Cage Warriors 164: Darren Stewart vs Antonio Zovak

The Cage Warriors Middleweight bout featuring Darren Stewart against Antonio Zovak is an intriguing matchup with both fighters bringing unique strengths to the cage.

Darren Stewart

Nickname: “The Dentist”
Age: 32 (as of December 30, 1990)
Height: 6’0″ (182.88 cm)
Weight: 195 lbs (88.45 kg)
Association: The MMA Clinic
Class: Light Heavyweight (though competing in Middleweight for this fight)
Record: 15 wins, 9 losses
- Wins Breakdown:
  - 8 by KO/TKO (53%)
  - 1 by Submission (7%)
  - 6 by Decision (40%)
- Loss Breakdown:
  - 1 by KO/TKO (11%)
  - 2 by Submission (22%)
  - 6 by Decision (67%)

Stewart, known as “The Dentist,” has a history of finishing fights with striking power, as indicated by his 53% KO/TKO rate. His recent performances include unanimous decision wins against Matthew Bonner at CW 156 and Leon Aliu at CW 154, and a TKO victory over Guilherme Cadena Martins at CW 148. However, he also has faced setbacks, with losses in fights against Mick Stanton and Dustin Jacoby, among others.

Antonio Zovak

Age: 28 (as of January 18, 1995)
Height: 6’1″ (185.42 cm)
Weight: 185 lbs (83.91 kg)
Association: Galaktik Sombor
Class: Middleweight
Record: 9 wins, 6 losses
- Wins Breakdown:
  - 8 by KO/TKO (89%)
  - 1 by Submission (11%)
  - 0 by Decision (0%)
- Loss Breakdown:
  - 4 by KO/TKO (67%)
  - 2 by Submission (33%)
  - 0 by Decision (0%)

Antonio Zovak has demonstrated a strong preference for stand-up combat, securing most of his wins via KO/TKO. His recent record includes a TKO victory over Eduard Popescu and a submission win against Ivan Caric. However, Zovak has also suffered losses, including TKO defeats to Tomasz Narkun and Stefan Zvijer, and a submission loss to Rok Dordic.

Fight Analysis

This matchup presents a fascinating contrast in fighting styles and records. Stewart, with a more balanced record of wins by KO/TKO, submission, and decision, might look to use his experience and versatility to control the pace of the fight. Zovak, primarily a striker with a high rate of finishes by KO/TKO, will likely seek to keep the fight standing and aim for a knockout. The key to this bout will be whether Stewart can utilize his diverse skill set to counter Zovak’s striking power. With both fighters having a history of exciting finishes, this middleweight contest promises to be a highlight of the Cage Warriors event.