Cage Warriors 179 Preview; Paterno v Bueno, McCarthy & Simon Represent Ireland

Cage Warriors have a slate of shows with the aim of ending the year with a bang. Saturday sees the promotion return to Rome, a city founded all the way back in 735BC. Cage Warriors 179 will go down in the PalaPellicone, a sports hall in the suburbs right on the Tyrrhenian Sea. There are sixteen fights on deck to look forward to, all players coming through the most stringent medical standards in European MMA.

Stefano Paternò (18-4-1) is a national hero and a trailblazer for MMA in his country. The Italian is a Bellator veteran and has served several stints in Cage Warriors, with his last two wins coming in the promotion. The 29-year-old is on a five-fight win streak, finishing four of them. The Milan man is exciting and capable of adding highlights to his reel at any stage. Most of his wins have come through his striking, both on the feet and with ground and pound. He’s also got a lovely choke game that he unleashes at the slightest hint of a chance. Jorge Bueno (10-5) is a man with a lot of experience at European MMA‘s top table following appearances in CW, Oktagon and KSW. The Brazilian packs a huge amount of power into his blows and is brave in the exchanges. The 35-year-old is used to fighting in enemy territory, and won’t be shy to throw bungalows looking for a finish. There’s a mild submission threat if he’s able to take the back.

Konstantinos Ntelis (8-3) is as hard a fighter as his name is to say. The Greek is a submission specialist who can sink in a rear naked choke effortlessly. The 23-year-old isn’t shy to take any limb you offer and take it home with him either. Simone Patrizi (7-2) is one of those who trains in Rome at Aurora MMA. The 30-year-old has won two of his three promotional bouts. The Italian prefers to do his work with his fists, utilising a damaging gameplan in the stand-up and on the floor. Four of his wins have been stopped due to strikes.

Leon Aliu (11-4) drops down to welterweight after a tough recent run at middleweight. The 35-year-old is a Contender Series veteran and carries a touch of death in his fists. The main deterrent opponents will offer is a takedown, and the Italian has a wicked guillotine to potentially answer that threat. Khadim Dia (5-0) has gone a perfect 3-0 since strapping on the famous yellow gloves. The Milan man trains out of Aurora MMA in the capital, and he’s as tough as they come. The 27-year-old is a good grappler with a great understanding about the need to land damage. He’ll make you give up the back or you succumb to his ground and pound.

Alessandro Giordano (8-3) is on a two-fight win streak in the promotion. The 26-year-old is a fine kickboxer with a nasty streak and a love of finishes. Five of his wins have come via knockout. Emanuele Zaccaria (6-2) steps in at late notice to rescue this fight. The 30-year-old has a nose for submissions. The Italian is dangerous in all positions, no limb is safe and has a particularly nice triangle choke.

Solomon Simon (4-0) represents Team Ryano and Waterford. The Irishman has been perfect as a pro and has displayed fantastic grappling prowess. The 29-year-old had a long amateur career that is showing the benefit of at this level. His biggest threat is submission or ground and pound on the mat. Walter Cogliandro (14-5-1) will be representing SBG HQ. The Italian is a Bellator veteran and this will be his second appearance in the promotion. The 32-year-old is a tough striker who’s not afraid of a scrap and causes attritional damage. 

Giuseppe Mastrogiacomo (5-0) is a prospect out of Aurora MMA and is a fixture on these cards. The Italian is well rounded, winning his last two with his striking and his opening two with his grappling. He’s a natural finisher and an exciting fighter to watch. Itay Tratner (9-6-1) is a Bellator veteran. The 24-year-old was last seen in FNC in the Balkans where he competed for a title. Submissions are his biggest threat, however his striking has improved a lot over the years.

Giacomo Michelis (6-1) is one of many Aurora MMA prospects on the card, and he’s gone a perfect 2-0 in the promotion. The 29-year-old is a good kickboxer with a strong wrestling ability. When it hits the deck, the ground and pound rains down. The Italian will be keen to keep the momentum going. Olli Santalahti (14-7) is a man who takes tough fights and puts on a show. The Finn is willing to get into a brawl on the feet and is very capable on the floor. The 30-year-old has a big box of tricky submissions in his arsenal.

Luca Mele (1-0) makes his debut in the promotion as a pro. The Italian had a long and distinguished amateur career, including representing his country at IMMAF level. His first win in the paid ranks was via rear naked choke. Daniele Battaglia (3-0) is one of those Aurora MMA talents mentioned earlier. The 27-year-old has been making waves in the stand-up exchanges, winning all three of his bouts via knockout.

Manuel Del Valle (3-0) hails from Seville and made Mariusz Mikołajewski quit on his stool in his CW debut. In his amateur days he impressed with his submissions and his ground and pound. As a pro, his hands have been causing a lot of problems for opponents. Sergio Gavinelli (5-3) has gone 1-1 in his CW stint. The Italian is well rounded and can end it on the feet or on the floor. Four of five fights have come via finish and mostly in the first round.

Michelangelo Lupoli (7-4) is a competitive fighter moving up to bantamweight due to an injury to the previous opponent. The 30-year-old has an action packed style and has cardio for days. The Italian will be in your face from the opening bell. Gerasimos Sioutis (5-7) is the stand-in to save this fight. First things first, ignore the salty record, he’s won five of his last seven. The Greek has been a different fighter since 2019. The 31-year-old is similarly offensively minded, not having much power but a handful over fifteen minutes.

Damiano Scogna (3-0-1) is another of the multitude of Aurora MMA talents on the card. The 23-year-old has been getting things done on the mat so far as a pro and he makes his CW debut here. The Italian will take you down, ground and pound you and try to take the back, unless the ref calls it before then. Manuel Caperna (3-1) is another CW debutante and a local to Rome. Not much is known about the Italian so far but he’s plied his trade on the local scene, impressing with his striking.

Emanuele Tetti (2-0) has been perfect in the yellow gloves so far, scoring two early first round knockouts in 2023. “The Wolverine” is looking for more of the same here. Angelo Terenzio (1-0) had a distinguished amateur career where he showed a great aptitude for submissions. The Rome man can tap you from anywhere, and he won his pro debut back in June by those means.

Niko Ceralia (1-0) won his CW debut back in July 2023 via decision. The Italian is known as a tough competitor who can dominate decisions. The finishing touch has eluded him to date. Andrea Flammino (1-1) makes his first appearance under the CW banner. His success has come in the submission game, winning his debut with a rear naked choke.

Luka Borando (4-1) looks to bounce back from defeat to Matthew Elliott last time out. Before then, the 24-year-old showed his power with back-to-back knockout wins. The Italian has represented his country at IMMAF level. Nicolae Mezdrea (2-3) trains out of GB Top Team and is another one where you need to ignore the record. The Moldovan’s three losses were prior to 2019, he’s been a different fighter since returning in 2023. The 30-year-old is a good kickboxer with a nose for a knockout.

Mario Mingaj (6-0) is one of Italy’s brightest talents. The Villamagna man is a triangle choke expert, amongst his other submissions. He opened his pro career with a quick first round knockout. Zura Zarnadze (7-2) takes this on short notice. The Greek is a finisher who leans towards his striking game. “Tsunami” has power and a decent submission ability to fall back on.

It is important to tune in from the start here as Conor McCarthy (2-0) makes his CW debut. The SBG Naas man will be the first of many Peter Queally trained fighters we see doing big things. The Dubliner recently earned a degree and is now focussed 100% on his MMA. He brings a sense of calm and patience, and has a wicked kickboxing game. The youngster is a highlight reel type of fighter and has a fantastic head kick. Everyone from that gym trains their wrestling hard under coach Sergey Pikulskiy. Gianluca Rocca (8-4) hails from Rimini and is looking to bounce back from defeat to the impressive James Power in March. The 30-year-old won’t be afraid to stand and strike, and he’s won five by knockout to date.

Cage Warriors 179 is live and exclusive this Saturday on UFC Fight Pass. The action kicks off at 16:00.