Sean Shelby, time to give Jim Alers a call

Could Jim Alers be the next Cage Warriors champion to be signed by the UFC?
by Chris Marzella @ChrisMarzella

Photo (Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors)

With the UFC European expansion planned for late 2014 an array of top fighters are set to be considered from across the continent to make the step up.

There is one man however, who is right under the nose of the UFC, or any other major North American promotion for that matter, cutting his way through the European scene.

Cage Warriors featherweight champion, Jim "The Beast" Alers (12-1), has been tearing his way through some of Europe's best featherweights and it would seem that he is now on the cusp of receiving that all important call from UFC match maker Sean Shelby.

Alers is riding an eight fight winning streak, but as of yet that has proven not to be enough to make it to the elite MMA promotion.

Alers looked spectacular on his last outing at Cage Warriors 63, Dublin, Ireland on New Year's eve. He is a renowned grappler, but against Scotland's Graham Turner he looked every bit the striker as he dominated from the opening, rocking the challenger and finishing him off with a technical, decisive north-south choke.

The question then remains, is Alers ready for a UFC call up?

Well in the past year there have been Cage Warriors featherweights who did catch the eye of Sean Shelby, Robert Whiteford and Conor McGregor. It can be argued that Alers is on par, if not more advanced, than both of those fighters.

Alers could and should be the next one plucked from the organisation as he seems a cut above anyone else not currently signed to the UFC 145lbs division.

Alers in the past has had his run ins with UFC superstar McGregor when both were under the CWFC banner. Several planned fights between the two failed to materialise before McGregor left for pastures new.
In an interview last year Alers said: "It was never about fighting Conor, it was just about fighting the person who had the title and I just wanted to fight whoever had the title.“

For the time being Alers seems very content to keep showing up as and when Cage Warriors ask him  and beating anyone they match him up with. But you get the impression that will only satisfy him for so long before the desire to fight at the elite level consumes him.

In an interview with KingdomMMA.co.uk ahead of his title defence at Cage Warriors 59 he discussed appearing in any of the major North American promotions and he said: "I am holding out for the UFC. That has been the dream since day one. Right now however I am going to be the best Cage Warriors champ ever. If UFC doesn't call you will see me defending my title plenty of times under the Cage Warriors banner."

It seems then that he is happy where he is in his life. He recently became a father, gets to travel the world defending his CWFC championship. The only thing that could make life any better for the Floridian would be a call from Shelby.

After a standout 2013 a UFC call up in 2014 can not be a million miles away.

John Maguire Signs for Cage Warriors

John Maguire Signs for Cage Warriors

Photo: Brian Roberts

Cage Warriors have added 5 time UFC vet John Maguire to its lightweight roster.

The English lightweight has committed his immediate future to the promotion by penning a five-fight deal to cover a minimum period of 18 months.

Maguire (18-6) will make his CWFC debut against a soon-to-be-announced opponent on New Year’s Eve at Cage Warriors 63 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland.

A native of Cambridgeshire, the 30-year-old joins Cage Warriors on the back of a five-fight stint with the UFC, during which he picked up wins over Justin Edwards and DaMarques Johnson while competing at welterweight.

Currently sixth in the UK’s lightweight rankings, Maguire is promising to go all the way to the top of the Cage Warriors 155lbs division.

Maguire said: “I’m really happy to be joining Cage Warriors. I think it’s the best promotion in Europe and that’s where I need to be. It has the best lightweight roster around and I’m here to clear it up.

“Make no mistake; I’m here for one reason and one reason only – to be the best. Gypsy jiu-jitsu is coming to Cage Warriors. So come on Cage Warriors lightweights, who wants the first shot at ‘The One’?”

Maguire, who has been stopped just once in his career, made his professional MMA debut in April 2006 and has clocked up other notable wins over the likes of Michael Pastou, Jake Bostwick, Wayne Murrie and Dean Amasinger.

“John Maguire is a hugely talented fighter and one of the very best in Europe,” said Cage Warriors CEO Graham Boylan. “That’s why he’ll feel at home at Cage Warriors, where there’ll be plenty of big fights for him to keep his career moving in the right direction.”

Stevie Ray Defends Belt at Cage Warriors 63 Against Ivan Buchinger

Stevie Ray Defends Belt at Cage Warriors 63 Against Ivan Buchinger
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Photo: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

Newly crowned Cage Warriors lightweight Champion Stevie Ray will defend his title for the first time against Ivan Buchinger.

Ray (14-4), who trains out of Dinky Ninjas Fight Team in Scotland, captured the title after emerging victorious from CWFC’s four-man lightweight tournament at Cage Warriors 60 in London earlier this month, courtesy of wins over Jason Ball and Sean Carter.

23-year old Ray, who has finished 11 of 14 victory said:

“I’m very excited to be defending my belt on New Year’s Eve at what looks set to be the biggest Cage Warriors event of the year,”

“I wanted Buchinger next as he should have been in the tournament final, so I want to show everybody that the result would have been the same anyway. I respect him but the belt will be coming back to Scotland with me.”

His opponent, Buchinger (24-4) had been due to meet Ray in that Cage Warriors 60 tournament decider but was forced to withdraw after sustaining a rib injury during his semi-final triumph over Mick Sinclair.

The 27-year-old Slovak returns to Dublin on New Year’s Eve following a 3-0 streak this year, as he rebounded impressively from his loss to Conor McGregor on the same date at The Helix in 2012.

Buchinger, who has 20 finishes in 24 victories,  returns to Dublin on New Year’s Eve following a 3-0 streak this year, as he rebounded impressively from his loss to Conor McGregor on the same date at The Helix in 2012. Of Buchinger's 4 career losses, 3 have come to UFC fighter - Akira Corrassani, Anton Kuivanen, and Conor McGregor respectively.

Buchinger said: “I’m glad to be getting the shot at the belt that I earned at Cage Warriors 60 and I’m looking forward to coming back to Dublin to try to make amends for my last fight there.

“Steven Ray is a deserving champion but I am determined to take that belt from him on New Year’s Eve. I’m very excited about the opportunity.”

Cage Warriors 63 takes place on New Years Eve, at The Helix in the Irish capital of Dublin., with the Cage Warriors featherweight title also on the line with Jim Alers defending his belt against Graham Turner.