Inverness mixed martial-artist Houston vacates world title and leaves Cage Warriors

By Andrew Henderson

Published: 18:10, 04 February 2020

| Updated: 18:11, 04 February 2020

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Inverness mixed martial-artist Ross Houston has parted company with Cage Warriors and vacated his welterweight world championship.

The fighter nicknamed 'Hitman' won the title by defeating Italian Stefano Paterno by split decision at Cage Warriors 98 in October 2018.

Ross Houston became world champion in October 2018 and defended the title once in a fight that was ruled a no contest. Picture: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors

But he only defended the belt once, against Nicolas Dalby at Cage Warriors 106 last June, where the match was ruled a no contest in the third round when neither man could stay on their feet due to slipping on blood on the canvas.

There were rumblings of discontent between Houston and Cage Warriors when Houston was pulled from a grappling match in October.

Houston's long-time ambition has been to make it to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premier MMA promotion, but the Highland Martial-Arts Centre head coach is now said to be in negotiations with three companies as he looks to fight again in April.

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