ELSHADDAI VANHOESEN vs MALIK SMITH READY TO COLLIDE FOR VACANT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
NORTH EAST MMA Media

CAGE WARS 65 PRIMED TO UNLOAD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE EXCITEMENT WITH VANHOESEN VS SMITH
CAGE WARS 65 is set to deliver a hard hitting heavyweight title bout April 5, 2024 at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, New York. This heavyweight title bout is just one a many explosive matchups on tap.

ELSHADDAI VANHOESEN fights out of New York and brings a (4 – 2) record into the fight.  He is a fan favorite and veteran of the Cage Wars promotion. The upcoming title bout will be his fifth time entering the Cage Wars cage. Vanhoesen has finished three of his four wins by way of KO/TKO, all coming in the first round.  Vanhoesen always delivers action accompanied with high excitement. He is looking to turn around a two fight losing skid. This title fight will provide Vanhoesen the opportunity to show the fight fans he is ready to start stacking up the heavyweight W’s. Vanhoesen knows how to win a championship title having captured the Cage Wars super heavyweight title back in January of 2023 at Cage Wars 55, defeating an undefeated champion in Cory Quintana. 

MALIK SMITH fights out of Long Island, New York and brings a (6 – 5) amateur MMA record into the title fight.  He is coming off a third round submission finish over Travis Streeter back in November of 2023 at Cage Wars 62. Four of Smith’s wins have been via finish.  He has a strong kickboxing background. This will be his fourth time entering the Cage Wars center stage. In November of 2021 he won the Cage Wars vacant Super Heavyweight Championship Title against a tough James Chaplin.  In April of 2022 he lost the Cage Wars title in his first defense against Cory Quintana via unanimous decision. On April 5^th Smith will be on the hunt to regain the championship belt.

It will be interesting to see how this heavyweight war plays out considering Smith lost his title to Quintana and nine months later Vanhoesen won the title from Quintana.  Cage Wars 65 will give Smith the opportunity to regain the title.  It will give him the chance to climb back up that mountain.  A win over Vanhoesen would lift Smith considerably in the amateur heavyweight northeast rankings. 

NORTH EAST MMA Media’s Tommy Vickers got the opportunity to have a quick chat with Elshaddia Vanhoesen leading up to the Cage Wars heavyweight title bout set for April 5, 2024 at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, New York. 

TOMMY V. – “How has your preparation for the fight been coming along for you?”

ELSHADDIA VANHOESEN – “My preparation has been good.  I’ve been getting a lot of work in sparring with different partners.  I helped Al Marro prepare for his fight a little at Heavy Hitters Club in Connecticut.  I’ve also been frequenting Tristar in Montreal.  Of course my daily training at Clever Combat in Latham.”

TOMMY V. – “Do you have a good idea of what Smith will bring to the table on fight night?  Do you feel he will bring any surprises?”

ELSHADDIA VANHOESEN – “Smith is an experienced fighter that has been through every scenario in the cage.  He’s been trending upwards and improving every fight.  I think he will show diverse striking and look to use his length to keep distance between us.  I’m not sure what surprises he could show but if I did it wouldn’t be a surprise now would it.  LOL”    

TOMMY V. – “What can the Cage Wars fans expect to see from you during the title bout?”

ELSHADDIA VANHOESEN – “Cage Wars can expect to see a new improved big pisser exciting as always.  WINNING isn’t enough for me I want to do it in exciting fashion.  I want to give everyone a night to remember.”

TOMMY V. – “And lastly, how do you see the Smith fight playing out?”

ELSHADDIA VANHOESEN – “I see Malik getting overwhelmed by pressure I looking to show my finishing ability with grappling so look for my first submission finish in the cage.”

NORTH EAST MMA Media – Tommy Vickers (Combat Sports Journalist)