With Frans Mlambo out, Dominique Wooding will step up and face Luke Shanks in the opening round of the 2024 PFL European Bantamweight tournament.
It was initally unclear as to why the SBG man had withdrawn from the bout but a statement released across his social media read:
"So it’s official the fight I’ve been waiting 6 months for is now cancelled, which might mean I’m out the tournament, which might mean no fight for the rest of the year. All because government systems not working.
"Long story short I’ve living in Dublin since 2003 as a (so called) Resident and not a citizen I have to get visas to travel out of Ireland. I have to renew my residency every few years and I’ve been doing this for years now with no issue.
"In February I thought I would start the renewal process early. Before my residence card expires in April, but your only able to do that no more than 30 day before the expiration so I had to wait till March to start. I started the process online but that wasn’t working so I when into the immigration billing, they tell me to email support but they can take up to 15 days to reply and that they did. After repeating this process a few times over the next few weeks with no Success I finally went to citizens advise and they really tried but they couldn’t even help me with the issue. This is still ongoing mind you I actually needed to have all this done in order to get my UK visa 4 weeks ago to make it to the fight and if 2 late. Remember that’s the short version of that story. What’s next for Frans Mlambo? Well this fighting thing isn’t working out for me so! Who knows. I do have an album coming out soon so you never know I guess! All in all having a fantastic bday."
Following the confirmation of Mlambo being out of the contest, it was quickly announced that Wooding would be taking his place.
Wooding is only 27 but has already competed across some of the biggest promotions in Europe. ‘The Black Panther’ made his professional debut in 2015 and after establishing a three fight win streak, he was given his first shot on a major promotion; taking on Andy Young at BAMMA 28. Wooding was handed his first loss, when Young submitted him in the third round. However, in his next two fights with BAMMA, the Great Britain Top Team man racked up another two stoppage victories against Blaine O’Driscoll and Dominic Dillon before heading to ACB and facing Dean Garnett. It was a tough back and forth affair with Garnett edging the bout on two of the three judges’ scorecards to claim the split decision win.
Bellator then picked up Wooding as they looked to become a major player in the European market and his tenure under them witnessed ‘The Black Panther’ continue his 100% finishing record when he knocked out David Khalsa in the very first round. He then faced the man who he will be replacing in the PFL Tournament, Frans Mlambo and dropped a unanimous decision loss to the Irishman. A loss to Fabacary Diatta then saw Wooding part ways with Bellator and sign a multi fight deal with Cage Warriors. His first outing in the yellow gloves came against fellow hard hitter, Cameron Hardy. Wooding added yet another highlight reel finish to his record when he brutally finished Hardy just over a minute into the contest.
The win then set up a clash for the Cage Warriors vacant Bantamweight world title against fellow prospect Nathan Fletcher. After a big first round for Fletcher, and a slightly closer second, Wooding rallied in the third and after two big knees to the head, landed a huge left high kick which was followed up with a barrage of strikes to keep his 100% finishing rate in tact and claim his first major world title in the process. He then successfully defended the title against Carlos Abreu before dropping the belt to Michele Martignoni at Cage Warriors 144.
It was over a year before fans saw Wooding back in the cage, when he made his PFL debut against Kikadze Bondo in a 2024 Tournament eliminator, in which Bondo managed to earn his spot on the tournament. However, ‘The Black Panther’ optimises what it means to stay ready and following Mlambo’s withdrawal from his bout against Luke Shanks in a little over two weeks time, Wooding has seized the opportunity and will now be the 8th man in the 135lbs bracket.
Speaking to Fighters Only, the 27-year-old:
