KSW 42 – Narkun vs. Khalidov
Mit KSW 42 geht es für die polnische Veranstaltungsreihe ins Jahr 2018 und auch hier wird wie immer nicht gekleckert. Der Hauptkampf wird zwischen Tomasz Narkun und Mamed Khalidov stattfinden und zwar im Halbschwergewicht. Neben dem Hauptkampf stehen auch noch zwei Titelkämpfe auf dem Programm, Meteusz Gamrot und Ariane Lipski werden ihre Titel verteidigen müssen.
Khalidov vs. Narkun Superfight
The legendary Mamed Khalidov (34-4-2) returns to the cage for the first time since his main event win at KSW 39: Colosseum in front over almost 58,000 people last May. That time he faced the then welterweight champion Borys Mankowski but now he faces a new test in the shape of current KSW light heavyweight champion Tomasz Narkun (14-2) and it will happen at KSW 42 on March 3rd in Lodz, Poland.
Khalidov’s current 14 fight win streak stretches back to 2010 and includes wins over Luke Barnatt, Melvin Manhoef, Kendall Grove, Jesse Taylor, and Matt Lindland. Overall the 37-year-old has lost just once in his past 34 fights and has posted an incredible 20-0 unbeaten streak in the KSW arena.
Looking to end that run is 205lbs champ Tomasz Narkun. Standing at 6’3″ and nine years his junior, Narkun is arguably the most dangerous opponent Khalidov has faced. Narkun won the light heavyweight title at KSW 32 when he finished Goran Reljic via first round TKO. He has since defended his title three times, all first round stoppages. ’The Giraffe’ has a 100% finishing ratio with 11 submissions and 3 TKO/KO’s on his record and vows to do everything he can to end Khalidov’s run.
“I am a true mixed martial artist and I love sporting challenges, so when I was offered this bout I took it instantly,” said Narkun. “Mamed is an MMA legend in this part of the world and facing him is both an honor and a demanding challenge. But I think my skill set stack up really well against him and I’ll do everything in my power to win this bout on March 3rd.”
KSW 42 will also feature Michael Materla (22-4), former heavyweight champ Karol Bedorf (14-3), KSW legend Lukasz Jurkowski (16-10), lightweight champ Mateusz Gamrot (13-0, 1 NC), and flyweight champ ’The Violence Queen’ Ariane Lipski (10-3).
Michal Materla vs Scott Askham
A huge middleweight clash has just been added to the KSW 42 card as former champion Michal Materla (25-5) will square off against the UK’s Scott Askham (15-4) on the March 3 card at the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland.
A huge fan favourite in Poland, Materla recently finished UFC veteran Paulo Thiago landing a big right hand in the second round at KSW 40 in Dublin this past October. This win marked a triumphant return to the cage for ’Cipao’ following a short layoff and it was his third straight stoppage victory after finishing former KSW champ Antoni Chmielewski and Rousimar Palhares in his two previous bouts.
The 33-year-old made his promotional debut back at KSW 6 winning an 8-man one-night tournament and has since grown to be one of the biggest stars in Polish MMA. Overall his KSW record stands at 15-3 and has registered wins over the likes of Kendall Grove, Tomasz Drwal, Rodney Wallace, and Matt Horwich, to name just a few. Now Materla wants to add Askham’s name to that ever growing list and to also be the first one to finish the English star.
“I’m very happy to come back to the KSW cage so quickly and I’m very excited to face such an exciting opponent,” said Materla. “Scott Askham is very good fighter with an awkward fighting style and big MMA experience. He has never been finished in his MMA career, I will do my best to be the first one to do it.”
Scott Askham signed with KSW at the end of 2017 following an impressive win over fellow UK veteran Luke Barnatt. Prior to that Askham fought six times in the UFC and is a former BAMMA champion. With eleven stoppages on his record, including a ’Performance of the Night’ highlight reel finish over Chris Dempsey, the 29-year-old is a dangerous opponent for anyone and he is expecting another finish on March 3 with the famous ’Askham Army’ in full support.
“I came to KSW for big fights and this is one of them, I want to make a statement here,” said Askham. “Materla is a big hitter but I plan on making him miss and making him pay. Expect fireworks!”
The main event for KSW 42 will be a Champ vs. Champ superfight between Mamed Khalidov (34-4-2) and Tomasz Narkun (14-2) and the card will also feature former heavyweight champ Karol Bedorf (14-3), KSW legend Lukasz Jurkowski (16-10), lightweight champ Mateusz Gamrot (13-0, 1 NC), and flyweight champ ’The Violence Queen’ Ariane Lipski (10-3).
Chris Fields vs Marcin Wójcik
Chris Fields (12-7-1) returns to the KSW arena on March 3 at the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland where he will face former light heavyweight title contender Marcin Wojcik (10-5).
Fields, a former Cage Warriors champion & TUF contestant, made his promotional debut last October in his hometown of Dublin at KSW 40. It was an impressive performance where the Irishman showed great composure throughout to score a unanimous decision win over the very dangerous Michal Fajilka (16-6-1).
After winning in Dublin the SBG product is looking forward to going to enemy territory in Poland where he will be looking for a finish.
“KSW in Dublin was an amazing show and I am looking forward to now competing on an event in Poland,” said Fields. “My opponent does not have the same skillset as me, I’ll be making sure to finish this fight.”
Wojcik enters this contest having lost his bid for the KSW title in his last fight, a submission loss to Tomasz Narkun at KSW 39: Colosseum. Prior to this the 28-year-old was on an eight fight tear defeating some of best up and coming and established fighters in Poland. ’The Giant’ has an impressive finishing rate having scored a submission or TKO win over eight of his opponents.
KSW 42 will be headlined by a Champ vs. Champ superfight between Mamed Khalidov (34-4-2) and Tomasz Narkun (14-2), the card will also feature a match-up between fan favourite Michal Materla (25-5) and UFC veteran Scott Askham (15-4) while KSW legend Lukasz Jurkowski (16-10), lightweight champ Mateusz Gamrot (13-0, 1 NC), and flyweight champ ’The Violence Queen’ Ariane Lipski (10-3) will also appear on the card.
