In a night of dramatic finishes and standout performances at Cage Warriors 197: Unplugged, Aiden Lee cemented his status as a featherweight contender by submitting the highly-touted Damon Wilson in the main event. The card, streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, delivered a series of spectacular knockouts and technical battles that will have implications throughout the promotion’s divisions.
Main Event: Lee Derails Wilson’s Momentum
The highly anticipated featherweight headliner lived up to its billing. Damon Wilson started strong, but Aiden Lee’s experience and composure began to tell as the fight progressed. In the third round, Lee found an opening, taking Wilson’s back and sinking in a rear-naked choke to force the tap at 3:27.
The victory marks a significant rebound for Lee (14-10), who hands Wilson (9-4) his second consecutive loss and halts the prospect’s momentum, immediately inserting himself into the Cage Warriors title conversation.
Co-Main Event: Michelis Stays Undefeated
In the co-main event, the undefeated Giacomo Michelis (9-1) showcased his well-rounded game, outworking veteran Michael Dubois (16-12) over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision. Michelis used sharp striking and timely takedowns to control the welterweight contest, proving he is ready for a step up in competition.
Knockout of the Night Contenders
The Manchester crowd was treated to several highlight-reel finishes. On the main card, Nell Ariano (5-0) remained perfect, handing Riku Urholin his third loss with a brutal second-round knockout via punches.
However, the most spectacular finish belonged to prelim fighter Marc-Philippe Ngatchou (2-1), who stunned Yusuf Nazokatov with a spinning backfist just 12 seconds into the second round, a knockout that will be replayed for years to come.
Full Cage Warriors 197: Unplugged Results
MAIN CARD
- Aiden Lee def. Damon Wilson via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:27 of Round 3
- Giacomo Michelis def. Michael Dubois via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Nell Ariano def. Riku Urholin via KO (Punches) at 1:19 of Round 2
- Giuseppe Mastrogiacomo def. Elton Armindo via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Damiano Scogna def. Richard Kallos via KO (Elbows) at 0:24 of Round 2
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Manuel Del Valle def. Pedro Henrique Dias via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jordan O’Neill def. Mitchell Goode via KO (Punches) at 4:56 of Round 2
- Marc-Philippe Ngatchou def. Yusuf Nazokatov via KO (Spinning Backfist) at 0:12 of Round 2
- Katharina Rychkova def. Eimear Darcy via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 3:30 of Round 3
- Jordan Molinari def. Redgie Hingston via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Implications and What’s Next
With Aiden Lee’s statement win in the main event, the Cage Warriors featherweight division has a new clear top contender. All eyes will now be on whether he challenges for the title in his next outing.
For prospects like the undefeated Nell Ariano and Giacomo Michelis, their victories on a big stage signal their readiness for tougher tests and potential title eliminators in the near future. Cage Warriors 197 proved once again why it remains Europe’s premier launching pad for the next generation of MMA stars.
