Justin Burlinson & Rhys McKee target vacant title fight for June 25th

Following his main event win at Cage Warriors 135 on Friday night, VMTV reached out to Sunderland’s own Justin Burlinson to find out what’s next.

CW 135 saw Burlinson return from Dana White’s Contender Series to the promotion and have to weather a storm to defeat Polish veteran Daniel Skibiński via a guillotine in the second round. Burlinson had one name on his mind following his performance that puts him right at the top of the welterweight division.

“I expect a title shot nothing else. Rhys McKee in Belfast, June time.” – Justin Burlinson

A successful return to Cage Warriors for Burlinson, after he initially debuted with the promotion in June last year with a win over David Bear, was sure to send a big message to the other contenders. The welterweight title is currently vacant after Ian Garry’s departure to the UFC but McKee has also had his eyes on the same prize since his own victorious return to CW.

After a stint in the UFC, Rhys ‘Skeletor’ McKee returned in 2021 to the promotion where he built a 3-0 win streak over Jefferson George, Perry Goodwin and Håkon Foss. Similarly to Burlinson, McKee reminded everyone that he wasn’t going anywhere with his comeback, stopping Aleksi Mäntykivi at Cage Warriors 129. VMTV also reached out to McKee for comment on Burlinson’s call-out to which he responded:

“25th June I’m coming to stop whoever is there, who ever wants it I’ll see you June 25th, Justin is the obvious choice.”

With Cage Warriors returning to Belfast with an event on June 25th at the SSE Arena, this vacant welterweight title fight will be enough to set the Emerald Isles on fire. Burlinson vs McKee will be one of the best fights that the promotion could possibly make and is a no brainer for Belfast. Watch this space.