KSW News & FeaturesArek Wrzosek Lamps Ivan Vitasovic in Short-Lived KSW 90 Headliner
WOW!!! 🇵🇱 Arek Wrzosek KO's Ivan Vitasovic!!
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
He passes the test!! XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/5sPMPbDJlF
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Glory Kickboxing 2021 knockout of the year winner Arkadiusz Wrzosek closed KSW 90 with a 54-second knockout over Ivan Vitasovic in the main event. Wrzosek (4-0) exploded onto the KSW scene since signing with the organization in 2022. Vitasovic, a Croatian heavyweight champion, was expected to be his toughest test but that hypothesis proved shaky after he was dropped seconds into the fight. Vitasovic reached his feet but was followed around the cage as Wrzosek beat him. Despite his inexperience in mixed martial arts, Wrzosek is quickly rising up the ranks as a big man to watch.
One of the fastest KO's in KSW history!!
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
🇫🇷🇩🇿 Laïd Zerhouni KO's Bartosz Fabinski in just 1⃣2⃣ seconds!!! XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/pvdRjF5sci
If you blinked, you probably missed Laid Zerhouni’s 12-second knockout over Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Bartosz Fabinski.
Fabinski (16-6) was a late replacement for fellow WCA Fight Team gymmate Radoslaw Paczuski and had never been knocked out in his 13-year career. Zerhouni (12-5) erased that in the time it takes to microwave a Pop-Tart.
One Punch Knockout!!! 😵😵
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
🇵🇱 @SoldaevMMA!! XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/35SrqY8tUC
After a razor-thin first round, Adam Soldaev was determined to land something on Damian Stasiak that would send the Pole reeling. That punch would come 1:08 into the second round, as Soldaev carefully walked Stasiak to the fence and landed a risky leaping rear uppercut.
Surprised by the awkward shot, Stasiak’s chin was lined up perfectly for a follow-up left hook from Soldaev. The punch knocked Stasiak out immediately, giving Soldaev his first win since Oct. 2022.
WOOOOOW!!! Huge Upset!!! 🤯🤯🤯
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
🇻🇪 Isai Ramos submits Jembiev!! XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/WGcUw3nOHq
Guard pullers will remember the day 22-year-old Isai Ramos tapped out Ramzan Jembiev in only 45 seconds.
Ramos, who took the fight on two weeks’ notice, derailed Jembiev’s five-fight win streak in electrifying fashion with an armbar less than a minute into the first round. Ramos (7-1) showed no fear going to the mat as his legs worked frantically to trap Jembiev in the submission. Before Jembiev knew it, his elbow was hyperextended to its limit, and he was the victim of one of the biggest upsets in the history of the promotion.
KNOCKOUT!! 🤯
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
🇺🇦 Oleksii Polishchuk is a PROBLEM at bantamweight!! 👊💥 XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/wiVLmian54
Werlleson Martins was on his way to potentially securing another title shot at the bantamweight title, but those plans were put on the back burner by Oleksii Polishchuk's left hand.
Just a minute into the second round, Polischuck dropped the Brazilian with a sharp jab at the same moment Martins was loading up a right cross. The punch put Martins on his butt where — like a deer in headlights — he waited to be cracked by a right hand that ended the fight 50 seconds into the second period.
With the win, Polischuck (12-4) put himself in line for a potential showdown with KSW bantamweight kingpin Sebastian Przybysz.
What a debut!! What a submission!! Your Queen has arrived!! XTB #KSW90
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
🇵🇱 @Ewi_Wo_MMA 👑 pic.twitter.com/1AN1NsWiDi
KSW strawweight Ewelina Wozniak wants to be the sole ruler of the division, and she could be on her way after a picture-perfect performance against Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova. Wozniak crushed Toncheva and nearly ended the fight in the first round.
Wozniak landed at will on Toncheva and busted the 32-year-old Bulgarian wide open. For nearly three minutes, Toncheva weathered shots as the referee stood by and watched her survive. Wozniak could’ve continued to beat her in round two but mercifully ended the fight with one of the slickest triangle chokes you’ll see in 2024.
Islam Djabrailov (10-5) bounced back from his submission loss to KSW bantamweight champion Przybysz with a close but unanimous decision win over France’s Alfan Rocher-Labes (10-3).
Coming into the contest, Rocher-Labes had won his last five fights, including a 2020 win over Djabraliov, but the German was too advanced this time around. Djabraliov’s wrestling and activity made throwing anything meaningful tough for the Frenchman. After three competitive rounds, all three judges leaned in favor of Djabraliov (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Note to self, do not allow 🇵🇱 Marek Samociuk get on top!! 😵
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
Ground & Pound!!! ⚒️ XTB #KSW90 pic.twitter.com/sbYRFMYJ9R
If a heavyweight fight makes it out of the first round, you’re bound to see someone fatigue.
Unfortunately for Olegs Jemeljanovs, his gas tank wasn’t up for the task that Marek Samociuk presented. After two rounds of nonstop striking, the heavy-handed Jemeljanovs took an ill-timed shot at Samociuk’s legs with hopes of scoring the first takedown of the fight.
Jemeljanovs didn’t realize he was serving Samociuk (5-4) his fifth career win on a platter. Samociuk easily stuffed the takedown and transitioned to Jemeljanov’s back, where he could not protect himself from a storm of punches that ultimately ended the fight 3:15 into the second frame.
Somebody's “0” had to go in the scrap between undefeated lightweights Gino van Steenis and Hugo Deux. Van Steenis, a former House of Glory kickboxing contestant, shifted his focus to MMA, but his grappling leaves much to be desired.
Deux (3-0) did an excellent job at neutralizing van Steenis’ striking. Twice van Steenis tried to catch him slipping with a flying knee, but Deux capitalized and scored a takedown. Once van Steenis was grounded he fought like a fish out of water, unsuccessfully trying to flip Deux off him.
After three rounds of consistent top pressure, the fight went to the scorecards, where Deux was declared the winner by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
First KSW fight of 2024 ends by submission! XTB #KSW90
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 20, 2024
🇵🇱 @karolczyk_mma by arm-triangle!! 😴 pic.twitter.com/MmKhG0fPjH
KSW 90 opened with a showdown between lightweights Szymon Karolczyk and Artur Krawczyk. Krawcyzk (4-4) entered his promotional debut confident and surging on a three-fight win streak but left the cage with the first submission loss of his career.
Karolcyzk (6-3) showed early that he could trade with his fellow Polishman, but quickly took the fight to the ground. After shifting into full mount, Karolczyk capped off his dominant performance with an arm-triangle choke that forced Krawczyk to submit at the last second of the second stanza (4:59).
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