Cage Contender announced today Icelandic Arni “the Ice Viking” Isaksson (12-4) will defend promotion’s welterweight belt against the challenger Ali Arish (17-2) of England. The fight will take place in Dublin on the 23rd of February.
Cage Contender CEO John Ferguson has high expectations:
“This is a massive first defence for Arni. It is no secret that Ali Arish is a strong and very very dangerous fighter, capable of putting you away in a heartbeat. That said we all know Arni’s pedigree and I am in no doubt that John Kavanagh and the team at Mjolnir will have a game plan ready. This is a fight for the fans! ”
Isaksson won the belt in October 2012 by stopping Englishman Wayne Murrie with strikes in the second round. Isaksson, who trains with the UFC welterweight phenom Gunnar Nelson at the Mjölnir gym, is 4-1 in his last five fights with the lone loss to highly regarded Gael Grimaud of France.
Mjölnir boss man Halli Nelson commented the fight to Cage Contender:
“Arni has been training very well and is in great condition. He’s in Iceland training with Gunnar and Mjölnir competition team. I myself have seen some of Ali’s fights online and specifically remember his devastating KO against Wayne Murrie. Ali seems to be a very well rounded and strong opponent with very good wrestling and KO power on top of that. But Arni is no ordinary opponent, with the heart of a true warrior. He will be defending his CC WW belt for sure but I know this will be a fight for the fans to remember.”
Iranian born Ali Arish fights out of Manchester, England. Like many Iranian fighters also Arish hails from an extensive background in wrestling. Like the champ also Arish holds a win over Murrie who he knocked out in 2011. Arish comes to this fight riding a six fight win streak. His last loss came to Swedish Bellator fighter Jack Hermansson who knocked out Arish at Cage Warriors in April of 2011.
