Dubai - Arabstoday
Mixed martial art (MMA) stars Mike Hayes and Andreas Kraniotakes will fight for the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship (CWFC) world heavyweight belt at Dubai World Trade Centre on March 16. ‘Fight night four\' will feature eight live televised professional bouts, preceded by an undercard of six amateur fights involving up and coming talent from across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. CWFC has grown rapidly since its inception a decade ago to 17 shows in 13 countries in 2012 and marks its 50th event by crowning a new heavyweight champion in the UAE. Broadcast globally, the organisation has sought a reputation as the ultimate pathway into the Ultimate Fighting Championship for upcoming MMA fighters, with Michael Bisping and Dan Hardy having already made the leap. Off the back of three straight wins, German giant ‘Big Daddy\' Kraniotakes will take on Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Mike ‘300\' Hayes for the belt. Also featuring in Dubai will be Europe\'s number one flyweight Phil Harris against Casey Dyer, a cast member on Season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show last year. Cage Warriors will also crown a new women\'s super flyweight champion in 2012 through a four-fighter tournament. The first of two semi-final bouts will be in Dubai between Sheila ‘The German Tank\' Gaff and Brazil\'s Jennifer Maia.