KSW 108 Preview: Soldaev v Brichta

KSW returns to the Mazury area of Poland, the country’s Lake District, this Saturday. Olsztyn hosts KSW 108 in the city’s Hala Urania, and features nine bouts contested under KSW MMA rules.

The main event features two high level lightweights who like to entertain and are always knocking around the top of the division. Adam Soldaev (9-2) trains out of WCA Warsaw, about 2.5hrs south of Olsztyn. The 28-year-old makes his sixth promotional walk and has won his last two matchups. The Pole is known for his striking, particularly his footwork and technique. He plays it patiently and will utilise his kick game to control the distance, and when he feels the moment is right, his power game comes into play. Leo Brichta (13-5) makes his fifth appearance and was victorious back in Liberec in February. The Czech loves to put on displays of violence and when on form hits with big damage. The 27-year-old also has a BJJ game, with a respectable submission threat. He is a finisher wherever the fight goes, and he has no fear in him.

The co-main event sees the return of former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion Ibragim Chuzigaev (19-5), competing in the big leagues for the first time since August 2023. The Turkish citizen has his eyes solely set on getting his belt back, and was due to compete for gold on Saturday before the incumbent Rafał Haratyk pulled out due to injury. The 34-year-old is a storied ACA veteran with a very well rounded game. The Grozny man can employ an efficient and volume filled kickboxing game, or equally utilise his proficient choke game. His arm triangle is particularly dangerous. Marcin Wójcik (20-10) is a former FEN champion and has competed for a KSW title in the past. The 30-fight veteran has had a third of his fights in KSW, always taking risks and trying to end it with his fists or his submissions. The 35-year-old seldom goes to a decision and is always hunting to finish within the distance. He’s facing a man who’s never been knocked out.

Wiktoria Czyżewska (5-1) is a very marketable and extremely fierce competitor. The 21-year-old has been competing in the striking arts since early childhood, starting out with karate. The Końskie prospect has one of the biggest mean streaks you’ll see in MMA and if you allow her to get on a roll, you’ll be faced with a barrage of utter violence. The Pole has immobilised opponents with her vicious kicks, one to the body, one to the head. She’s improved every time she’s appeared and is only beginning her journey. Bianca Sattelmayer (11-12) is a late stand-in and is a former opponent of UFC champion Weili Zhang. When considering her danger, you can’t just look at her MMA stats, but her vast experience across the striking arts in pro kickboxing and boxing. This Brazilian loves to fight and has won seven bouts in-a-row across all combat codes. The 29-year-old is in the form of her life and her last win came in May. There’s not too much knockout threat, she doesn’t really have the power, her opportunities comes via the submission game.

Adam Niedźwiedź (10-4-1) has been impressive as of late, scoring a pair of submission wins since returning in 2024, the most impressive being an Omoplata back in April. The Katowice man is an elite Jiu Jitsu player and a high level black belt. You simply don’t play on the floor with the 31-year-old and he can hit submissions off your arms, legs and any other body part you’re silly enough to leave out for him to grab. He’ll pull guard, he’ll try and roll into you, he wants that fight on the mat. The Pole’s most successful attack is his arm triangle. Adam Zieliński (24-14) is a former FEN champion and has found his opening two KSW bouts tricky. The 38-year-old is at his best on the feet where he can use a solid kickboxing game with heavy punches and sharp elbows in the clinch. The Pole has the cardio for the duration, and throws with volume. The Olsztyn man will have the fans on his side, and he is pretty good at avoiding submissions at this stage of career, with his last loss coming back 2016.

Matheus Scheffel (18-12) returns to action following defeat to Arek Wrzosek last time out. The Contender Series and PFL veteran is a bruiser on the feet and he can end your night with a single blow of a fist. Twelve of his wins have been via knockout, and he likes to get things done early in the fight. The Brazilian will take risks to land the deciding blow, and he’ll need to protect his chin as it is questionable. Michal “Blackbeard” Martínek (11-6) makes his sixth KSW appearance and he’s been trading wins and losses to date without a purple patch. The Czech is a potent striker who can dominate over fifteen minutes if allowed. The 35-year-old has a big punch, however can sometimes be shy in using it. For this bout, he’ll need to show confidence and try and land on the chin early and often.

Dawid Kuczmarski (6-0) is a talented young pro and trains out of the infamous Arrachion Olsztyn that produced legends such as Mamed Khalidov and UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jędrzejczyk. The 22-year-old won his KSW debut via guillotine last summer, and this is the first time we’ve seen him since. It has mostly been decisions for the Pole, and he has good standup skills with a decent grappling game. Michał Guzik (5-1) has had mixed results in the promotion so far, a win and a loss. The Pole had an extensive amateur career, and has had a lot of success as a pro. Another one who has mostly decision wins on his record, he does have a well rounded game, including some decent wrestling where he can work in his ground and pound, and provide a submission threat. Both men looking for it all to click.

Wojciech Kazieczko (5-2) comes in hot on a two-fight win streak. The younger brother of Maciej Kaziecko, the tall featherweight is a flashy kickboxer with beautiful technique. The two blemishes on his record were to stellar competition, Michał Domin and Daniel Tărchilă. The 28-year-old can pick you apart on the feet, however you have to beware of his unique submission game, not afraid to use some of the rarer techniques to get the job done. Dawid Kareta (5-4) holds a win over Kaziecko at amateur level, a guillotine choke victory. The Pole has also taken to the cage against champions such as Robert Ruchała and Paweł Polityło, amongst other tough names. This is his first appearance in a year, and he has a variety of chokes that can get the job done. The 31-year-old was a whizz with the guillotine in his amateur bouts, and finishing pro bouts with an anaconda and Ezekiel choke. On top of that, he showed he has a mean side on the feet with a beautiful knee knockout over Josef Štummer.

Igor Włodarczyk (1-0) is another young prospect on the card and he’s represented his nation multiple times at IMMAF level. The 22-year-old was victorious on his professional debut, a split decision win. With over twenty fights under his belt now, the Pole will be keen to show the array of skills he’s learned, from striking to his impressive grappling game. The sky is the limit. Dominik Gabner (debut) comes in as a somewhat unknown package. We know the Gdynia man has a whopper of a punch and he likes to strike early, however we’ve not seen him in the cage for very long as an amateur. The Pole now switches to the paid ranks, where he’ll be looking to rack up the knockouts.

Grzegorz Stabach (4-0) has had an interesting pro career to date, showing he has a sting in his fists and can take limbs home with him in grappling exchanges. The 24-year-old does his best work early, and he’ll be keen to punish lazy takedown attempts with his exemplary guillotine choke. Karol Durszlewicz (3-0) is another young hotshot taking to the KSW cage for the first time, and is another IMMAF alumnus. The Brodnica man is at home in the grappling exchanges, with the ability to hold you down for extended periods and can attack the armbar, arm triangle or take the back for the rear naked. He loves softening opponents up with ground and pound. 

KSW 108 is live from Olsztyn at 18:00 Dublin time this Saturday night and the PPV can be purchased at KSWTV.com. If you’re looking for a taste of what’s to come, the first two fights will air for free on Youtube, as well as the infamous KSW opening ceremony.