Hand Injury Forces Lindland’s KSW 15 Withdrawal

A hand injury sustained in training has forced 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland to withdraw from his scheduled middleweight showdown with Mamed Khalidov at KSW 15 on March 19 at Torwar Hall in Warsaw, Poland. KSW officials are searching for a replacement.

Lindland (Pictured) has not competed since his brutal knockout defeat to Robbie Lawler at Strikeforce “Henderson vs. Babalu 2” in December. The 40-year-old has lost three of his last four fights.

Khalidov last appeared on Dec. 30, when he stopped Yuki Sasaki on first-round punches at Sengoku Raiden Championship “Soul of Fight” in Japan. The 30-year-old Chechen has delivered 20 of his 21 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins over UFC veteran Igor Pokrajac, Pride Fighting Championships alum Daniel Acacio and Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago anchor his resume.

KSW 15 will feature a light heavyweight duel between surging Pole Jan Blachowicz and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. The 27-year-old Blachowicz will carry a nine-fight winning streak into the bout. He has finished his last eight foes, six of them by submission.