Image: Cage Warriors
Watch: Luke Shanks Knocks Out Cage Warriors Champion Sam Creasey in Round 1 of Non-Title Bout
Cage Warriors flyweight champion Sam Creasey was knocked out by Luke Shanks in the first round of their rematch at Cage Warriors 132 tonight in York Hall, London. However, Creasey remains a champion.
The former champion Luke Shanks weighed in at 127.1lbs on Friday morning, missing the flyweight championship mark for the second time in as many fights. The weight miss meant that Creasey’s belt was no longer in jeopardy as the pair contested a non-title bout.
Weight miss aside, Shanks put on a fantastic performance to stop the champion. With less than one minute left in round 1, Shanks landed a combination of a strong jab followed by a right hook that appeared to hit Creasey’s pause button. The champion was left stunned and failingly attempted to compose himself as Shanks continued to advance dishing out more punishment. Creasey momentarily dropped to one knee before regaining his footing, though it was target practice for Shanks from that point onward. Creasey’s heart was still in it, but his limbs had since failed him. Unable to mount any defense, Creasey was dropped again by Shanks, and after some follow-up shots as the fight hit the ground, the fight was over.
Leave no doubt 🤯
Luke 'The Apocalypse' Shanks stuns the champ and finishes himin the first round!Will we see a trilogy with the champ now?
📺 Watch #CW132 live on @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/YNgcLFzxLE— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) December 11, 2021
No strangers to each other, Creasey and Shanks previously fought just 2 months ago at Cage Warriors 129. On that night, Creasey emerged victorious after submitting Shanks in the third round with a guillotine choke. However, the pre- and post-fight discussions were centered around controversy. Shanks failed to make weight ahead of the contest, which was scheduled to be the final of the flyweight tournament. So, Creasey was the only fighter eligible to win the title. While he was crowned champion that night, the conversation quickly turned to an alleged tap from Creasey in the opening grappling exchanges of the first round. Hence, the rematch tonight.
And so, here we are again. Another entertaining fight between Shanks and Creasey in the books, with a decisive winner emerging. Only this time, the fighter who finished on the receiving end of concussive blows remains a champion.
Where does the Cage Warriors flyweight division go from here? Luke Shanks has missed weight in three of his last four fights. Will he be forced to move up to bantamweight? It is 1-1 on the scorecards between Shanks and Creasey, so a trilogy does make sense from that perspective. However, another fight at a weight one competitor has shown to be incapable of making does not. From a promotional perspective, this was a a worst-case scenario.
The result of the rematch made to bring order to the division has left fighters, fans and Cage Warriors matchmaker Ian Dean with more questions than answers.
