Welcome to the Fightful.com live coverage of Cage Warriors 78, which is taking place live from the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
Fight #1 – CWFC Middleweight Division Fight: Victor Cheng (10-2-0) vs. Leeroy Barnes (15-15-0-1NC)
Referee: Peter Lavery
Round One
The round begins with Barnes attacking Cheng with a three punch combination, Cheng goes for a leg kick and Barnes counter with a two punch combo. Cheng starts using his leg kicks and jabs on Barnes, Cheng then cracks Barnes with a head kick that gets blocked. Barnes eats a few more leg kicks from Cheng as he looks for the counters, Cheng then cracks Barnes with a straight right while avoiding the combinations. Barnes avoids some blows from Cheng before landing a left hook on him, Barnes holds Cheng against the cage wall while looking for the takedown. Cheng attacks Barnes with knee strikes to the midsection before separating, Cheng spins Barnes with a leg kick as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Cheng attacking and backing Barnes with a high kick attempt, Chang avoids combinations from Barnes while peppering him with jabs. Cheng goes for the takedown and Barnes catches him in the guillotine choke, Cheng quickly passes to the full mount and he goes for the arm triangle choke on Barnes. Barnes escapes and Cheng attacks him with strikes while controlling his back, Chang attacks Barnes with knee strikes to the midsection. Barnes wall walks to his feet with Cheng holding onto him, Cheng goes right back to attacking Barnes with leg kicks. Barnes returns the favor to Cheng by landing a few leg kicks of his own, Cheng drops a swinging Barnes with a counter right hook. Chang locks Barnes in the crucifix position while landing more strikes as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Cheng catching Barnes with a few shots, Barnes responds by cracking Cheng with a straight right. Barnes comes forward on Cheng while landing a right hook, Barnes charges at Cheng while throwing a wild right. Barnes also goes back to attacking Cheng with a few leg kicks, Barnes then hits a swinging Cheng with a counter right hook. Cheng throws a few leg kicks before connecting with a looping right, Barnes then cracks a swinging Cheng with a counter strike combination. Cheng circles Barnes before landing a short left hook, Cheng grabs a hold of Barnes and he scores the takedown. Cheng controls Barnes on the ground while landing some knee strike, Barnes wall walks to his feet as the round ends.
Official Result: Victor Cheng def. Leeroy Barnes by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #2 - CWFC Welterweight Division Fight: Mohsen Bahari (8-3-0) vs. Ali Arish (21-5-0)
Referee: Rich Mitchell
Round One
The round begins with Arish nailing a kicking Bahari with a multiple punch combination after eating a leg kick, Arish then looks for the takedown before separating from Bahari. Arish scores the takedown and Bahari scrambles right back to his feet, Arish holds Bahari against the fence while eating some elbow strikes. Bahari also starts connecting with knee strikes to the midsection of Arish, Bahari separates from Arish after eating a right hook. Bahari comes forward and Arish nails him with a two punch combination, Ariish again tries to hold Bahari against the cage wall. Arish tries attacking Bahari with a plethora of foot stomps, Arish lands a two punch combo as he breaks away from Bahari. Bahari then cracks a ducking Arish with a knee strike to the head, Arish scores the takedown and Bahari catches him in a guillotine choke to force a tap out.
Official Result: Mohssen Bahari def. Ali Arish by submission via guillotine choke (4:04, R1)
Fight #3 - CWFC Lightweight Division Fight: Mickael Lebout (14-6-1-1NC) vs. Tim Wilde (8-2-0)
Referee: Peter Lavery
Round One
The round begins with Lebout catching Wilde with an accidental kick to the groin and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with both fighters just swinging away at each other. Wilde comes forward to catch Lebout with a two punch combination, Lebout recovers to hit a moving Wilde with a left hook. Lebout then catches a swinging Wilde with a counter right before scoring a takedown, Wilde gets Lebout in the full guard after he started in side control. Lebout starts attacking Wilde with some ground and pound, Lebout goes from the half guard to back control on Wilde. Wilde scrambles to his feet with Lebout still holding onto him, Lebout scores another takedown and he gets side control on Wilde. Lebout catches Wilde in the crucifix position before gaining back control again, Lebout lands some shots on Wilde as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Wilde faking a takedown before nailing Lebout with a right, Lebout catches a swinging Wilde with a counter punch combination. Lebout eats a leg kick and a left to the midsection from Wilde, Lebout then cracks a swinging Wilde with a counter left hook. Wilde scores a takedown on Lebout and he gets the half guard, Lebout eats an elbow strike as he gets to his feet. Wilde clobbers Lebout with a punching combination as he stands up, Wilde rocks Lebout into the cage wall with a follow up boxing combination. Lebout looks for the takedown and Wilde cracks him with an uppercut, Wilde follows up with a three punch combo on Lebout. Wilde follows up by catching a swinging Lebout with a counter right, Wilde goes for a wild kick and Lebout catches him with a knee strike. Lebout scores a takedown and Wilde gets right back up to his feet, Wilde backs up Lebout with a straight left. Wilde hits Lebout with a punch to the midsection as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Wilde dancing around Lebout while peppering him with jabs, Wilde then pops Lebout with a superman punch. Lebout holds Wilde against the cage wall while looking for the takedown, Lebout scores a takedown on Wilde and he gets the open guard. Wilde is able to shove Lebout off of him to get the fight standing, Lebout scores a second takedown and Wilde gets right back up again. Wilde winds up scoring a takedown on Lebout and he gets the open guard, Wilde starts attacking Lebout with some ground and pound. Wilde transitions to side control on Lebout, Lebout scrambles to his feet to hold Wilde against the cage wall. Wilde scores a second takedown on Lebout and he gets the half guard, Lebout briefly gets to his feet and Wilde drags him back to the ground. Lebout scrambles back to his feet and he controls a standing Wilde’s back, Wilde lands a knee strike and an uppercut on Lebout. Lebout takes a few wild swings before holding Wilde against the cage wall, Wilde stuffs a takedown from Lebout before landing a knee strike. Wilde nails Lebout with a punching combination as the round ends.
Official Result: Tim Wilde def. Mickael Lebout by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #4 - CWFC Featherweight Title Decision Fight: Paddy Pimblett (11-1-0) vs. Johnny Frachey (18-10-0)
Referee: Rich Mitchell
Round One
The round begins with the fighters exchanging some leg kicks, Pimblett starts attacking Frachey with a few front kicks. Pimblett also begins attacking Frachey with a series of leg kicks as well, Pimblett lands a two punch combination before failing at a takedown attempt. Pimblett catches and drops Frachey with a flying knee strike, Pimblett follows up with a few more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Paddy Pimblett def. Johnny Frachey by TKO via strikes (1:35, R1) to win the CWFC Featherweight Title
Main Event - CWFC Lightweight Title Fight: Chris Fishgold (15-1-1) (Champion) vs. Jason Ponet (16-10-1-1NC)
Referee: Rich Mitchell
Round One
The round begins with Fishgold charging at Ponet while throwing a punching combination, Fishgold holds Ponet against the cage wall while looking for the takedown. Fishgold scores a takedown on Ponet, Ponet stands up and Fishgold catches him in a jump guillotine choke and a tap out follows.
Fight Result: Chris Fishgold def. Jason Ponet by submission via guillotine choke (1:04, R1) to retain the CWFC Lightweight Title
