UK MMA veteran Tom Watson signs with Cage Warriors

UFC alumnus and former BAMMA middleweight champion Tom Watson has signed with Cage Warriors, the promotion has this week confirmed.

The charismatic Briton has spent upwards of three years on the sidelines, but will now make his debut for the European organisation at CW104 in April.

The 36-year-old may now be in the twilight years of his career, but the UK MMA veteran clearly feels he has one last run left in him on home soil.

KONG HAS ARRIVED. 🦍

Breaking news 🚨 Tom 'Kong' Watson joins the stacked Cage Warriors Welterweight division and will make his debut at #CW104 in Cardiff.

Full details 👇🏼https://t.co/aYb6TbG4DM pic.twitter.com/dfqj95scot

— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) February 6, 2019

Multiple-promotion champion

‘Kong’ held the UCMMA middleweight championship for two years before signing with BAMMA and capturing its 185lb title in 2010. There, he defended the belt three times – once in a famous slugfest with former Katie Price partner Alex Reid – which earned him a call-up to the UFC in 2012.

Watson went a somewhat disappointing 2-5 in his tenure in the big leagues, taking a hiatus from the sport after dropping a decision to Chris Camozzi on a Fight Night card in August 2015.

Long-delayed return for ‘Kong’

The Southampton native announced his return to MMA last year, penning a new deal to compete in his former home BAMMA – but the promotion effectively went into hibernation soon after, having held no events since last summer and seeing a number of its executives and fighters join occasional co-promotional partner Bellator.

Instead, Cardiff and Cage Warriors will welcome Watson come April 27 against an as-yet-unannounced opponent. It will be a new beginning all around for the former Blackzillians’ product, who will make his professional bow at welterweight on the Jack Shore-Scott Malone-headlined card.