Matt Lindland in photo by Susumu Nagao
Europe’s biggest MMA promotion KSW is geared up for another super exciting show on May 21st in Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland. The KSW 16 event will feature two world class main event bouts, a sold out crowd of more than fourteen hundred avid MMA fans and spectacular production.
In the most anticipated battle of the night, in his toughest test to date, former five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski will face the true mixed martial arts veteran James Thompson. After 76-second destruction of Eric Butterbean Esch, Pudzianowski took a few months off to better his all-round MMA game. Newly achieved skills combined with his superhuman strength make him a dangerous rival for anyone. However, with 31 fights under his belt the Colossus has seen it all and is not of afraid of his technique nor his size and promises to teach Pudzianowski a lesson. This clash of 120-kilogram monsters guarantees a fireworks.
In the second headlining fight, the best mixed martial artist in Poland and one of the best middleweights in the world Mamed Khalidov will square off against former Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling Matt Lindland. The Polish superstar was beaten only once in his last twenty-two outings. In his last appearance Khalidov made a quick work of UFC veteran James Irvin, when he armbared the much bigger American in the March’s KSW 15 main event. Lindland poses a set of skills the Chechen born Pole hasn’t ever faced in his career. The Team Quest founder’s wrestling and signature ground-and-pound attack will be put against Khalidov’s unorthodox striking and slick submission skills. The KSW ring will determine which of these tactics will secure one of them the victory.
The rest of the KSW 16 fight card is also stacked with intriguing match-ups. Former ISKA and WKN kickboxing Marcin Rozalski will make his second foray into MMA against the fellow striker Vitali Shemetov in the heavyweight scrap. The Pole made his successful debut in March besting Marcin Bartkiewicz via cut stoppage at KSW 16. Now the bar is set much higher, as the Russian fighter dwarfs Rozalski in terms of cage and ring experience. However, the Plock based stand-up specialist embraces the role of the underdog and will look to prove his critics wrong on May 21st.
KSW light heavyweight ace Jan Blachowicz will make a quick return to the ring after his first loss in nearly four years suffered at the hands of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou two months ago. Blachowicz will battle the always tough Toni Valtonen. The Pole will try to avenge his teammate Lukasz Jurkowski’s career ending defeat to the Espoon Kehahait fighter.
The KSW middleweight title eliminator will see Szczecin’s Michal Materla going up against London’s James Zikic. Berserkers Team grappling wiz was supposed to fight for the title in March, but the severe injury suffered by the champion Krzysztof Kulak put the championship bout on hold. Materla is willing to risk his guaranteed shot in order to be the first Polish fighter who beats Zikic in the KSW ring.
Two exciting match-up round up the card. At lightweight, Polish up-and-comer Artur Sowinski will meet German MMA veteran Cengiz Dana, while at light heavyweight fresh, off his victory over highly regarded Marcu Vanttinnen, Slovakian Attila Vegh will fight hard-hitting Grigor Aschugbabjan.
The May 21st KSW 16 show will be aired on Polsat and Polsat Sport in Poland as well as IPLA TV online PPV worldwide. For more information about the broadcast check out http://www.ksw.ipla.tv/en/.