Cagewarriors Fighting Championship / Warrior Promotions

Official Statement

Concerning Michael Bisping And Cage Rage

- From cagewarriors.com in response to a news article that appears on cagerage.tv's website:

A Statement from the Cagewarriors concerning the current situation involving Michael “The Count” Bisping

from the “Wolfslair Academy” being stripped of his Cage Rage British Light-Heavyweight Title due to

“management” issues.

Hampshire, England - The Cagewarriors Fighting Championship is saddened to hear of the news that

Michael Bisping (who fights out of the Cagewarriors Pro fight team “The Wolfslair Academy”) has been

stripped of his Cage Rage British Light Heavyweight Title by Cage Rage promoters Andy Geer and Dave

O’Donnell.

Michael Bisping is widely regarded by most observers to be Britain’s number one light heavyweight MMA

fighter, due in part to his unbeaten 8-0 record and the way Bisping has dominated his previous opponents.

Bisping won the Cage Rage lightweight title at Cage Rage 7 against the Londoner Mark Epstein and has

defended the title once at Cage Rage 9 in November 2004. Since then, Bisping has also added the FX 3

light heavyweight title as well as the Cagewarriors light heavyweight title to his collection. Bisping has not

backed away from any domestic match-up and was willing to defend his title when asked.

Michael "The Count" Bisping

Although Cage Rage has stated on their website that Bisping has been stripped of his title due to

“management” issues, we feel this does not reflect the full story as Bisping was willing to defend his title but

is being punished by Cage Rage due to his Wolfslair / Cagewarriors links.

We feel this was a very cold, callous and shallow act by Cage Rage, which has subsequently put the sport

into disrepute and makes a mockery of those who believe that some UK MMA promotions can be relied

upon to adequately self-regulate themselves. Cagewarriors also believes this move is a blow to those who try

to present MMA as a legitimate and responsible sport, and we feel that this incident is further prove that a

legitimate governing body is needed to prevent such miscarriages of justice happening in the future.

We are also saddened at the way Cage Rage announced this news, as they did not contact Bisping

beforehand and the news was originally leaked by someone close to the Cage Rage management on a

public forum. For the record, Michael was only informed of this title change via a telephone call from a

member of the Cagewarriors team after it was announced on the Cage Rage website and Bisping was not

contacted directly by Cage Rage at all.

Again, we feel this was another classless act perpetuated by Cage Rage and we have subsequently heard

from one of our sources that Cage Rage are contacted to no longer entertain fighters from the Wolfslair

Academy on their show. This is a further slap in the face to both Michael Bisping and the rest of the

Wolfslair team who are breeding some top quality UK based fighters.

To reiterate, we at Cagewarriors are saddened and surprised by this move, however we will continue to

support Michael Bisping and the rest of the Wolfslair team for as long as possible. We are very proud to be

associated with them and we believe they will continue their march to the very top of the MMA ladder

regardless of these recent revelations.

However Cagewarriors fans should not be disappointed as Michael Bisping will still be in action on the 1st of

October at the Skydome Arena, Coventry, when he defends his coveted CWFC Light Heavyweight Title

against his toughest opponent yet in the form of Jakob "Striking Viking" Lovstad (8-2-0) in the main event

of Cagewarriors Strike Force 3.

Bisping will hope to show yet again why he is the UK’s leading Light-heavyweight fighter and a worthy

Champion when he takes on the tough Norwegian and continue his march to the top under the Cagewarriors

banner on October 1st in Coventry.

For more information on this event go to www.cagewarriors.com.

- From cagewarriors.com with a little editing from us (color, highlights, etc...)

(9/23/05)