Marian Ziolkowski to Defend Lightweight Title Against Sebastian Rajewski at KSW 71

Tristen CritchfieldJun 08, 2022


A lightweight championship clash pitting reigning title holder Marian Ziolkowski against Sebastian Rajewski will serve as the headliner for KSW 71.

The Polish promotion recently announced the booking. KSW 71 takes place on June 18 in Torun, Poland, and will also see former heavyweight champ Marcin Rozalski return from a five-year absence to face kickboxing standout Errol Zimmerman in the co-main event. Rozalski vs. Zimmerman will be contested under K-1 rules while using MMA gloves. KSW 71 is available on pay-per-view via KSWTV.com.

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Ziolkowski claimed the vacant lightweight strap with a fourth-round technical knockout victory against Roman Szymanski at KSW 57 in December 2020. He has since defended the title twice in triumphs over Maciej Kazieczko and Borys Mankowski. “Golden Boy” is 24-8-1 with one no contest over the course of a professional career that began in 2011.

Rajewski enters the matchup on a three-bout winning streak under the KSW banner, a run that includes a split-decision triumph against ex-champ Artur Sowinksi and a unanimous verdict over UFC veteran Niklas Backstrom.

Rozalski hasn’t competed in MMA since May 2017, when he scored a 16-second KO of Fernando Rodrigues Jr. at KSW 39. In the meantime, the 43-year-old Pole has defeated Peter Graham in kickboxing and lost to Josh Barnett in a bare-knuckle boxing bout.

Zimmerman has compiled a 103-13 career mark in kickboxing with wins over the likes of Rico Verhoeven, Hesdy Gerges, Stefan Leko, and Jerome LeBanner.