Everything you need to know about Cage Warriors

Cage Warriors is an Irish MMA promotion that was founded in 2001 by Dougie Truman. Since then, it has continued to put on shows on a regular basis and is broadcasted by UFC under their Fightpass product. Now run by Graham Boylan, it has run for over 20 years and often sees its top talent go on to become UFC fighters. Perhaps the most famous examples of these include the likes of Conor McGregor, Paddy Pimblett, and Michael Bisping who were previously Cage Warriors champions.

In this article, we shall discuss the history of Cage Warriors, its pay structure, and where it’s heading in the future.

Did UFC buy Cage Warriors?

UFC does not own Cage Warriors. However, it does own the streaming rights which is contracted until 2023. Whether this deal will continue after this date is unknown. With this said, it doesn’t mean that the UFC owns Cage Warriors either. Imagine you own the NFL, it is owned by you and not the broadcaster, such as ESPN.

Therefore, it’s important to understand that just because Cage Warriors is distributed by UFC Fightpass, it doesn’t mean that it’s Dana White’s company either. Aside from UFC Fightpass, Cage Warriors is also shown in countries such as Vietnam, India, and Turkey. In the UK it’s shown by BT Sports. What is worth noting is that the UFC contributes significantly to the finances of Cage Warriors, which will be factored into day-to-day running of the organization.

How much do Cage Warriors fighters get paid?

Unlike certain other companies like Bellator and UFC – Cage Warriors isn’t public with its earnings or how much it pays its fighters. What we do know is that fighter pay varies massively per fighter. In this sense, Cage Warriors is no different compared to other promotions, where its stars get paid far higher compared to its rookies.

For instance, Cage Warriors sometimes has amateurs fight on its card. The idea is that if they do well, they can potentially fight for Cage Warriors in the future, or at least gain exposure from the bout. Moving to the paid fighters, it really depends on their hierarchy. Apparently, some can earn around £5,000 per fight. However, when you take into account expenses such as travel, agent fees, and medical costs, this quickly eats into a fighter’s pay.

On the other hand, the likes of Paddy Pimblett have alluded to earning a decent income from Cage Warriors. According to Pimblett, for a while he stayed with Cage Warriors because the UFC pay being offered was inferior. Therefore, it’s safe to say that he was earning a solid salary from the Irish promotion.

As a generalization, it’s fair to assume that most fighters use Cage Warriors as a stepping stone to reach bigger fight promotions such as Bellator and UFC. As seen though, in some cases certain fighters with a following can command a higher fee than others, simply due to having a big pull and marketability.

Where can I watch a Cage Warriors stream?

As mentioned, the two main broadcasters of Cage Warriors are BT Sports and UFC Fightpass. BT Sports is a large, British company that requires a subscription fee. UFC FIghtpass is a digital streaming service owned by the UFC. Here, viewers can watch all sorts of combat sports, and it’s not just MMA. It also shows grappling, striking, and other fighting shows.

Aside from these two broadcasting giants, it really depends on your country of residence. Sadly, some countries like those in Africa can’t really access Cage Warriors through a national broadcaster. For those in countries that don’t have Cage Warriors shown on TV, you may have to rely on UFC Fightpass. Unfortunately, UFC Fightpass isn’t available in all countries either, so it really depends where you live.

Where is Cage Warriors located?

Although Cage Warriors is Irish-owned, it’s situated in London, England. As a result, it’s not surprising that the bulk of its shows take place in the English capital. Generally speaking, if Cage Warriors isn’t shown in London then it will be shown in a different UK city. However, it has also been hosted in other countries around Europe. Moving further afield, Cage Warriors has also hosted events in Jordan and USA so in that sense, it is truly global.

Who is Graham Boylan?

Graham Boylan is the owner of Cage Warriors and has overseen a lot of its success. Having said this, Boylan didn’t create Cage Warriors, instead it was founded by Dougie Truman who would later run into legal troubles. Regarding Boylan’s background, he is a successful businessman who also has an eye for martial arts. For instance, in his spare time he trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a hobby and holds the rank of brown belt in the discipline.

He also acts as the agent for many of the Cage Warriors fighters who eventually graduate into the UFC. With this said, it’s fair to say that Boylan is a wealthy man. Speaking of his involvement in the UFC, Boylan was also part of Paddy Pimblett’s corner team when the Liverpudlian made his debut in the company. In short, it seems that he genuinely loves martial arts, and isn’t just in it for the money.

Conclusion

Cage Warriors has been around for over 20 years and looks like it’s not going anywhere fast. In other words, financially it seems very stable and was so even before the UFC gave it a distribution deal. Although it may not be massively known outside of the United Kingdom, it is still solid in terms of making money and producing stars. In terms of quality fighters, it may not be to the standards of the UFC, but has still produced some very skilled champions over the years. Aside from those mentioned, it has also involved the likes of Gegard Mousasi, Dennis Siver, and Jeff Monson amongst others. So, if you want to watch a different MMA promotion then Cage Warriors may be a good place to start.