Cage Warriors 121: Donovan Desmae steps in for short-notice lightweight title shot

Newly crowned Cage Warriors lightweight champion Agy Sardari will face a new opponent in his first title defense.

Sardari was originally scheduled to face Mehdi Ben Lakhdhar in the main event of Cage Warriors 121, which takes place Friday, March 19 at the York Hall, London. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass.

However, following an undisclosed injury, Ben Lakhdhar (5-0-1) has been forced off the card, with Belgium’s Donovan Desmae agreeing to step in on 10 days’ notice to challenge for the 155-pound title.

Desmae (14-5) is currently riding a two-fight winning streak, including a second-round TKO of former lightweight title challenger Alexander Jacobsen and a first-round submission finish of former BAMMA lightweight champion Tim Barnett.

Desmae was twice scheduled to face former featherweight champion Paddy Pimblett but, on both occasions, the bout failed to come to fruition. Now “Vegas” will step up on short notice in a bid to capture the lightweight title in London.

Sardari (13-2) won the 155-pound strap at Cage Warriors 119 after edging a split-decision verdict against England’s Jack Grant. The Dutchman is riding a seven-fight winning streak that stretches back to March 2018.

With the change, the fight card for Cage Warriors 121 includes:

MAIN CARD

• Champ Agy Sardari vs. Donovan Desmae – for lightweight title
• Champ Jack Cartwright vs. Sylwester Miller – for bantamweight title
• Matthew Bonner vs. James Webb
• Rostem Akman vs. Ian Garry – welterweight tournament semifinal
• Madars Fleminas vs. Jack Grant – welterweight tournament semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Oban Elliott vs. George McManus
• Bryan Creighton vs. Josh Reed