Musardo snatches CWFC title
Oct 2, 2011
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Joseph Duffy brought a large and vocal band of
supporters to the HMV Forum tonight but they were stunned into
silence when Ivan Musardo secured a 4th round submission victory
over the Irishman to be crowned CWFC lightweight champion.
Despite dominating the fight, Duffy suffered the first loss of his professional career to the 31-year-old Italian. The Welsh-based fighter appeared to lose his footing after attempting a kick, allowing Musardo to capitalise and lock in a guillotine choke after 4.25 of Round 4.
Duffy’s cause certainly wasn’t helped when he sustained a broken
hand in the 3rd round. The 23-year-old said: “It was a tough fight.
He fought well. I broke my hand in the 3rd round so I couldn’t use
my left hand. He got the choke and finished me off.”
Making his Cage Warriors debut, Musardo takes the belt that was recently vacated by Matt Veach. “For 10 years I’ve been working for the belt. Ten years,” Musardo said. “This is the day of my life.”
In the night’s co-main event, Brian Foster returned to the cage for the first time in almost a year, defeating Jack Mason via guillotine choke after 2.15 of Round 1. Foster, who was medically released by the UFC after being diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage in April, said: “I’ve got another fight in the States in two weeks and after that, hopefully the UFC will be calling.”
Earlier in the evening, Cage Warriors matchmaker Ian Dean’s pick for ‘Fight of the Night’ honours didn’t fail to deliver, as Graham Turner narrowly edged out Ashleigh Grimshaw by a split decision in their featherweight clash (29-28, 29-30, 29-28).
A 3rd round onslaught of punches and dominant ground work helped Brad Wheeler to a submission (rear-naked choke) victory in Round 3 over fellow lightweight Kevin Donnelly, while Dayman Lake showed why he’s one of the UK’s top heavyweight prospects by submitting Rab Truesdale via arm-triangle choke after 1.24 of Round 1.
Elsewhere, Steve O’Keeffe secured a swift submission win over Dean Reilly, Neil Seery impressed with a 2nd round KO success against Niko Gjoka and David Howell had too much for Kieran Malone, winning via TKO (elbows) after 2.19 of Round 1.
Meanwhile, there was double cause to celebrate for the MMA Clinic in the night’s two amateur bouts. Adam Brearley defeated Ben Reid via TKO in the 2nd round, before Charlie Watts was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Tye Palmer.
Despite dominating the fight, Duffy suffered the first loss of his professional career to the 31-year-old Italian. The Welsh-based fighter appeared to lose his footing after attempting a kick, allowing Musardo to capitalise and lock in a guillotine choke after 4.25 of Round 4.
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Making his Cage Warriors debut, Musardo takes the belt that was recently vacated by Matt Veach. “For 10 years I’ve been working for the belt. Ten years,” Musardo said. “This is the day of my life.”
In the night’s co-main event, Brian Foster returned to the cage for the first time in almost a year, defeating Jack Mason via guillotine choke after 2.15 of Round 1. Foster, who was medically released by the UFC after being diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage in April, said: “I’ve got another fight in the States in two weeks and after that, hopefully the UFC will be calling.”
Earlier in the evening, Cage Warriors matchmaker Ian Dean’s pick for ‘Fight of the Night’ honours didn’t fail to deliver, as Graham Turner narrowly edged out Ashleigh Grimshaw by a split decision in their featherweight clash (29-28, 29-30, 29-28).
A 3rd round onslaught of punches and dominant ground work helped Brad Wheeler to a submission (rear-naked choke) victory in Round 3 over fellow lightweight Kevin Donnelly, while Dayman Lake showed why he’s one of the UK’s top heavyweight prospects by submitting Rab Truesdale via arm-triangle choke after 1.24 of Round 1.
Elsewhere, Steve O’Keeffe secured a swift submission win over Dean Reilly, Neil Seery impressed with a 2nd round KO success against Niko Gjoka and David Howell had too much for Kieran Malone, winning via TKO (elbows) after 2.19 of Round 1.
Meanwhile, there was double cause to celebrate for the MMA Clinic in the night’s two amateur bouts. Adam Brearley defeated Ben Reid via TKO in the 2nd round, before Charlie Watts was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Tye Palmer.
