Image credit: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors
Jordan Vucenic vs Paul Hughes Unification Rematch Targeted for 4th November in London
A featherweight title unification bout between champion Jordan Vucenic (9-1) and interim champion Paul Hughes (8-1) is targeted for Friday, November 4th, when Cage Warriors return to London.
Vucenic announced the rematch with Hughes on social media earlier today, though the posts were quickly deleted.
Shortly after, Cage Warriors President Graham Boylan tweeted out that the contest had been verbally agreed.
Vucenic V Hughes II unification fight verbally agreed Nov London @CageWarriors
— Graham Boylan 🇮🇪 ☘️ (@GrahamBoylan) July 26, 2022
A source in Hughes’ camp confirmed to MyMMANews.com that Hughes has already signed his contract. However, another source in Vucenic’s camp confirmed that the champion has yet to put pen to paper, with some details still being ironed out between Vucenic and the promotion.
🗞Per sources, Paul Hughes has already signed his contract to face Jordan Vucenic on 4th November in London.
The fight isn’t over the line just yet, some details to be ironed out on Vucenic’s side.
Biggest fight CW can currently make, with UFC implications for the winner! https://t.co/uKKLiGxuAq
— Andy Stevenson (@andyste123) July 26, 2022
The fight is a highly-anticipated rematch, with the pair having previously fought to a three-round split decision in December 2020. On that occasion, Englishman Vucenic emerged victorious, handing Irishman Hughes the first loss of his professional career.
Three months later, Vucenic was crowned Cage Warriors featherweight champion, beating budding French superstar and sitting 145lb-title holder Morgan Charrière over five rounds.
On the same night that Vucenic clinched gold, Paul Hughes overcame then undefeated James Hendin (5-0). Speculation ensued over Vucenic’s first title defense, with many expecting a Hughes rematch. In the end, Cage Warriors booked Vucenic vs Charrière 2 for June 2021.
However, Vucenic was forced out of the rematch with “The Last Pirate” due to injury. With Vucenic still sidelined with the injury some months later, an interim title was created. In October 2021, Paul Hughes was crowned Cage Warriors featherweight interim champion, taking the nod on the judges’ scorecards after a 5-round war with Morgan Charrière. The fight was voted UFC Fight Pass’ 2021 Fight of the Year.
So, with two champions in the division, a unification bout was booked for March 2022.
🙌 IT'S FIGHT WEEK!!!!!
👊Jordan Vucenic & Paul Hughes go toe-to-toe in the most highly anticipated rematch in Cage Warriors history on Friday for the featherweight title, in front of a sold out Indigo at the O2!
📺 Catch all the action of #CW134 live on @UFCFightPass! pic.twitter.com/VPOB5sUv0Q
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) March 14, 2022
It was billed as “the most highly anticipated rematch in Cage Warriors history” by the promotion, but once again injury struck, this time for the Irishman. Hughes was forced to pull from the showdown with an injury. James Hendin stepped in on short notice in Hughes’s absence, but Vucenic dispatched the late replacement inside two rounds, submitting Hendin with a standing rear-naked choke.
#ANDSTILL Jordan Vucenic takes the back and earns the second round submission! What a performance in the #CW134 main event! @CageWarriors
[ #CW134 | 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪 | on #UFCFIGHTPASS ] pic.twitter.com/VcUUmXqsZN
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 18, 2022
Having successfully defended his title and stretching his active win streak to seven in a row, many expected Vucenic to be snapped up by the UFC, and it seemed like Cage Warriors had missed the boat on the eagerly anticipated rematch with Hughes.
But 4 months on, it seems that the stars are finally aligning. Though it is not finalized just yet, it seems that Hughes and Vucenic are on a collision course that leads to London in November.
With UFC implications on the line, the matchup would finally see Hughes and Vucenic settle their score once and for all.
