A LIGHTWEIGHT bout has been added to the card for Cage Warriors 54, with Ivan Buchinger and Tim Newman (pictured) set to clash in Cardiff on Saturday, May 4.
Cage Warriors 54, which takes place at the Welsh capital’s Motorpoint Arena, will be headlined by a middleweight title bout between home favourite John Phillips and defending champion Jesse Taylor.
Following a first-round submission win over Greg Loughran at Cage Warriors 49 in his native Wales last October, Newman will be aiming for a third consecutive CWFC victory when he faces Buchinger on the first weekend of May.
Newman (10-3), who hails from Newport, made a stunning CWFC debut in May 2011 when he scored a KO win over Gregorz Tredowski after just 10 seconds of their meeting at Cage Warriors 42.
Currently ranked as one of the UK’s top ten lightweights, the 29-year-old’s only loss in his last five outings came via decision at the hands of three-time UFC veteran Curt Warburton.
“I’m looking forward to fighting in Wales again and I’m expecting this fight to be explosive,” said Newman. “We both like to trade and we’re both well-rounded so this should be a very entertaining fight, no matter where it goes.”
Buchinger (21-4) will be returning to action for the first time since his loss to Conor McGgregor in a bout for the vacant CWFC lightweight title at Cage Warriors 51 in Dublin on New Year’s Eve.
The 27-year-old Slovak, a former European top ten lightweight, has taken 19 of his 21 wins by stoppage, including a submission victory over current Bellator star Magomedrasul Khasbulaev and an impressive TKO of Diego Gonzalez at CWFC Fight Night 6.
Buchinger’s only other losses have come against Akira Corassani, Anton Kuivanen – both by decision – and M-1 veteran Sergey Golyaev.
“My last fight was very disappointing for me,” said Buchinger. “My camp didn’t go well but this time I’m training harder and more often because I want the chance to challenge for the title again.
“My opponent is good, I have a lot of respect for him but I will be totally ready for this fight and I’m very determined to get the win.”
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