Bartimus and the Boy

One of the biggest stories to come out of the IFL has been the emergence of 20-year-old lightweight standout Chris Horodecki (Pictures).

It's been said again and again: He's a killer with a baby face and the fists of a grown man. Anyone paying the least bit of attention to the IFL has heard of Horodecki, but it was a fight in Houston in February that made him more than just a future prospect.

If the Anacondas' Horodecki is the "Polish Hammer," then the Silverbacks' Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) is the "Polish All-In-One Tool."

Palaszewski, 28-9-0, is a tough multi-functional fighter that can do many things well. Before meeting Horodecki, he had punched and choked his way through 11 straight opponents dating back to 2005. He was also 5-0 in the IFL and atop the promotion's lightweight division.

Horodecki, 10-0-0, had also beaten his first three IFL opponents. Still, despite convincingly stopping a talented Ryan Schultz (Pictures) in the 2006 IFL semifinals, the young Canadian was supposed to be in for a rude awakening against Palaszewski. Horodecki had fared well, but Bartimus arsenal and experience should have exposed him for being what it seemed he was: a lucky kid.

What transpired that night was a fight that will no doubt be in more than a few top-10 lists come December. Palaszewski gave Horodecki a beating early, and in the middle of his onslaught he sank a deep standing guillotine that Horodecki tried to withstand until he dropped between the ropes onto the judges' table as the round ended.

Call it saved by the bell, the ropes or just a savvy maneuver, but somehow a glassy-eyed and wobbly Horodecki made his way back into the ring. Then he returned in the next round with a precision striking fury that helped him squeak out a split decision and maintain another undefeated season.

Now these two will meet again on Saturday in Chicago in the first round of the IFL Grand Prix. The IFL knows that this will be a fight to hang its hat on -- so much so that it will be one of the featured fights for the organization's landmark live broadcast on MyNetworkTV.

"Obviously they see me and my opponent as fighters they can market," an eager Horodecki said. "I think that I've earned my spot. I'm going to give the fans what they want, and they won't leave unsatisfied."

"It's a rematch, but you know it's just another fight really," Palaszewski said. "You know what I'm saying, there's no bad blood or anything like that. It's just another fight and it happens to be a rematch. It was a close fight the first time, so I'm happy it's happening, but I'm motivated just like I would be for any other fight. I want to win and I've been busting my butt to get ready for the fight."

Horodecki was more than excited. "My motivation has been off the hook," he said, "and it's not going to be the same fight, especially with the layoff that I had, watching the fights from the sidelines."

The Shawn Tompkins (Pictures)-trained fighter sustained a hand injury against Shad Lierly in another thrilling bout. He was kept out of action during the IFL semifinals and watched his Anacondas and their roster of replacements lose to Renzo Gracie (Pictures)'s Pitbulls in the playoffs.

"It's got me so hungry," Horodecki said. "I've never had such a long layoff. Even though it's not really long in terms of what other fighters have done, but to me it is. I'm excited; I'm pumped to be in Chicago. I've fought here many times; it's close to home. … It's everything I could ask for."

Palaszewski's team made it to the finals but lost to the same Pitbulls squad that eliminated Horodecki's Anacondas. Palaszewski lost his bout against Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures) in another controversial fight, and he took the defeat personally.

"I feel like it was kind of on my shoulders and I dropped the ball," he said. "So I got to make it up to the team."

Palaszewski also sees this Grand Prix as an opportunity for him to take back his division. "That's how I want to look at it," he said. "I want to get that belt and get my stock back up. You win some, you lose some. I gotta jump back on the horse."

When asked about how this fight would be different from the first, Horodecki suggested a clear conclusion. "Me and Bart, just the way our styles match up, it's definitely something the fans can look forward to," Horodecki said. "But from my perspective, I think I won the last fight decisively, and I want to win this fight even more decisively. No ifs, ands or buts."

Come Saturday, you can be certain these two fighters will go to war. Citizens of Chicago, get your popcorn ready.