: England..
  • Pro MMA record: 5-1-0.
  • 5 wins by KO/TKO.
  • 1 loss by decision.
  • Cage Warriors record: 2-1-0.
  • Last fight: Lost by decision vs Michael Pagani (6-0-0) at Cage Warriors 158 on 29 July 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 2nd round KO/TKO vs Lokasz Kopera (11-7-0) at Cage Warriors 152 on 15 April 2023.

Gianluca Rocca

  • Age: 29.
  • Height: 5′ 10″ (178 cm).
  • Represents: Italy.
  • Pro MMA record: 8-3-0.
  • 5 wins by KO/TKO, 1 by submission and 2 by decision.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO, 1 by submission and 1 by decision.
  • Currently on a 2-fight win streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 1-0-0.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Guido Possidente (3-0-0) at Cage Warriors 158 on 29 July 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Issouf Nonni (0-2-0) at Blaze Fight Event 1 on 12 March 2023.

Sam Kelly vs Alessandro Giordano (Bantamweight)

Sam Kelly

  • Age: 29.
  • Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 5-2-0.
  • 2 wins by KO/TKO and 3 by submission.
  • 2 losses by decision.
  • Cage Warriors record: 2-1-0.
  • Last fight: Lost by decision vs Gianluca Scottoli (8-3-0) at Cage Warriors 158 on 29 July 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Pav Sahota (4-1-0) at Cage Warriors 151 on 24 March 2023.

Alessandro Giordano

  • Age: 26.
  • Height: 5′ 8″ (172 cm).
  • Represents: Italy.
  • Pro MMA record: 6-3-0.
  • 4 wins by KO/TKO and 2 by decision.
  • 3 losses by decision.
  • 2-fight loss streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 0-2-0.
  • Last fight: Lost by decision vs Enrico Di Gangi (3-1-0) at Cage Warriors 154 on 6 May 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by decision vs Nathan Fletcher (6-1-0) at Cage Warriors 148 on 31 December 2022.

Adam Cullen vs Harel Cohen (Lightweight)

Adam Cullen

  • Age: 25.
  • Height: 6′ 0″ (183 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 7-1-0.
  • 3 wins by KO/TKO and 4 wins by submission.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO.
  • Cage Warriors record: 7-1-0.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Amaury Junior (15-10-0) at Cage Warriors 160 on 29 September 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by 3rd round KO/TKO vs Dumitru Girlean (5-1-0) at Cage Warriors 152 on 15 April 2023.

Harel Cohen

  • Age: 23.
  • Represents: Israel.
  • Pro MMA record: 6-0-0.
  • 1 win by KO/TKO, 4 by submission and 1 by decision.
  • Currently on a 6-fight win streak.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Tom Mullen (4-1-0) at Full Contact Contender 34 on 17 June 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 3rd round submission vs Artur Murtazaev (3-0-0) at B1 MMA: Mad Cage on 6 November 2021.

Prelims

Liam Gittins vs Roberto Hernandez (Bantamweight Title Fight)

Liam Gittins (existing champion)

  • Age: 26.
  • Height: 5′ 6″ (168 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • First defence of title.
  • Pro MMA record: 12-4-0.
  • 7 wins by KO/TKO, 2 by submission and 3 by decision.
  • 2 losses by KO/TKO and 2 by decision.
  • Currently on a 5-fight win streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 9-4-0.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Reece McEwan (7-1-0) for the vacant Bantamweight title at Cage Warriors 164 on 25 November 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Janne Elonen-Kulmala (16-11-1) at Cage Warriors 157 on 21 July 2023.

Roberto Hernandez

  • Age: 30.
  • Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm).
  • Represents: United States.
  • Pro MMA record: 9-1-0.
  • 2 wins by KO/TKO, 2 by submission and 5 by decision.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO.
  • Currently on a 9-fight win streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 7-0-0.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Trevion Jones (14-10-0) at Cage Warriors 165 on 15 December 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 2nd round KO/TKO vs Toby Misech (12-7-0) at Cage Warriors 159 on 8 September 2023.

Tom Nicholls-Burton vs Craig Rawlins (Middleweight)

Tom Nicholls-Burton

  • Height: 6′ 3″ (191 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 2-0-0.
  • 2 wins by KO/TKO.
  • Currently on a 5-fight win streak (amateur and pro).
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Alexandru Velenciuc (0-1-0) at FCC 36 on 16 December 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Ryan Franklin (0-0-0) at Budo Fighting Championship 61 on 29 July 2023.

Craig Rawlins

  • Age: 32.
  • Height: 6′ 1″ (185 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 5-3-2.
  • 3 wins by KO/TKO and 2 by submission.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO and 2 by decision.
  • Currently on a 4-fight win streak.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Matthew Holland (7-15-0) at Raged UK 17 on 2 September 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 2nd round KO/TKO vs Miroslav Hladky (6-5-0) at Colosseum Fight Night 2 on 27 May 2023.

Antonio Sheldon vs Tom Mearns (Lightweight)

Antonio Sheldon

  • Height: 5′ 10″ (178 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 6-4-1.
  • 3 wins by KO/TKO, 1 by submission and 2 by decision.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO and 3 by decision.
  • Cage Warriors record: 1-2-1.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Michal Folc (7-5-0) at Cage Warriors 160 on 29 September 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by decision vs Orlando Wilson Prins (3-2-0) at Cage Warriors 152 on 15 April 2023.

Tom Mearns

  • Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 10-8-0.
  • 2 wins by KO/TKO, 2 by submission and 6 by decision.
  • 1 win by KO/TKO, 2 by submission and 5 by decision.
  • Recent record: 4-1-0 in his last 5 fights.
  • Cage Warriors record: 4-6-0.
  • Fought in Bellator from 2018 to 2019. Bellator record: 0-2-0.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Bailey Gilbert (8-4-0) at Cage Warriors 157 on 21 July 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by decision to Milad Ahady (4-1-0) at Cage Warriors 146 on 12 November 2022.

Andy Yates vs Christian Tebbett (Flyweight)

Andy Yates

  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 1-0-0.
  • 1 win by decision.
  • Currently on a 3-fight win streak (amateur and pro).
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Scott Johnson (2-1-0) at Anthony Pettis FC 8 on 20 October 2023.
  • Previous fight (amateur): Won by 3rd round submission vs Tom Gibbs (7-5-0) at Battle Arena 61 on 17 July 2021.

Christian Tebbett

  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 3-2-0.
  • 2 wins by KO/TKO and 1 by submission.
  • 1 loss by submission and 1 by decision.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Omid Ibrahimi (3-0-0) at Caged Steel 33 on 9 September 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by 2nd round submission vs Iain Postlethwaite (3-6-0) at Full Contact Contender 33 on 22 April 2023.

Sheldon Ryan vs Michelangelo Lupoli (Flyweight)

Sheldon Ryan

  • Age: 29.
  • Height: 5′ 7″ (170 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 3-1-0.
  • 1 win by KO/TKO and 2 wins by submission.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO.
  • Currently on a 3-fight win streak.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Nicola Tropi (1-2-0) at Budo Fighting Championship 61 on 29 July 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by 1st round KO/TKO vs Pol McElligott (0-2-0) at Budo Fighting Championship 57 on 29 April 2023.

Michelangelo Lupoli

  • Age: 29.
  • Height: 5′ 5″ (165 cm).
  • Represents: Italy.
  • Pro MMA record: 6-4-0.
  • 2 wins by KO/TKO and 4 by decision.
  • 1 loss by KO/TKO, 1 by submission and 2 by decision.
  • Currently on a 2-fight loss streak.
  • Cage Warriors record: 1-2-0.
  • Last fight: Lost by 2nd round KO/TKO vs Nicolas Leblond (8-4-0) at Cage Warriors 162 on 28 October 2023.
  • Previous fight: Lost by decision vs Sam Creasey (16-5-0) at Cage Warriors 154 on 6 May 2023.

Fran Breen vs Costin Bunha (Flyweight)

Fran Breen

  • Age: 23.
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 1-0-0.
  • 1 win by decision.
  • Cage Warriors record: 1-0-0.
  • Last fight: Won by decision vs Enrique Montalvo (0-0-0) at Cage Warriors 155 on 2 June 2023.
  • Previous fight (amateur): Lost by decision vs Christian Tebbett (4-1-0) at UK Fighting Championships 14 on 10 July 2021.

Costin Bunha

  • Represents: Romania.
  • Pro MMA record: 1-1-0.
  • 1 win by submission.
  • 1 loss by submission.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Lost by 2nd round submission vs Iska Ismayilov (2-1-0) at Heroes Fight League 3 on 18 March 2022.
  • Previous fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Mihajlo Rajic (0-1-0) at RXF 35: Sibiu on 23 September 2019.

Qendrim Pallata vs Mario Mingaj (Middleweight)

Qendrim Pallata

  • Age: 30.
  • Height: 6′ 0″ (183 cm).
  • Represents: England.
  • Pro MMA record: 4-0-0.
  • 1 win by KO/TKO, 1 win by submission and 2 by decision.
  • Currently on a 4-fight win streak.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors:
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Kes Mamba (9-28-0) at Raged UK 16 on 4 March 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by decision vs Shaun Lomas (26-85-1) at BMF MMA 4 on 8 October 2022.

Mario Mingaj

  • Height: 6′ 4″ (193 cm).
  • Represents: Italy.
  • Pro MMA record: 5-0-0.
  • 1 win by KO/TKO, 3 by submission and 1 by decision.
  • Currently on a 5-fight win streak.
  • First fight in Cage Warriors.
  • Last fight: Won by 1st round submission vs Giuseppe De Francesco (1-1-0) at Rookie FC 4 on 25 November 2023.
  • Previous fight: Won by decision vs Nikola Zlatev (4-5-0) at Venator FC 13 on 17 December 2022.

Where Can I Watch Cage Warriors 168?

In the UK and Ireland, you can watch Cage Warriors 167: Unplugged on UFC Fight Pass.

If you're feeling generous:
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Mark Lawson

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