When Cage Warriors return next Saturday, they’re bringing two of the promotion’s biggest stars to the BT Sport studio in Stratford. Champions Paddy Pimblett and Chris Fishgold have been capturing the headlines since their triumphant outing at CWFC 78 in at the Echo Arena, Liverpool in September, and both men will be putting their respective belts on the line at the weekend.
Contesting the lightweight title will be Nic Heron-Webb (19-7), TUF 16 and World Series of Fighting veteran. The Sprawl caught up with Herron-Webb in advance of the American’s CWFC debut.
“I’d never heard of Chris Fishgold before this fight,” admitted Herron-Webb, “but I did hear some things about him from my coaches.”
Aside from a solitary visit to Canada to compete on AFC 17 in 2013, Herron-Webb has fought exclusively in his home country, with 22 of his 26 professional fights taking place under the Alaska Fighting Championship banner.
“To get an opportunity to travel to Europe has always been a dream of mine and now I not only get to travel to London, but I get to go and beat someone up for fun while I do it. I was definitely ecstatic to get this opportunity.
“My manager was the person who first contacted me with the possibility to fight for Cage Warriors, and I was super excited.”
Dubbed Cage Warriors “Unplugged”, the invite only show will serve as a lead-in to UFC 205 – arguably one of the biggest MMA cards of all time. Unfazed by the increased exposure of this momentous day of MMA, Herron-Webb is already looking ahead to next year: “The plan after I get the belt would be to defend it in April and just get ready for that.”
Fishgold has stated that he’s planning to knock the American out, not the usual path to victory for the Scouse submission specialist. Herron-Webb doesn’t appear to be buying this particular proclamation, however.
“I don’t think he will try to knock me out, I think he is just saying that to try and make me not anticipate a takedown from him. I think that he is going to gas himself out and I will finish him in the mid-to-later rounds.
“I’m not too worried about anything he can do to me.”
Nic Herron-Webb is set to face Chris Fishgold at Cage Warriors Unplugged on Saturday, November 12 at the BT Sport Studio in Stratford. The event will be broadcast live on BT Sport and UFC Fight Pass. Tickets for this event are NOT available.
