Cage Warriors 61 has two more fights scrapped, show goes on with eight bouts

It seems that Cage Warriors 61 has been ill-fated almost from the start.

But Friday’s event will go on – despite another pair of fight cancellations. On Thursday, weigh-ins for the card took place in Amman, Jordan – a city the card moved to after a planned show in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad fell through.

Cage Warriors officials had planned a 10-fight show in Amman. But on Wednesday, travel issues for two fighters connecting to Amman through London’s Heathrow Airport meant they couldn’t get to the weigh-ins on time, and their fights were scrapped. That leaves the card with eight fights.

Cage Warriors 61 takes place at King Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena in Amman, Jordan. The main card streams on MMAjunkie in North America following prelims on Cage Warriors’ Facebook page.

Mohsen Bahari and Hakon Foss, traveling from Oslo, Norway, were unable to leave London in time. That shut down Bahari’s fight against Mukhamed Berkhamov and Foss’ fight against Matt Inman. Cage Warriors, in an official release, said an attempt was made to then match up Berkhamov and Inman in a welterweight bout – but that Berkhamov turned the fight down.

It’s been a particularly interesting road for Inman. He was scheduled to fight Bruno “B.C.” Carvalho on the card. But that fight was scrapped just days ago thanks to a Carvalho injury. Foss stepped in as the replacement, but then couldn’t get to Amman on time. And, of course, Berkhamov turned down the 11th-hour opportunity.

Cage Warriors officials said Inman, from England, had his own travel issues – but made it to Amman early this morning and made weight at 169.8 pounds, even though he has no fight.

All the fighters on Friday’s card made weight on Thursday, with all but two hitting their marks on their first attempts. James Hurrell needed his allotted extra time to make 205.6 pounds for his light heavyweight bout against Mohamed Ali (204.6). And for a flyweight bout against Spencer Hewitt (125.6), Paul Marin was off the mark at 126.8 pounds. But he was given dispensation and will not lose a percentage of his purse for the bout. Traveling to Amman from Barcelona, Marin missed a connection in London due to the foggy weather. He then, Cage Warriors said, had to take an overnight flight with a layover in Cairo – putting him in Amman less than an hour before weigh-ins were to begin.

For Friday’s new main event, a bantamweight bout between James Brum and Marat Pekov, both fighters where on their marks at 135 and 135.6 pounds, respectively. And the co-main event welterweight bout is official, as well, between Jack Mason (171) and Seydina Seck (170.6).

Complete Cage Warriors 61 weigh-in results included:

• James Brum (135) vs. Marat Pekov (135.6)
• Jack Mason (171) vs. Seydina Seck (170.6)
• Mohamed Ali (204.6) vs. James Hurrell (205.6)*
• Jake Bostwick (175.6) vs. Vincent del Guerra (175.6) – 176-pound catchweight
• Julien Boussuge (156) vs. Damien Brown (156)
• Spencer Hewitt (125.6) vs. Paul Marin (126.8)**
• Jarrah Al-Selawe (170.4) vs. James Burrows (170.8)
• Arnold Allen (144.6) vs. Doni Miller (145.4)

* Missed weight on first attempt, but made 205.6 on second try.
** Will not lose percentage of purse due to travel complications.

For more on Cage Warriors 61, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: James Brum and Marat Pekov)