Nathaniel Wood produced one of the craziest rounds in MMA history to defend his title in 2017
03/20/2025 08:05 AM
The UFC returns to London this weekend with a Fight Night event at the O2 Arena on March 22.
With former welterweight champion Leon Edwards looking to make a statement in the main event, the card is stacked with some of the best talent from the region.
The capital has produced some classic nights in recent years with one particular event in March of 2022 leaving Dana White voiceless.
One fighter who is set to compete this Saturday night is certainly no stranger to making the walk in his hometown.
Nathaniel Wood has been through some difficult moments having credited White with saving his career but when it comes to the Octagon, ‘The Prospect’ is battle-tested.
Nathaniel Wood stops Josh Reed at Cage Warriors 86 in a barnburner opening round
London’s Nathaniel Wood has been in some great fights during his time in the UFC but nothing can compare to one of his title defenses in Cage Warriors.
Before signing to the UFC in 2018, Wood reigned as the European promotion’s bantamweight champion after winning the vacant title in June of 2017.
The same title has also been held by the likes of Brett Johns, Jack Shore and Caolan Loughran who all made their way to the Octagon after holding the gold.
Just several months after becoming the champion, Wood was set to headline Indigo at the O2 in his first title defense, the same venue that will host Cage Warriors 186 on March 21.
The main event of Cage Warriors 86 saw the champion face the undefeated Welshman and teammate of Shore, Josh ‘Crazy Horse’ Reed who lived up to his nickname in the opening minute of the fight.
A brief feeling out process lasted less than a minute with the challenger starting to swarm his opponent by letting his hands go with rapid combinations.
Multiple shots got through and just past the minute mark, the champion looked hurt as he stumbled backwards multiple times whilst trying to grab hold of his opponent.
Referee Marc Goddard warned Wood to fight back and he did just that, landing a perfect left hook on Reed as the Welshman continued to throw with reckless abandon.
The defending titleholder took a few more shots here and there but this didn’t stop him from turning the tide with a big knee and punch combination to force the stoppage with over half of the first round still to go.
In his post-fight interview, Wood gave a nonchalant reaction to one of the best brawls that the promotion has ever seen.
“I’m a Londoner, that’s what we do.”
Wood also stuck to his word when talking about what’s next for him as he went on to defend the title one more time with a knockout inside the opening 50 seconds of the fight before signing to the UFC.
“Whatever comes. People saying UFC but if they don’t come, Cage Warriors, put me on next year, London, and I’ll smash someone else up.”
Nathaniel Wood faces a fellow Cage Warriors alumnus on March 22
After bouncing back into the win column last time out at UFC 304, Nathaniel Wood is looking to rebuild some momentum in the featherweight division.
March 22 will see him take on another dangerous 145-pounder from Europe who also cut his teeth in the iconic yellow gloves of Cage Warriors.
As a former CW featherweight champion, Morgan Charriere shared the cage with the likes of Jordan Vucenic and Paul Hughes during his time in the promotion.
‘The Last Pirate’ has gone 2-1 inside the Octagon since signing in 2023 with a bonus in each of his outings, marking this fight out as a potential show stealer.
