Cage Warriors 181 is one of the European promotion's biggest and best cards of 2024 with three title fights topping the bill.
As is often the case with CW, the headliners might be the ones generating the worldwide interest but the depth on this card is particularly special.
One of the biggest stories of the year in this promotion is the return of former title challenger Justin Burlinson and his journey deserves the spotlight.
On his Birthday this past May, the 27-year old announced on Instagram that his time away from the cage was due to a knee surgery and a battle with testicular cancer which he overcame.
"Not a normal birthday but happy to finally get surgery on my knee after a long wait, had some setback in the past months starting with reinjuring my meniscus and deciding to get the surgery on it, then while waiting for surgery I was experiencing really bad back pain that started to become worse, after getting tests done I was diagnosed with testicular cancer but after further tests there was no spread and everything is good. Now I can start rehab and be back in the cage this year."
Having not fought since March of 2023, his return to the cage in front of his home supporters at the Vertu Motors Arena is going to be an emotional moment.
He spoke about what he has been through since his last outing in the yellow gloves during a fight week interview with Cage Warriors:
"Recently I've had 18 months out of my career, just being diagnosed with testicular cancer and going through a knee surgery, so it's been a long road back to 100% health. A long road back to get here on fight week and get in that cage and show that I'm one of the top fighters in the world."
Burlinson has already achieved a lot in his career with a Dana White's Contender Series opportunity and an instant classic title fight with Rhys McKee already under his belt at such an early stage in his career.
The difference between the "Burlo" that we saw before compared to the one that is returning on Saturday night is that he's more grateful than ever for every aspect of the fight game following the adversity that he has faced outside of the cage.
"With the time off, normally when it gets close to a fight, you get a little bit tired of camp and tired of all the cutting weight and the extra stuff that comes with fighting but the time around, I'm just grateful that I'm back here and I'm back able to do this. Even the hard bit, cutting weight, it's feeling good."
Cage Warriors 181 airs live on UFC Fight Pass on November 23 where Burlinson will take on Theodor Berggren.
