BREAKING: Aaron Khalid vs Justin Burlinson Added To Cage Warriors 118

Photos by Bellator MMA and Dolly Clew

Aaron Khalid will face Justin Burlinson at Cage Warriors 118 on Friday December 11th inside London’s York Hall. SevereMMA confirmed the matchup with promotional officials, in addition to sources from both camps.

The welterweight bout provides another boost to an already impressive card, which features a main-event Middleweight Championship fight between Nathias Frederick and Jamie Richardson, Adam Ventre vs Decky McAleenan, Matt Inman vs Matt Bonner, Mick Stanton vs Madars Fleminas, and Nathan Fletcher vs Leigh Mitchell.

After a slick 28-second submission win over Mick Stanton at Cage Warriors 115, Khalid will know that victory over Burlinson could put him right in contention for the vacant welterweight strap. The experienced Welshman’s Cage Warriors record currently stands at 5-4, with notable victories over Adam Proctor and Jamie Richardson.

All five of Khalid’s victories inside the Cage Warriors cage have come by way of submission, something that seems synonymous with many athletes competing out of The MAT Academy.

Speaking to SevereMMA, Khalid believes he poses a different challenge to anything Burlinson has faced before:

“Justin, from what I’ve seen, is a good boy. Pretty decent, well rounded, looks like he’s a bit bigger than me, I imagine he’s going to be a strong boy. He trains out of a good camp as well, he trains with Jack Grant and Marc Diakiese so I am expecting him to come ready in all bases, but I don’t think he has fought anyone like me.”

“He hasn’t fought anyone who has, without being disrespectful to his opponents, but he hasn’t fought anyone that is a fighter. Everyone he has fought seems to let him run through them, and he’s not going to be able to do that to me.”

“I think it is going to be back and forth until one of us breaks and I see myself breaking him.”

“Once the fight starts getting a bit more gritty, he’ll show what kind of person he is once I start putting it on him a bit, once stuff isn’t going his way. “

This will be the first time Burlinson pulls on the yellow gloves, following a successful run with Bellator. After a frustrating 2020 with two scheduled bouts falling through at the 11th hour, this will be the only walk to the cage the 5-0 prospect makes this year. The North-East English athlete splits his training between TFT, Team Kaobon & 4 Corner Combat Gym training alongside the likes of Andrew Fisher, Marc Diakiese and Darren Till.

Burlinson is known for his fast pace and early pressure, having previously finished 4 of his 5 pro bouts in the 1st round. Khalid will be Burlinson’s most experienced opponent to date and a substantial step up in opposition too.

Burlinson joins a stacked Cage Warriors Welterweight division alongside Adam Proctor, Ian Garry, Mateusz Figlak, Madars Fleminas, and Mick Stanton.

Cage Warriors: The Trilogy Strikes Back will be broadcast LIVE on UFC Fight Pass.