As 2026 continues to unfold, Cage Warriors is loaded with rising talent on the brink of something bigger, and with the UFC matchmakers in search of a new season of TUF and DWCS, here’s a closer look at the names pushing hardest for that inevitable call:
Sean Clancy, 22, 8-0-0, Welterweight, Scotland
Mentioned back in our top 10 Welterweights to sign in 2026, nothing has changed regarding Scotland’s Sean Clancy. The 22-year-old phenom is just waiting to be signed to the UFC at this point, and it’s no question why. Clancy has won all eight of his professional fights by finish and, as of late, secured the interim welterweight championship.
On the feet, Clancy can hold his own with anyone in the division. The Scottish welterweight relies on elite footwork and sharp, technical boxing to vary his attacks, landing clean hooks to both the head and body. He also mixes in knees and elbows, always looking to create damage and force a finish. When he shoots for a double-leg, the timing is split-second. He gets low on his entries, corrals the legs, and drives through to secure strong positions while flowing into transitions. All three of his submission wins have come by rear-naked choke, highlighting his knack for taking the back and quickly locking up the finish.
Sean Clancy will next enter the octagon to fight for the undisputed welterweight title at Cage Warriors 205 against DWCS alum Justin Burlinson on April 25, 2026.
George Staines, 25, 8-0-0, Lightweight, England
At only 25, it feels like George Staines has hit all the stops before the next potential jump to the UFC. The former IMMAF Champion and OKTOGAN contender has only suffered one loss across an extensive 20+ fight career. He hasn’t lost since falling short in his final match as an amateur. Staines has ripped off eight wins in a row, three by finish and five via decision.
Recently named our top prospect from England, Staines is relentless in scrambles and extremely difficult to control from the bottom position. He possesses heavy top control and slick reversals that can quickly change the fight’s outlook. Also, with excellent cardio that helps keep a wrestle-heavy gameplan alive. While his patience offensively doesn’t score many finishes, Staines has a sneaky guillotine and accurate ground strikes in his pocket. I’d imagine the more five-round fights Staines takes on, the more finishes will come.
Most recently, Staines earned his first professional knockout with a win over Ioan Harris at Cage Warriors 199. The English lightweight has now secured two victories in 2025 since signing with Cage Warriors, and he appears to be positioning himself for a potential main event opportunity in 2026.
Jack Humphries, 22, 5-0-0, Bantamweight, England
If you haven’t been watching the rise of Jack Humphries, you’ve been missing out. An IMMAF veteran who had an electric run cut short in Tirana, Albania, by injury in the semi-finals. Humphries hasn’t turned back since turning pro in May of 2024. Jack “The Ripper” has taken five victims, with back-to-back round one anaconda chokes in his past two fights.
While Humphries has a clear preferred way of finishing his fights (on the ground), “The Ripper” has an educated game on the feet. An orthodox striker, Humphries fights behind a protective guard at range, possessing a sneaky lead high kick and accurate counter hooks in the pocket. He has a calm demeanor when striking that lulls his opponents into thinking the fight will be a standing affair, only to change levels and start finding openings for a submission.
After three finishes in 2025, a jump in competition should be next for the 22-year-old ground specialist. With wins over Martin Horsch and Mário Brezovský as an amateur, there’s little doubt Humphries will have any problems taking on the next level of fighters at Cage Warriors.
Shay Ingram, 21, 4-0-0, Lightweight, England
The Fridge! Lightweight Shay “The Fridge” Ingram has been on a tear throughout his entire MMA career. He holds an undefeated winning streak of thirteen consecutive victories. The Englishman has had a seamless transition to the pro scene after a decorated amateur career. He holds wins over the likes of Thomas Owen, Cheikh Mane, and Christian Soda.
Ingram operates behind a grappling-heavy game plan, built around quick, well-timed single-leg takedowns. He’ll run opponents to the fence, dump them near the cage, and immediately go to work with effective ground-and-pound to the head and body. Patient but relentless, he stays heavy from top position, shuts down transitions, and methodically wears on his opponents once the fight hits the mat.
On the feet, Shay Ingram is more comfortable than he’s often given credit for. He stays off the center line, moves in and out of range, and picks his shots carefully. Low kicks are a consistent weapon, disrupting rhythm and helping set up his level changes and takedown entries.
Shay Ingram is currently scheduled to fight against 6-1-0 Torpal Merjoev at Cage Warriors 202 in Manchester. A continued jump in competition for the rising lightweight looking to build on a massive 2025.
Conor McCarthy, 24, 6-0-0, Lightweight, Ireland
Another rising star from Ireland, Conor McCarthy, has made a name for himself since joining CW back in 2024. The 24-year-old excels as a striker, scoring three knockouts in the first round of six victories.
“The Hotstepper” lives up to his nickname at range, bouncing in and out of the pocket while pressing forward behind a sharp one-two. He frequently lands a powerful straight punch clean on the opponent’s nose, using his movement to create clear openings. At his best, the Irish lightweight transitions smoothly into the clinch, snatching up a lead collar tie and firing knees and short strikes to the head and body while controlling position along the cage. Fighting out of an orthodox stance with a wide base, McCarthy continues to show improvements in his takedown defense, while also possessing solid offensive wrestling to secure control on the mat and round out his skill set.
McCarthy had a commanding performance in front of his home crowd at Cage Warriors 200 and moved to 6-0-0 as a pro and 4-0-0 under Cage Warriors. No question, McCarthy is poised for tougher opposition in his next fight.
Max Lally, 22, 6-0-0, Featherweight, Ireland
When it comes to entertaining fighters, look no further than the undefeated Max Lally. Standing a lengthy 5’10”, Lally is a mismatch for every fighter who dares to step into the octagon with him. The Dublin native has a 15-0-0 record across his amateur and professional career, taking out notables such as Tiarnan Loughran, Batochir Batsaikhan, and Ben Ellis.
The 22-year-old featherweight is an executioner, brutalising five of his six professional victories by round one finish. The Irish fighter prioritizes his grappling, using a strong base and powerful hips to muscle his way out of bottom position, creating his own pressure with different submissions and ground strikes. Lally is often searching for the double-leg followed by relentless high-speed transitions to take the back and search for a submission early. At range, Lally has a Muay Thai style, throwing a high volume of low kicks before exploding into a powerful high kick or a lunging straight; mostly using his strikes to set up an early level change.
At Cage Warriors 200, Lally submitted Alexandre Junior in round one via RNC, another statement who’s continuously making his case for a CW title shot or a call from the UFC.
Nik Bagley, 29, 8-1-0, Featherweight, Ukraine/England
The newest Cage Warriors champion, Nik Bagley, scored a unanimous decision victory over the incumbent and fellow top prospect Solomon Simon. While only fighting once in 2025 due to injury, Bagley bounced back with a massive win, putting himself on the cusp of getting a call from the UFC brass.
Sitting at 8-1-0, Bagley has never been finished across both his amateur and professional career, likely due to his advantages in the ground game. While Bagley’s takedowns and timing were on display against Solomon Simon over five rounds, that was only his second decision win of his career. Bagley does hold six professional submission wins. Notably, Bagley’s signature submission is the RNC, all five secured under the Cage Warriors banner.
After going through a grueling five-round title fight, it’s unlikely Bagley defends his featherweight belt anytime soon. That said, there’s a real chance his phone could be ringing with a bigger opportunity.
Tariq Pell, 27, Lightweight, 7-1-0, Cage Warriors, England
Since suffering his first loss to the undefeated Shaun Fraser, Tariq “Tsumani” Pell is in the midst of a dominant stretch. The English lightweight has seen four victories in a row, stopping three of his opponents within the distance. Often finding himself as a tweener between lightweight and welterweight, Pell is a sizable six feet tall with a filled-out frame. At 155 pounds, Pell secures a significant advantage in most fights.
Strength, physicality, and athleticism are the foundation of Pell’s game. He rag-dolls opponents with emphatic slams, explodes into flying knees, and unleashes brutal ground-and-pound. There’s a visible twitch and burst to his movement — he fights like a showman who knows he can overwhelm people. While Pell radiates confidence pressing forward on the feet, he also mixes in his level changes effectively, capitalizing on over-aggressive or off-balanced opponents with powerful, drive-through double legs reminiscent of an NFL linebacker. Once on top, he’s relentless, slicing opponents open with heavy punches or working methodically to the back to secure the rear-naked choke.
Must-watch lightweight, Tariq Pell, will enter the octagon for his ninth professional fight at Cage Warriors 203 in London, England. He faces Stefano Catacoli as he looks to extend his winning streak to five.
Anthony Orozco, 26, Welterweight, 8-0-0, United States
Probably the highest-touted American on the Cage Warriors roster, it’s fair to assume that Anthony Orozco is already on the UFC’s radar. Fighting out of San Diego, California, was once an IMMAF champion back at the Pan-American Championships in Mexico, but is now a battle-tested pro, defeating three fighters with 22 or more fights in a row.
A polished and purposeful striker, Orozco owns four knockout victories and operates behind a beautiful body kick to the midsection and a sharp, snapping low kick. The American welterweight blends his boxing well, mixing combination hooks to the head and body, while defensively standing out as one of the better prospects in the sport — working behind a high guard, keeping his head off the center line, and circling away from his opponent’s power side as he patiently looks for openings. To complement his striking, Anthony Orozco uses a steady volume of feints to disguise his entries, shooting well-timed single and double legs before settling into top control and methodically draining opponents in long, grueling fights.
The 26-year-old Anthony Orozco has made sure to mention the UFC after his past two victories. Perhaps a finish or two for the undefeated American will propel Orozco into the dance in 2026.
Ieuan Davies, 29, Lightweight, 6-0-0, Wales
Although Davies hasn’t fought since September 2024, the Welsh fighter made an unforgettable run when he first signed with Cage Warriors back in 2023. A composed grappler with strong clinch control and dangerous submissions, Davies has yet to see the 3rd round in his professional career.
Davies is an elite talent on the mat, and there’s been no padding to his résumé. The young Irish standout secured a first-round triangle choke over top prospect Leon Hill — the only fighter to ever finish him. He also boasts a dangerous rear-naked choke, with three submissions coming after taking the back. It’s been a limited striking sample for Ieuan Davies, given how quickly he’s run through opponents, but at six feet tall he uses his length and feints well, stabbing the body with front kicks to soften the midsection. While the undefeated Welshman is always game when he steps in the cage, two scheduled bouts in 2025 were canceled due to injury, raising some concern about his momentum as a top prospect.
Now in 2026, Ieuan Davies is scheduled again for what will be his first fight in 539 days; expected to take on 8-2-0 Michael Pagani at Cage Warriors 202 in Manchester, England.