Ray vs Buchinger and Costigan vs Puget added to Cage Warriors 63 in Dublin

Cage Warriors lightweight champion Stevie Ray is to make the first defence of his belt this coming New Year’s Eve.

The Scotsman will take on Ivan Buchinger at The Helix in the Irish capital of Dublin on Tuesday, December 31, 2013.

A women’s atomweight bout between Catherine Costigan and Elodie Puget has also been added to the card.

Ray (14-4) captured the title after emerging victorious from CWFC’s four-man lightweight tournament at Cage Warriors 60 in London earlier this month, courtesy of wins over Jason Ball and Sean Carter.

The 23-year-old joins fellow Scot and Dinky Ninjas stablemate Graham Turner on the card for the year-ending event, with Turner booked to challenge Jim Alers for the CWFC featherweight strap.

“I’m very excited to be defending my belt on New Year’s Eve at what looks set to be the biggest Cage Warriors event of the year,” said Ray, who has taken 11 of his 14 wins inside the distance.

“I wanted Buchinger next as he should have been in the tournament final, so I want to show everybody that the result would have been the same anyway. I respect him but the belt will be coming back to Scotland with me.”

Buchinger (24-4) had been due to meet Ray in that Cage Warriors 60 tournament decider but was forced to withdraw after sustaining a rib injury during his semi-final triumph over Mick Sinclair.

The 27-year-old Slovak returns to Dublin on New Year’s Eve following a 3-0 streak this year, as he rebounded impressively from his loss to Conor McGregor on the same date at The Helix in 2012.

Buchinger said: “I’m glad to be getting the shot at the belt that I earned at Cage Warriors 60 and I’m looking forward to coming back to Dublin to try to make amends for my last fight there.

“Steven Ray is a deserving champion but I am determined to take that belt from him on New Year’s Eve. I’m very excited about the opportunity.”

Also in Dublin on New Year’s Eve, the CWFC women’s 105lbs division will launch with the meeting of Irish fighter Catherine Costigan (2-0) and France’s Elodie Puget (1-1), with both women aiming to make a successful start to life under the Cage Warriors banner.

Keep track of Cage Warriors on Facebook and Twitter for ticket details and more updates on Cage Warriors 63, for which more exciting bouts will be announced shortly.