Tugarev and Power faced off in the new main event at the BEC Arena after the bantamweight title clash between Liam Gittins and Alessandro Giordano was dramatically pulled from the card after Giordano refused to compete following the banning of his coach for attacking Gittins during a fiery weigh-in-day faceoff between the two fighters.
It meant that Tugarev and Power were promoted to the main event spot, and they delivered an exciting finale, as the 23-year-old Finn secured the crucifix position in the third round, then unloaded a barrage of unanswered ground strikes to force the stoppage and claim the interim 155-pound title.
In the co-main event, Italy’s Michael Pagani needed less than a round to finish UK MMA veteran Tim Wilde in their 165-pound catchweight matchup, while at 155 pounds, Lukas Cruz sprung a shock as he handed Adam Cullen the second defeat of his MMA career as he submitted the Next Generation star via second-round rear-naked choke after some solid strikes created the opening for the submission.
The battle of undefeated lightweight prospects went the way of Norway’s Torpal Merjoev, who submitted England’s Teddy Stringer via second-round ninja choke in their 155-pound contest.
It was Torpal Merjoev who kept his 0 after a clash of undefeated prospects between him and Teddy Stringer, which ended in a swift and slick submission for the 20-year-old. But it was a better night for Cage Warriors vet Omiel Brown, who moved to 11-3 with a first-round bulldog choke finish of Mexico’s Edgar Escarrega.
Cage Warriors 191: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Omar Tugarev def. James Power via TKO (punches from crucifix) – Round 3, 3:24 – for interim lightweight title
- Michael Pagani def. Tim Wilde via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:09
- Lukas Cruz def. Adam Cullen via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:33
- Torpal Merjoev def. Teddy Stringer via submission (ninja choke) – Round 2, 1:22
- Omiel Brown def. Edgar Escarrega via submission (bulldog choke) – Round 1, 2:38
- Shay Ingram def. Farukh Aligadzhiev via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:47
- Connor Wilson vs Florian Doskja ruled a no contest (accidental groin strike) – Round 1, 2:27
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Joe Fields def. Davide Scarano via unanimous decision
- Ryan Campbell def. Yusuf Nazokatov via standing TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:39
- George Smith def. Ghassan Abdenabi via unanimous decision
- Fran Breen def. Mario Ferreira via unanimous decision
- Chris Price def. Tony Silva via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:24
- Christian Soda def. Damon Donald via unanimous decision
- Sheldon Ryan def. Brad Camps via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:31
