KSW News & FeaturesMamed Khalidov Forces Mariusz Pudzianowski to Tap to Strikes in KSW 77 Headliner
Size didn’t matter to Mamed
Khalidov.
Billed as the biggest fight in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki history, former KSW two-division champion Khalidov faced five-time “World’s Strongest Man” titleholder Mariusz Pudzianowski in the KSW 77 main event on Saturday at a fully-packed Arena Gliwice in Gliwice, Poland. Khalidov (36-8-2, 20-4-2 KSW), who weighed 53 pounds less than his foe on the scale, was lighter on the feet as he wisely opted to move around Pudzianowski (17-8, 1NC, 17-7, 1NC KSW) rather than directly attacking him. “Pudzian” shortened the distance and clinched with his foe, allowing Khalidov to showcase a remarkable judo throw that grounded the 259-pound colossus. On the mat, Khalidov quickly captured Pudzianowski’s back and poured a barrage of strikes on his flattened adversary. Pudzianowski absorbed a significant amount of shots before tapping to punches at the 1:54 mark of Round 1.
Elsewhere, Sebastian Przybysz and Jakub Wiklacz collided for the third time in the bantamweight championship co-headliner. Early in the fight, it was pretty clear that Wiklacz (14-3-1, 4-1 KSW) had the edge over his foe in terms of grappling. Inexplicably, Przybysz (10-3, 7-2 KSW) attempted to match Wiklacz’s skills on the mat instead of keeping the fight on the feet, where he looked much sharper than “Masa.” Przybysz led the offensive in the second period until Wiklacz swept his foe to end the round on top. The grappling exchanges continued in the third frame, with Wiklacz getting close to finishing his adversary with a tight guillotine choke attempt. Przybysz had no answers for Wiklacz’s relentless sweeps and ground control for most of the fight, save for part of the fifth stanza where “Sebic” landed some heavy shots on the mat. Przybysz’s late storm wasn’t enough to retain the championship, however. When the dust settled, two of the cageside judges sided with Wiklacz, who captured the belt and defeated his long-term rival via split decision.
Elsewhere, Ibragim Chuzhigaev (17-5, 2-0 KSW) notched his first light heavyweight title defense after outstriking Ivan Erslan (12-2-1, 3-2 KSW) en route to a unanimous decision; in front of a partisan crowd, former 145-pound title contender Daniel Rutkowski (15-3, 1 NC; 3-1 KSW) edged Lom-Ali Eskiev (20-6, 1 NC; 2-1 KSW) thanks to a narrow split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29); Andrzej Grzebyk (19-6, 3-3 KSW) stopped Oton Jasse (21-9, 0-1 KSW) with a nasty liver punch at the 4:21 mark of Round 1; up-and-comer Patryk Kaczmarczyk (9-2, 3-2 KSW) folded Pascal Hintzen (8-2, 1-2 KSW) with knees to the body 63 seconds into their featherweight affair; 205-pounder Bogdan Gnidko (9-0, 2-0 KSW) scored the ninth first-round finish of his career as he smashed Madalin Pirvulescu (5-1, 1-1 KSW) with a head kick followed by punches 38 seconds into their bout; in a featherweight clash, Michal Domin (5-3, 2-2 KSW) submitted Patryk Likus (2-2, 2-2 KSW) via triangle choke at the 4:33 mark of Round 3; 155-pounder Yann Liasse (9-1, 1 NC; 3-0, 1 NC KSW) submitted Adrian Gralak (5-1, 1 NC; 0-1, 1 NC KSW) via rear-naked choke 2:37 into Round 2; bantamweight Shamad Erzanukaev (2-0, 2-0 KSW) forced Carl McNally (2-1, 1-1 KSW) to tap due to a rear-naked choke at the 2:48 mark of the first period; and 18-year-old Wiktoria Czyzewska (2-0, 1-0 KSW) crushed Aleksandra Karaseva (1-1, 1-1 KSW) with punches 72 seconds into their 135-pound battle.
𝐌𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐎𝐕 just beat 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐔𝐒𝐙 𝐏𝐔𝐃𝐙𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒𝐊𝐈!!! XTB #KSW77
The King of the KSW Legends 👑 pic.twitter.com/RLqhKipBLr — KSW (@KSW_MMA) December 17, 2022Advertisement
Billed as the biggest fight in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki history, former KSW two-division champion Khalidov faced five-time “World’s Strongest Man” titleholder Mariusz Pudzianowski in the KSW 77 main event on Saturday at a fully-packed Arena Gliwice in Gliwice, Poland. Khalidov (36-8-2, 20-4-2 KSW), who weighed 53 pounds less than his foe on the scale, was lighter on the feet as he wisely opted to move around Pudzianowski (17-8, 1NC, 17-7, 1NC KSW) rather than directly attacking him. “Pudzian” shortened the distance and clinched with his foe, allowing Khalidov to showcase a remarkable judo throw that grounded the 259-pound colossus. On the mat, Khalidov quickly captured Pudzianowski’s back and poured a barrage of strikes on his flattened adversary. Pudzianowski absorbed a significant amount of shots before tapping to punches at the 1:54 mark of Round 1.
And just like that we have a new KSW bantamweight champion!! XTB #KSW77
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) December 17, 2022
🇵🇱 Jakub Wikłacz 👑 pic.twitter.com/ZcLfErg99V
Elsewhere, Sebastian Przybysz and Jakub Wiklacz collided for the third time in the bantamweight championship co-headliner. Early in the fight, it was pretty clear that Wiklacz (14-3-1, 4-1 KSW) had the edge over his foe in terms of grappling. Inexplicably, Przybysz (10-3, 7-2 KSW) attempted to match Wiklacz’s skills on the mat instead of keeping the fight on the feet, where he looked much sharper than “Masa.” Przybysz led the offensive in the second period until Wiklacz swept his foe to end the round on top. The grappling exchanges continued in the third frame, with Wiklacz getting close to finishing his adversary with a tight guillotine choke attempt. Przybysz had no answers for Wiklacz’s relentless sweeps and ground control for most of the fight, save for part of the fifth stanza where “Sebic” landed some heavy shots on the mat. Przybysz’s late storm wasn’t enough to retain the championship, however. When the dust settled, two of the cageside judges sided with Wiklacz, who captured the belt and defeated his long-term rival via split decision.
Talk about a hard fought win! 👏
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) December 17, 2022
🇹🇷 Chuzhigaev makes his first title defense. The new light heavyweight era is established! XTB #KSW77 pic.twitter.com/ckC3wd1pA4
Elsewhere, Ibragim Chuzhigaev (17-5, 2-0 KSW) notched his first light heavyweight title defense after outstriking Ivan Erslan (12-2-1, 3-2 KSW) en route to a unanimous decision; in front of a partisan crowd, former 145-pound title contender Daniel Rutkowski (15-3, 1 NC; 3-1 KSW) edged Lom-Ali Eskiev (20-6, 1 NC; 2-1 KSW) thanks to a narrow split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29); Andrzej Grzebyk (19-6, 3-3 KSW) stopped Oton Jasse (21-9, 0-1 KSW) with a nasty liver punch at the 4:21 mark of Round 1; up-and-comer Patryk Kaczmarczyk (9-2, 3-2 KSW) folded Pascal Hintzen (8-2, 1-2 KSW) with knees to the body 63 seconds into their featherweight affair; 205-pounder Bogdan Gnidko (9-0, 2-0 KSW) scored the ninth first-round finish of his career as he smashed Madalin Pirvulescu (5-1, 1-1 KSW) with a head kick followed by punches 38 seconds into their bout; in a featherweight clash, Michal Domin (5-3, 2-2 KSW) submitted Patryk Likus (2-2, 2-2 KSW) via triangle choke at the 4:33 mark of Round 3; 155-pounder Yann Liasse (9-1, 1 NC; 3-0, 1 NC KSW) submitted Adrian Gralak (5-1, 1 NC; 0-1, 1 NC KSW) via rear-naked choke 2:37 into Round 2; bantamweight Shamad Erzanukaev (2-0, 2-0 KSW) forced Carl McNally (2-1, 1-1 KSW) to tap due to a rear-naked choke at the 2:48 mark of the first period; and 18-year-old Wiktoria Czyzewska (2-0, 1-0 KSW) crushed Aleksandra Karaseva (1-1, 1-1 KSW) with punches 72 seconds into their 135-pound battle.
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