Finnish MMA fans have a lot of digesting to do after building up big expectations towards next week’s CWFC 82 in Liverpool. First, Jani Salmi was left without the title fight. Right after that comes the news that another Finnish lightweight prospect Aleksi Mäntykivi (10-4) has also been pulled off from the fight card.
After signing a long-term contract with CWFC Mäntykivi agreed to fight the British veteran Martin Stapleton (18-5) in Liverpool, but Stapleton has pulled out of the fight after a hand injury. Like the fellow Finn Salmi, the HardKnocks Helsinki fighter was not offered a replacement fight.
“At first I laughed, when I heard he was hurt. How do you break your hand a week before the fight, when all the hard training should be over already? On the other hand, I’m really disappointed they are not even offering me another opponent, I’ve been preparing to fight for a long time now. But I trust my manager will set me up with something soon,” Mäntykivi said.
Mäntykivi signed a five-fight deal with Cage Warriors last month after EuroFC declared bankruptcy. The next CWFC event after Liverpool is scheduled to take place in early June.
