High Fives: Of Injured Strongmen, Knockout Kicks and Double Champions
UFC Fight Night 148 and
Bellator 218 did not have a monopoly on the mixed martial arts
scene during the weekend of March 22-24.
Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki on Saturday in Lodz, Poland, played
host to a strong card with KSW
47, which was anchored by a heavyweight title fight. Meanwhile,
the
Legacy Fighting Alliance bantamweight crown as up for grabs at
LFA
62 on Friday in Dallas.
SIZE MATTERS … KSW 47 was headlined by a
superfight that saw heavyweight champion Philip De
Fries defend his strap against lightweight titleholder Tomasz
Narkun. In the first round, Britain’s De Fries came close to
finishing the contest with an overhand right that dropped his
Polish adversary to the mat. Once there, he landed a barrage of
ground-and-pound, but Narkun survived. After five largely one-sided
rounds, De Fries was awarded the unanimous decision. In defending
his belt for the second time, “F-11” moved to 17-6 with one
no-contest. Meanwhile, Narkun slipped to 16-3.
KNOCKOUT KICK … Serbia’s Aleksandar Ilic clashed with Poland’s Damian Janikowski in a middleweight showcase at KSW 47. A former Olympic wrestling bronze medalist, Janikowski used takedowns and top control to dominate the first two rounds. However, early in the third, the tables turned when Ilic threw a high left roundhouse kick that landed flush on the side of his rival’s head and knocked him cold. The official time was 0:32 of Round 3. The triumph saw the “Joker” up his record to 11-2. In defeat, Janikowski fell to 3-2.
A DOUBLE CHAMP … The LFA 62 headliner pitted reigning interim flyweight champion Casey Kenney against Vince Cachero for the promotion’s vacant bantamweight belt. The bout got off to a fast start, with both fighters throwing down on the feet. The finish came when Kenney grabbed the back of his opponent’s head with both hands and delivered a left knee to Cachero’s chin that rendered him unconscious 1:38 into Round 1. With the win, Kenney, now 11-1 with one no-contest, became the first dual champion in the organization’s history. The loss saw “The Anomaly” drop to 6-1.
REAR-NAKED VICTORY … In the LFA 62 co-feature, America’s Levi Mowles squared off with Turkey’s Ahmet Kayretli at bantamweight. Mowles dominated the first stanza with good work on the ground. Kayretli emjoyed some success with his striking in the second. The third round was nearing its end when the American took his grounded adversary’s back close to the cage. From there, Mowles set up the fight-ending rear-naked choke, which elicited the tap at the 4:21 mark. In securing the submission, Mowles rose to 11-4. The setback dropped “The Turk” to 9-3.
.@TomaszNarkun is rocked! De Fries is looking for the finish! #KSW47 pic.twitter.com/NnN0l7uBHv
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 23, 2019
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Damn #KSW47 pic.twitter.com/UAMYgeJVwT
— Michael Morgan (@mikewhoatv) March 23, 2019
FREAK INJURY … The KSW co-main event was a
showdown between promotional newcomer Szymon
Kolecki and former World’s Strongest Man winner Mariusz
Pudzianowksi. Late in the first frame, Kolecki succeeded in
dragging his larger opponent to the canvas. Upon hitting the mat,
Pudzianowski immediately clutched his left thigh. Recognizing that
“Pudzian” was unable to continue, the referee called a halt to
proceedings at the 4:29 mark of Round 1. Kolecki improved to 7-1,
while Pudzianowski dipped to 12-7 with one no-contest.
KNOCKOUT KICK … Serbia’s Aleksandar Ilic clashed with Poland’s Damian Janikowski in a middleweight showcase at KSW 47. A former Olympic wrestling bronze medalist, Janikowski used takedowns and top control to dominate the first two rounds. However, early in the third, the tables turned when Ilic threw a high left roundhouse kick that landed flush on the side of his rival’s head and knocked him cold. The official time was 0:32 of Round 3. The triumph saw the “Joker” up his record to 11-2. In defeat, Janikowski fell to 3-2.
Casey Kenney (@CKMMA125) used this devastating finish to make @LFAfighting history tonight on @AXSTVFights, becoming the first champ-champ in the promotion's history.
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) March 23, 2019
Full #LFA62 results: https://t.co/jfwiEoD8Kt pic.twitter.com/9SVjaS7EXx
A DOUBLE CHAMP … The LFA 62 headliner pitted reigning interim flyweight champion Casey Kenney against Vince Cachero for the promotion’s vacant bantamweight belt. The bout got off to a fast start, with both fighters throwing down on the feet. The finish came when Kenney grabbed the back of his opponent’s head with both hands and delivered a left knee to Cachero’s chin that rendered him unconscious 1:38 into Round 1. With the win, Kenney, now 11-1 with one no-contest, became the first dual champion in the organization’s history. The loss saw “The Anomaly” drop to 6-1.
Official Results: Mowles def. Kayretli via Tapout (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:21 into Round 3. pic.twitter.com/GE0ySDK06x
— AXS TV Fights (@AXSTVFights) March 23, 2019
REAR-NAKED VICTORY … In the LFA 62 co-feature, America’s Levi Mowles squared off with Turkey’s Ahmet Kayretli at bantamweight. Mowles dominated the first stanza with good work on the ground. Kayretli emjoyed some success with his striking in the second. The third round was nearing its end when the American took his grounded adversary’s back close to the cage. From there, Mowles set up the fight-ending rear-naked choke, which elicited the tap at the 4:21 mark. In securing the submission, Mowles rose to 11-4. The setback dropped “The Turk” to 9-3.
