Cage Warriors has become a common promotion for IMMAF alumni looking to make their mark on the professional ranks. Last week, eight alumni featured on the promotion’s Dublin card and this week, six more athletes will make the walk as the promotion touches down in Rome, Italy on Saturday, May 6.
Two-time European gold medalist Dario Bellandi returns to the promotion for this fourth outing to face another familiar face on the IMMAF scene, Daniel Karlsson. Bellandi competed at four IMMAF competitions picking up victories over the likes of Alexander Lindgren and Tom Crosby.
His impressive amateur run made him one of Italy’s top prospects, and having turned pro in 2019, he has put together a record of 4-1. His opponent featured on one occasion in the IMMAF ranks before going pro eleven months later. He is currently undefeated after picking up two wins to kickstart his pro career and will look to upset the home crowd in Italy.
2019 European gold medalist Jasmine Favero is also set to appear on the card. Favero was an exciting talent to watch in IMMAF, only losing to Sabrina De Sousa. Almost three years away from competition, she decided to turn pro last year, signing with Cage Warriors, where she has gone 2-0, with both wins coming via finish. Her latest test will be Izabela Walczak as she looks to extend her record to 3-0 in her home country.
Edoardo Caiazza and Luca Borando are the other Italian athletes featured on the card. Neither athlete had much success on the IMMAF circuit, but has been enjoying a promising career in the pro ranks, with both of them undefeated so far.
Caiazza will be involved in the second clash between IMMAF alumni on the night as he takes on Marko Sarasjärvi. The 2019 world silver medalist was a stalwart on the Finland national team for four years and had multiple highlights, including his win over Shamil Gimbatov during his silver medal run. He began his pro career on the regional scene in Finland and will make his promotional debut at Cage Warriors 154. Both are undefeated heading into this one, so the stakes are high as each athlete looks to climb the Cage Warriors ranks.
