Cage Warriors 116 is scheduled for 26th September and the promotion may be about to crown it’s first double-champion since Conor McGregor. The current Lightweight Champion, Mason Jones, moves up in weight to challenge Adam Proctor for the Welterweight title. At just 25, Jones owns an impressive 9-0 professional MMA record and was most recently seen winning the Cage Warriors Lightweight title back at their 113th event in March, via first round KO.
Despite a solid striking proficiency, the welsh standout is actually both a Judo and BJJ black belt training under a Pedro Bessa affiliated BJJ coach, Greg Creel at Celtic Pride Martial Arts. Jones also has one of the most experienced Welsh grapplers in his corner in the form of Craig Ewers. A two-time Commonwealth games competitor in Judo and a regular competitor for Polaris, Ewers is a prolific competitor on the highest stages. He’s also an elite coach as well, having coached the Welsh national Judo team for several years along with a number of MMA and BJJ competitors.
His opponent will be no easy out however, Adam Proctor is just as young at 24 and comes into this fight with a slight edge in experience at 12-1 professionally. He fights out of Straight Blast Gym South Shields under head coach and ex-Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion, Alex Enlund. Enlund is a veteran of the UK MMA scene who narrowly missed out on a UFC career when pre-fight medicals revealed a brain lesion ahead of his debut for the promotion. Proctor has earned his title shot after a seven-fight win streak that includes three straight Unanimous Decision wins under the Cage Warriors banner.
Jones has also featured in a documentary produced by UFC Fightpass on BJJ in Brazil, one that’s well worth a watch for anyone curious about the Welsh MMA champion and his grappling background.
The full Cage Warriors 116 event will be streamed live on UFC FightPass, click here to sign up and watch.