KSW 41: Mankowski vs. Soldic Results and Recap

December 23, 2017

KSW finishes off its year with Popek Monster and two title fights topping the card!

KSW 41 went down on Saturday, marking the Polish promotion’s final card of the year. In the main event, Borys Mankowski (19-6-1) and Roberto Soldic (12-2) went to war with welterweight gold on the line. Polish rapper and heavyweight Popek (Paweł Rak) also featured on the card, taking on Tomasz Oświeciński.

A featherweight title fight between Kleber Koike Erbst and Artur Sowiński was also planned for the event. However, Erbst failed to make weight, and was forced to vacate the title as a result. The fight remains on the card, however, and Sowiński is still eligible to win the title.

The action kicks off at 1PM EST, Live from Katowice, Poland. Check back come event time for a recap and results from the entire card!

Maciej Kazieczko vs. Gracjan Szadziński

Lightweights Maciej Kazieczko and Gracjan Szadziński kicked off the KSW 41 card. Kazieczko brought the action early, chopping at the legs of his opponent and letting his hands go. Kicks to the thigh followed; he then initiated a Muay Thai clinch, and landed a knee to the body before the fight went to the ground. With Kazieczko in Szadziński’s guard, he had plenty of time to make something happen. Kazieczko was able to land some big shots, both punches and elbows, from within the closed guard of Szadziński. Szadziński would eventually escape back to the feet briefly, but it was still Kazieczko pressing forward, and as it went back to the mat he added some more big elbows. On the feet, Kazieczko showed a well-balanced attack, continuing to mix in kicks, knees in the clinch, and combinations.

Szadziński was finally able to answer back with a few strikes, and as the clock wound down, he suddenly connected with a short left hand that dropped Kazieczko! After a completely one-sided round, Gracjan Szadziński pulled off the TKO victory in the dying seconds of the first round.

Gracjan Szadziński def. Maciej Kazieczko by TKO, Round 1, 4:59

Salahdine Parnasse vs. Lukasz Rajewski

Poland’s Lukasz Rajewski took on Salahdine Parnasse of France at featherweight in the second bout of KSW 41 on Saturday. Rajewski held the center of the cage early. Parnasse stayed light on his feet and circled out of harm’s way. It was an orthodox vs. southpaw battle, with both men firing off kicks during the opening moments of the fight. An exchange followed, and each fighter displayed some fast hands. Parnasse went upstairs with a head kick that was blocked, and initiated another exchange shortly after. Rajewski struck at the lead leg of his opponent, and went to the body with his hands. He began walking down his opponent, who was still trying to set up the head kick. Parnasse would find success with a superman punch. By rounds end it was Parnasse pushing forward; close round, very much a kickboxing match with no thought of going to the mat.

Parnasse flashed level changes and kept his hands moving to keep Rajewski guessing early in round two. Rajewski pressed forward on the attack, coming with his right hand; Parnasse answered back. He then tagged Rajewski on the forehead, but the Polish fighter pushed on, seemingly unharmed. Rajewski’s right hand was becoming a looping yet dangerous punch; Parnasse again landed a superman punch. Curiously, however, he was circling towards Rajewski’s dominant side. Near the end of the round, Rajewski landed a body shot only for a head kick by Parnasse to hurt and briefly drop him. Out of desperation, he landed the fight’s first takedown just before the bell sounded.

Rajewski looked to take the fight back to the mat in round three, but Parnasse was having none of it. Stuffing the attempt, he went back to work on the feet. With roughly two minutes to go, Parnasse took the back of Rajewski, and was able to get a body triangle in. Rajewski dropped to his knees, and Parnasse was able to roll him over and work to secure a rear-naked choke. Rajewski turned inward, defending it, and while Parnasse briefly had mount, Rajewski got back to his feet. Parnasse then grabbed the nack and sunk in an anaconda choke! He had the leg trapped and the choke in tight, but ran out of time! The sequence, however, likely earned him both the round and the fight.

Salahdine Parnasse def. Lukasz Rajewski by majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29)

Kamil Szymuszowski vs. Grzegorz Szulakowski

Lightweights Szymuszowski and Szulakowski went to the ground early. Szulakowski looked for a leg lock, but couldn’t secure it. Back on the feet, Szymuszowski looked to use his reach. Within moments, the fight was back on the ground, and this time, when Grzegorz Szulakowski grabbed a leg, he made no mistake. Securing a heel hook, Szulakowski rolled, wrenched, and forced the tap from a clearly pained Szymuszowski.

Grzegorz Szulakowski def. Kamil Szymuszowski by submission (heel hook), Round 1, 3:33

Damian Janikowski vs. Antoni Chmielewski

Janikowski pressed the action early, pressing Chmielewski into the fence. He could not secure the takedown, however, and a low blow on Chmielewski then halted the action. Janikowski tried a jumping double knee, and was coming in fast with a big overhand. He then pressed the action against the fence, and finally got the fight to the mat. He worked from half guard, and while Chmielewski, Janikowski was all over him, landing bombs. He survived to the bell however.

It took less than three minutes for the former Olympian Janikowski to finish the job in round two. His wrestling was the story throughout the bout, and an early takedown underscored that fact. He took the back and looked to lock in underhooks. He moved to side control, and was able to trap the arms of Chmielewski. With the mounted crucifix position secured, Janikowski was able to pepper his opponent with undefended punches to the head, and the ref waved it off!

Damian Janikowski def. Antoni Chmielewski by TKO, Round 2, 2:33

Michał Andryszak vs. Fernando Rodrigues Jr

Heavyweight Michał Andryszak made short work of Fernando Rodrigues Jr Saturday at KSW 41. Just twenty seconds in, Rodrigues charged forward, opening up the action. It was a wild, undisciplined attack, and the end result was Rodrigues felled by an Andryszak punch. Andryszak punched, adding some ground and pound to capture the win at just twenty-six seconds of round one!

Michał Andryszak def. Fernando Rodrigues Jr by TKO, Round 1, 0:26

Kleber Koike Erbst (c) vs. Artur Sowiński

In what was to be a featherweight title fight, champ Kleber Koike Erbst took on Artur Sowiński. However, after missing weight, Erbst was stripped of the belt, meaning only Sowiński was eligible for the title.

The pair were meeting in a rematch of their KSW 33 bout. Going right into the third round, it was back and forth action through bout of the first two frames. Erbst looked good on the mat in the second, working for a submission, trying for a gogoplata, among other attempts. On the feet, Sowiński went upstairs with a head kick and even added a bit of showboating at round’s ending, miming a burial with a shovel.

In the third, however, Erbst kept the pressure on, rushing in on the attack. Sowiński met him with a guillotine, which Erbst was able to avoid. He was getting the better of the grappling, but Sowiński made it back up. Erbst would begin walking him down, and shoot for a takedown only to be stuffed. They traded along the fence, clinched, and Erbst then took the back of a standing Sowiński. Sowiński dove forward in a roll, with Erbst hanging on the whole time. Locking in the rear-naked choke, he refused to be denied, securing the tap just a few seconds later!

Kleber Koike Erbst def. Artur Sowiński submission, Round 3, 3:56

Paweł “Popek” Rak vs. Tomasz Oświeciński

Heavyweight action was up next. Popek dominated on the ground in the first, muscling his opponent to the canvas and working in side control, landing some heavy shots and controlling the action throughout most of the round. When Stachu was finally able to make it back up he was thrown right back to the canvas for more ground and pound.

Surprisingly, this one made it to the second round, and Stachu immediately came out with a powerful takedown. He moved to side control, looking to flip the script and replicate what Popek had achieved in round one. Popek would briefly give up the back tring to escape, then return to his back. Stachu was doing some damage by that point, and Popek again tried to escape to no avail. Still eating shots, big hammer fists, the ref had seen enough, and waved it off!

Tomasz Oświeciński def. Paweł “Popek” Rak by TKO, Round 2, 1:58

Borys Mańkowski (c) vs. Roberto Soldić

Borys looked light on his feet early, circling and coming in for a leg kick. Soldić answered with a punch while Mańkowski continued chopping at his opponent’s lead leg. The outside leg kicks looked like they’d become a factor if the challenger was unable to consistently check or avoid them. Mańkowski seemed to get his hands going, unloading a combination, but Soldić stayed active in what turned out to be a back-and-forth round. Soldić went upstairs with a kick that was blocked; they’d begin to trade mid-round, but again Mańkowski worked his kicks, and the challenger seemed to slow a step and drag his foot a bit as the round wore on. Soldić went to the body with a pair of punches and began unloading on Mańkowski along the fence, resulting in a late takedown attempt by the champ just prior to the round’s end.

Soldić got the fight to the ground early in the second, but couldn’t keep it there. Back on the feet, it was another back-and-forth round, but just prior to the final minute he was able to take the champ down again. That led to him working in some ground and pound from Mańkowski’s closed guard.

Round three once again saw the challenger take the fight to the ground. Mańkowski stayed active off his back and was soon back on his feet. Soldić, however, quickly had him down again. The champion looked for a leg lock as Soldić stood up, trying to pull free. The challenger escaped, moving to half guard. Mańkowski at that point was bloodied. Heavy ground and pound, with elbows and some big shots, had Mańkowski covering up. With nowhere to go and not able to defend himself, Mańkowski survived the round. The bout, however, was over. Mańkowski was clearly rocked after the round, initially unable to make it to his stool. His corner called it a night, and KSW had a new welterweight champ in Roberto Soldić!

Roberto Soldić def. Borys Mańkowski by TKO (corner stoppage), Round 3, 5:00