Cage Warriors 119: Morgan Charriere captures featherweight title with body-shot knockout

Rising French talent Morgan Charriere captured the Cage Warriors featherweight title with a devastating body-shot knockout of England’s Perry Goodwin at Cage Warriors 119.

The pair faced off in the main event of the U.K. promotion’s final leg of its three-night “Trilogy Strikes Back” series at the York Hall in London, with Charriere (16-7-1) scoring a big third-round finish to win the vacant title in style.

Goodwin (10-7) looked the busier man early as he connected with a series of leg kicks, then followed up with a good right hand. But Charriere seemed unconcerned as he patiently looked for openings before crashing a pair of kicks into each of Goodwin’s legs.

Goodwin continued to be the more active man, but Charriere’s strikes appeared to carry the greater power, and a big right hand left the Englishman with a hematoma on the left side of his head as he returned to his corner at the end of Round 1.

Round 2 started with an illegal strike, as a Charriere kick strayed low and caught Goodwin in the groin. After Goodwin took some time to recover, the action resumed, and it was Goodwin whose confidence appeared to grow as he connected with a pair of big right hands.

Then, after three chopping leg kicks forced Goodwin to hop backward to get out of kicking range, Charriere closed the distance and took the Englishman to the mat. Goodwin responded by landing a big elbow off his back and flashing a grin at the Frenchman, but Charriere continued his grappling approach and looked to take his opponent’s back. With time running out in the round, Charriere secured both hooks, but Goodwin shook him off and finished the round with a solid right hand.

Charriere continued to stalk Goodwin at the start of Round 3 and landed a big right hand that opened a cut above Goodwin’s left eye. With Goodwin looking to fire back in reply, Charriere kept his cool and connected with a huge left hook to the body that folded up the Redcar native, who fell to the canvas in clear agony. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in to spare Goodwin any further punishment as Charriere claimed the 145-pound title in decisive fashion.

BODY SHOT! CHARRIERE IS THE CHAMP!

That was a special, special shot ‘The Last Pirate’ will bring the belt home to France #CW119 pic.twitter.com/ScRMsT9StF

— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) December 12, 2020