Cage Warriors has crowned a new welterweight champion.
Saturday’s main event of Cage Warriors 140 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland would see Rhys McKee challenge Justin Burlinson for the vacant welterweight title. The event was packed with exciting finishes from beginning to end, and it would be the UFC veteran McKee (12-4-1) who would close the show with one final knockout.
Just a few seconds into the third round, moments after Burlinson (7-2) would attempt a spinning back elbow, McKee landed a crushing left hand that would leave his opponent slumped against the fence.
Check out video of the title-winning finish by McKee in the video below (via Twitter):
What just happened!?!? Chaos in Belfast!
Rhys McKee is the new champ!!! #CW140 pic.twitter.com/nseTICSd9w
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 25, 2022
In his second stint with Cage Warriors, McKee has become champion of the welterweight division following a two-fight run in the UFC in 2020. McKee dropped both fights, losing to Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Morono. He has since rebounded nicely with Saturday’s result which came on the heels of a third-round stoppage of Aleksi Mantykivi in October.
Full results of Cage Warriors 140 include:
- Rhys McKee def. Justin Burlinson via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 0:20
- Caolan Loughran def. Festus Ahorlu via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:20
- James Sheehan def. Martin Causse via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:16
- Federico Pasquali vs. Harry Hardick results in majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-29)
- Ryan Shelley def. Matthew Elliott via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
- Michele Martignoni def. Scott Malone via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
- James Power def. Adam Shelley via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:23
- Michael Tchamou def. Glenn Irvine via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:30
- Adam Darby def. Dorian Cliucinicov via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:29
