Cathal Pendred vacates title, new champ to be crowned at Cage Warriors 66

Top Irish welterweight Cathal Pendred (13-2) has vacated his title, and it’ll be up for grabs in Cage Warriors 66's new championship headliner, officials today announced.

Nicolas Dalby (11-0) and Sergei Churilov (15-1) will fight for the vacant title at the event, which takes place March 22 at Ballerup Super Arena in Ballerup, Denmark.

Cage Warriors 66's main card streams on MMAjunkie following prelims on Facebook.

A reason for wasn’t given for Pendred’s decision to vacate the title, though Cage Warriors officials said they mutually agreed to terminate his contract. However, the fighter recently tried out for “The Ultimate Fighter 19? and is a rumored cast member on the upcoming season of the UFC’s reality series.

As Pendred wrote on Twitter: “I have officially vacated my @CageWarriors world title. Thank you to the promotion & its staff for all the opportunities they have given me. Being the @CageWarriors champion has been an honour and has opened many doors for me. Best of luck to all those fighters chasing the title now. Do everything in your power to obtain it. It will change your life!”

Dalby, a 29-year-old Dane who will fight in his home country, carries a perfect 11-0 record with six stoppages. The Cage Warriors newcomer most recently knocked out Morten Djursaa (12-4 at the time) in September.

“I’m extremely excited about fighting for this prestigious title,” he stated. “I’ll do my utmost to ensure that CWFC, the fans in the arena and the viewers at home are treated to a very entertaining fight.”

Churilov, a 28-year-old Ukrainian fighter, has won five straight fights since the lone loss of his career, which came to Ivica Truscek (whom, ironically, Dalby has defeated twice). Twelve of his 15 career wins have come via stoppage, including a submission victory over Anatoly Starodubtsev in 2012 during his lone Cage Warriors appearance.

A number of other bouts were announced the card.

The latest Cage Warriors 66 lineup includes:

For the latest on Cage Warriors 66, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Cathal Pendred)