Five-time World’s Strongest Man titleholder Mariusz Pudzianowski put away Bob Sapp with first-round punches less than a minute into their KSW 19 headliner on Saturday at the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland. Sapp (11-12), who has lost his last six fights, succumbed to the Polish strongman’s blows 41 seconds into round one.
Meanwhile, former Sengoku middleweight title contender Mamed Khalidov wiped out Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Rodney Wallace 1:55 into the opening frame of their one-sided co-main event.
Khalidov (25-4-2), who has tasted defeat just once in his last 25 appearances, launched a fearless kick-heavy attack to the American’s legs, head and body. Wallace (12-5) struck for a takedown roughly 90 seconds into the encounter, only to back away and allow his foe to return to his feet. It was a decision he would regret. Moments later, Khalidov fired a searing right cross down the pike. A dazed Wallace collapsed, and the fight was done.
Other bouts were far less decisive. Polish middleweight Michal Materla recorded his fifth consecutive victory, as he captured a majority decision from UFC and Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Jay Silva (8-6). The 28-year-old Materla (17-3) has won eight of his nine fights inside the KSW ring.
Finally, former International Fight League middleweight champion Matt Horwich stopped Antoni Chmielewski on third-round punches. Chmielewski (22-9) met his end 2:19 into round three. The mercurial Horwich (27-21-1) threw the brakes on a four-fight losing streak -- it was the longest such skid of his 49-bout career -- with the victory.
Other winners at KSW 19 were Aslambek Saidov (12-2), who submitted Grigor Aschugbabjan (8-8) with a kimura 4:51 into the first round; Marta Chojnoska (1-0), who coaxed a tapout from Paulina Suska (1-4) with a scarf hold arm lock in just 45 seconds; and Borys Mankowski (12-4-1), who secured a majority decision over the previously unbeaten Marcin Naruszczka (10-1).