Cage Warriors 196: Former champ Jordan Vucenic returns in London

Former featherweight champion Jordan Vucenic is back in Cage Warriors, and is set to return to action at Cage Warriors 196 at the scene of some of his biggest successes – the Indigo at The O2 – on November 15.

Vucenic’s UFC run was cut short after just two fights as lost out to Guram Kutateladze, then Chris Duncan. Now “The Epidemic” is back in the famous yellow gloves of Cage Warriors, and will look to make inroads towards another Cage Warriors title.

Vucenic will take on dangerous rising prospect Torpal Merjoev in a lightweight matchup in London as he looks to pick up where he left off with the leading European promotion.

Jordan Vucenic — Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors

The former featherweight champion won his last four fights under the Cage Warriors banner as he earned his move up to the UFC. Prior to that run, he edged Paul Hughes via split decision to earn a shot at the 145-pound crown, then captured the featherweight title with a split-decision victory over Morgan Charriere.

Vucenic then retained the title with a second-round submission of James Hendin before dropping the belt to Hughes in a rematch, as the Irishman took a unanimous decision victory at Cage Warriors 145.

Now Vucenic is back, and will face undefeated Norwegian prospect Merjoev, who has a perfect 6-0 record that includes a second-round submission victory over rising English talent Teddy Stringer at Cage Warriors 191 back in June.

Merjoev was originally set to fight at Cage Warriors 198 in Manchester, but after his opponent Ieuan Davies was forced off the card, Cage Warriors matchmaker Ian Dean pivoted and booked the Norwegian to face Vucenic in London instead.

The 21-year-old has bags of potential, but “Rambo” will face the toughest test of his career against the returning Vucenic, who will be extra motivated for a big performance.

After seeing former Cage Warriors champions Nicolas Dalby, Rhys McKee and Modestas Bukauskas return to Cage Warriors before earning a second shot at the UFC, Vucenic will look to deliver a statement performance on his return as he attempts to follow in their footsteps and get another opportunity on the world stage.

Also confirmed for Cage Warriors’ final London event of 2025 is a featherweight title battle as Solomon Simon and Nik Bagley go head to head in a bid to capture the vacant title.

Also on the card, Michelangelo Lupoli will battle Jawany Scott in a battle of flyweight contenders, while Thomas Paull faces Marin Vetrila in a CW’s final London date of the year, a new featherweight world champion will be crowned when Solomon Simon meets Nik Bagley, top flyweight contender Micelangelo Lupoli meets former title challenger Jawany Scott and Thomas Paull takes on Marin Vetrila in a lightweight matchup.