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Cage Warriors 94 results: Ilia Topuria, ineligible for title, makes quick work of Brian Bouland

Brian Bouland’s hopes of becoming Belgium’s first Cage Warriors champion were short-lived in today’s Cage Warriors 94’s headliner.

Fighting against the home product at Lotto Arena in Antwerp, Belgium, Spain’s Ilia Topuria (6-0) took no notice of Bouland (7-2) and quickly added a sixth submission victim to his unbeaten record.

Because Topuria missed the bantamweight limit by 4.4 pounds, he was ineligible compete for the bantamweight title vacated by recent UFC signee Nathaniel Wood. Still, he got to announce himself in rather impressive fashion to the rest of the Cage Warriors roster (via Twitter):

Topuria wasted no time diving in on Bouland’s hips, landing the takedown right away. As Bouland attempted to stand, he was taken down once more, and Topuria was able to migrate to his back as he tried to get away. From there, it didn’t take long for the Spanish fighter to secure Bouland’s neck. Bouland tried to resist, but he eventually went limp, and referee Marc Goddard stepped in to stop the fight at the 1:13 mark of Round 1.

Bouland, who was coming off an upset win over Josh Reed in yet another Cage Warriors headliner, has seen both of his career losses come via first-round stoppage – though the first one, in 2016, was a knockout.

Herbert dominates for Cage Warriors debut win

In a battle of promotional newcomers, Erdi Karatas (9-5) earned some survival points but was ultimately no match for the taller, rangier Jai Herbert (6-1) in today’s lightweight co-headliner.

England’s Herbert is now back on a winning streak after Rhys McKee added a first blemish to his pro record at BAMMA 27. He also showed he has the gas tank for three rounds after needing the judges’ scorecards for the first time since his professional debut in 2015. Karatas, in turn, had a four-fight winning streak snapped.

Karatas was rocked early in Round 1, but he was able to take down Herbert and hold on to his hips, managing some much-need recovery time on the ground. As the two got back up, though, it seemed the time off wasn’t quite enough for a still-rattled Karatas  While he did react, Herbert managed to keep the distance and land repeatedly. Karatas rehearsed a reaction as he advanced with a hand combo, but the action was halted to assess what seemed to be an eye poke suffered by him (via Twitter):

The two returned to throwing big shots. Herbert used his reach well, throwing long, straight punches and low kicks, but by the end of the round Karatas seemed to have figured out the distance. He managed to get Herbert to the ground and ended up in his closed guard on the mat. Herbert  – and his increasingly red nose – remained active on the ground, even fishing for a triangle, but Karatas kept the pressure and landed some blows from the top.

Karatas came out more aggressively on the second but eventually found himself fending off Herbert’s attacks with his back against the fence. Herbert found some success in the shorter distance in the striking department, but Herbert’s knees also made a good appearance. Herbert managed to swiftly take Karatas’ back while still on the feet, and he seemed well on track for a rear-naked choke. Karatas defended it but had trouble getting out of the body triangle, making for a few minutes of struggle on the round. Karatas evaded Herbert’s chokes again and again, managing to survive the round, but was only able to get Herbert off his back as the bell signaled the end of the round.

Karatas seemed well aware he needed some saving coming out to the third, throwing heavy punches right off the bat. The two exchanged on the feet, both landing, until Herbert once more had Karatas backed up against the fence. Herbert managed a good-looking throw as the final three minutes approached, but Karatas got right back up. Karatas looked tired as the second half of the final frame approached, and he eventually got seated with his back against the fence. Herbert was soon in control of his opponent’s back again, hunting for the choke. Herbert saw himself in the same position he’d been earlier in the fight: locked in a body triangle, unable to escape. Karatas once more survived, but the outcome of the fight was clear as it ended.

Klaczek dominates; barnburner stopped early 

Earlier on the card, Krzysztof Klaczek (11-5) took a unanimous-decision win over Sameer Alekozai (7-2) to announce his arrival in the featherweight division. Despite eating a solid knee, it was an overwhelmingly dominant performance for Klaczek, which translated to rather telling 30-26, 30-24 and 30-26 scorecards (via Twitter):

Also on the main card, a lightweight barnburner got cut short. Hubert Geven (12-3) and Donovan Desmae (11-5) put on one hell of a first round, but a cut above Desmae’s eye rendered him medically unfit to return for the second. The crowd wasn’t too happy about the stoppage, as the boos denounced, but Geven got his fourth straight win, nonetheless, and celebrated accordingly (via Twitter):

Full Cage Warriors 94 results included:

For more on Cage Warriors 94, visit the MMA Events section of the site.

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