Cage Legacy 16 Preview

Cage Legacy returns this Friday, June 10th 2022, for their second card of the year. The event is set to take place in the Pillo Hotel in Ashbourne, Co.Meath and will feature both MMA and K1 bouts. The promotion’s 16th instalment sees a pro bout headline the event yet again along with some amateur title bouts on the Main Card.

Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the fights happening at the event. 

Shauna Bannon vs. Chi Attoh 

Shauna Bannon returns for the second time this year with eyes firmly set on becoming a two-weight champion in only her second pro bout. This will be her third consecutive time headlining a Cage Legacy show for a belt. Fighting out of Holohan Martial Arts, Bannon became one of the top amateur athletes in the country by winning medals at multiple IMMAF competitions as well as taking on all comers at multiple weight divisions.

Having come from a kickboxing background, she has transitioned seamlessly to MMA and has become very well-rounded. Her debut in the 4oz gloves against Kerry Isom was a dominant one, and now that she’s moving up a weight class with eyes set on adding yet another W to her record. 

Her opponent, Chi Attoh, has been keeping very active since her pro debut, going 3-0 in four months. Attoh fought all of her pro bouts on the regional scene in Nigeria, and this will be her first time competing in MMA abroad. She is no stranger to Ireland though, she previously lived here and upon her return to the Emerald Isle, wanted to get a fight in. 

Attoh has been learning on the job when it comes to fighting, but despite her lack of amateur career is a very experienced grappler and the BJJ purple belt will be looking to put that to use on Friday. 

Jamie Abbott-Bissett vs. Gary Rooney

This fight has all the potential to be the fight of the night. Both men have been ridiculously active this year, each of them competing at least five times since the start of the year and at both Flyweight and Bantamweight. 

Gary Rooney has one of the best ground games on the scene at the moment and has been utilizing it perfectly to collect belts in multiple organisations. He’s on a three-fight win streak and is set for his second fight in six days as he looks to become a two-weight division Cage Legacy champion. 

Across from him will be Jamie Abbott-Bissett, another strong grappler with some very crisp striking. After losing his second bout at the IMMAF World Championships, he went on to take gold in the IMMAA National Championships the following month at Bantamweight. The win secured his spot on Team Ireland for the MMA Super Cup, but after some disappointing results, he will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and another belt to his collection. 

Sarah Carney vs. Megan Hamill

The second amateur title fight is between two other athletes who have represented Ireland internationally at IMMAF competitions and will be the first time that either of them has competed in Ireland.

Sarah Carney has come up against some of the best in the world this year. Her first fight in Abu Dhabi saw her defeat Russian National Wrestling Champion Lyubov Salnikova, before being edged to a decision by eventual tournament winner Beatriz Consuli.

For Megan Hamill this will be her first bout of the year, her sole outing in 2021 was against Kiya O’Sullivan at the World Cup. Before that, she won a silver medal at the 2019 IMMAF World Championships following an impressive run in the tournament. 

Elsewhere on the card, Rian Flaherty returns to face Shea Leathem, while Peter Newti and Ryan Higgins step in the cage for the first time this year. The full card for the event is as follows. 

MAIN CARD

Shauna Bannon (HMA) V Chi Attoh (Torres) – Professional Flyweight Championship (3 x 5min)

Gary Rooney (SBG HQ) V Jamie Abbott (Ryano HQ) – Amateur Flyweight Championship (3x 3mins)

Shea Leathem (Sanda MMA) V Rian Flaherty (SBG HQ) – Welterweight (3x3mins)

Peter Newti (SBG Charlestown) V  Ryan Higgins (C-Mac) – Light Heavyweight (3 x 3mins) 

Sarah Carney (HMA) V Megan Hamill (SBG HQ) – Amateur Flyweight Championship (3 x 3mins) 

PRELIMS.

Ciaran Coogan (FAI) V Kian McCarton (SBG HQ) – Flyweight (3 x 3mins) 

Jack McAvoy (FAI) V Robert Barrett (Compound Ryano) – Welterweight (3 x 3mins) 

Byron Murphy (Full Power) V Keith O’Shea (SBG Cork)  – Amateur Bantamweight (3 x 3mins) 

Anatol Bacal (Fantom) V Jake Ngai (Satori) – Bantamweight (3 x 3mins) 

Mark Gardner (The Shed MMA) V Jordan Boylan (SBG Drogheda) – Lightweight (3 x 3mins) 

Marcin Czaplinski (Naas KB)  V  Leo Silov (SBG Cork) – 75kg K-1 (3 x 2mins)

Ben Harding (Full Power) V Leon Gallagher (SBG Charlestown) – Cadet Featherweight (3x2mins)