ONE OF IRELAND’S leading domestic mixed martial arts events returns tomorrow evening with a card packed full of talent.
Battlezone 13 is set to take place at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, and with the calibre of prospects on show, it’s one that MMA fans won’t want to miss.
Since its inaugural show in 2010, Battlezone has established itself as a superb platform for Irish fighters aiming to attract the attention of international promotions like the UFC and Cage Warriors.
Artem Lobov, Henry Fadipe, Karl Moore, Philip Mulpeter and current UFC featherweight Paul Redmond are among the many names to have featured on a Battlezone bill over the years. Redmond will be in attendance tomorrow night for a card which features three professional bouts, as well as 10 amateur fights and a four-man tournament.
“Battlezone is always a brilliant show and it played a huge role in helping me to get to where I am now,” said Redmond, whose next UFC bout will take place in Glasgow on 18 July. “It’s a great showcase for up-and-coming talent from all over the country. I’m sure that’ll be the case again this weekend. I’m really looking forward to being there to see the next wave of Irish talent.”
The heavyweight headliner between Johnny Dargan and Karl Roche is sure to entertain, but the bantamweight bout between Derry’s Gavin Kelly and Cork prospect Darren O’Gorman is the one that stands out for us.
Battlezone 13
Professional bouts
Heavyweight (title bout): Johnny Dargan (champion) vs. Karl Roche
Welterweight: Viktor Kontrimas vs. Paul Lawrence
Bantamweight: Gavin Kelly vs. Darren O’Gorman
Amateur bouts
Four-man featherweight tournament: Alex O’Sullivan, Eoghan Drumgoole, Rhys McKee, Valdrim Lubishtani
Bantamweight (vacant title bout): Dylan Tuke vs. Aaron Maguire
Light-heavyweight: Cian Erraught vs. Dylan Manning
Featherweight: Richie Smullen vs. Alex Yankov
Flyweight (vacant title bout): Daryl Clarke vs. Fabio Viti
Featherweight: Scott Harvey vs. Eric Nolan
Flyweight: Gavin Delaney vs. Barry Hannah
Featherweight: Sean Paul Power vs. Gerry Smyth
Bantamweight: Ritchie Stack vs. Daniel Morrison
Lightweight: Igor Ivanovs vs. Dean Waters
Welterweight: Darian Devlin vs. Dean Scott
You can find more info on Battlezone 13 by clicking here.
