Gianluca Rocca, who holds a 9-5 record, staged a comedic performance at the weigh-ins before Cage Warriors 204. He held a sign apologizing to his girlfriend on her birthday for being at weigh-ins with a half-naked man in underwear instead of attending her party. The sign read "Today is my girlfriend's birthday. Try to explain to her why I'm here with a naked guy in underwear and not at her party. Happy birthday, my love." Rocca is scheduled to fight Manuel Lancioni, who has a 3-3 record. The stunt was intended as lighthearted entertainment at the official weigh-in event.
Italian regional MMA has no shortage of showmanship, and Gianluca Rocca delivered a memorable moment at the Cage Warriors 204 weigh-ins when he arrived holding a handwritten sign addressed to his girlfriend on her birthday.
The sign, displayed in front of the assembled crowd and cameras, read: "Today is my girlfriend's birthday. Try to explain to her why I'm here with a naked guy in underwear and not at her party. Happy birthday, my love." The gag landed well with those in attendance, drawing laughs at what is typically one of the more routine and serious rituals on fight week.
Rocca carries a 9-5 professional record into the event and is scheduled to face Manuel Lancioni, who stands at 3-3. The two are set to compete at Cage Warriors 204, with the weigh-in stunt serving as an unofficial bit of pre-fight promotion.
Why it matters
- Cage Warriors has built a reputation for cultivating personality-driven fighters alongside high-level competition, and moments like this reinforce that culture.
- Rocca's 9-5 record marks him as one of the more experienced fighters on the card relative to his opponent.
- The lighthearted moment shifts some attention onto a bout that might otherwise sit quietly in the middle of the card.
Whether the girlfriend accepted the public apology remains unknown, but Rocca at least ensured the weigh-ins were worth watching before a single punch was thrown.
