Rhys McKee (right) (photo via Cage Warriors)

By press release

Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – is proud to confirm the details of a history-making first Mixed Martial Arts showcase at Dublin’s RDS this October.

The promotion will make its second trip to the Emerald Isle of 2023 earlier than anticipated, with the event – numbered CW 161 – set for Saturday, October 14th.

Tickets for CW 161 go on general sale on Friday, June 30th, with an exclusive pre-sale on Wednesday, June 28th.

The RDS – owned by The Royal Dublin Society – is famously home to Leinster Rugby, having also played host to football, equestrian and professional wrestling events, and concerts from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Thin Lizzy.

Cage Warriors recently returned to Dublin for the first time since 2016, with the critically acclaimed CW 153.

The card featured a host of Irish talent from multiple teams in both the North and the Republic, with the likes of Leon Hill, the Shelley Brothers, James Sheehan, Paddy McCorry, Alexander O’Sullivan and more in action.

The evening was capped off by a momentous welterweight title unification bout, as Ballymena’s Rhys ‘Skeletor’ McKee defeated UK MMA legend ‘Judo’ Jim Wallhead to unify the 170lb division.

Announced as part of a revised slate of events to close out the 2023 world tour – including an additional date in Newcastle – Cage Warriors’ return to Dublin will once again highlight the burgeoning Irish MMA scene.

“We’re in the midst of a second Irish MMA revolution…” said CW President Graham Boylan.

“Just as we saw with Conor, Cathal Pendred, Neil Seery and Paul Redmond ten years ago, now we have the likes of Ian Garry, Paul Hughes, Rhys McKee and Caolan Loughran leading the charge, and once again Cage Warriors is at the forefront.”

We’re bringing the revolution back to Dublin earlier than planned, keeping this new generation of athletes active and giving the fans another opportunity to be a part of the continuing rise of Irish MMA!”

CW 161 will air live on UFC Fight Pass & international broadcast partners. Fans can sign up to be first in line for tickets to CW’s return to Dublin here.