KSW 50 Preview

KSW returns to London’s SSE Wembley Arena this Saturday for their landmark 50th numbered show. The promotion has come a long way since the first show in the Marriott Hotel in Warsaw back in 2004. To celebrate the milestone, there are now 3 title fights on the card after a late change scuppered the scheduled 4th. 

Firstly, in the main-event Phil De Fries (17-6) defends his Heavyweight title at the SSE Wembley Arena for the second time within a year. The Sunderland man has been on a tear since joining KSW, laying waste to former champions Karol Bedorf and Michał Andryszak, and current Light Heavyweight champion Tomasz Narkun. Brazil’s Luis Henrique (12-5) is the man tasked with spoiling the party, coming in at short notice. The UFC veteran is coming into London on the back of a 2 fight win streak, including a win last time out in his KSW debut against Andryszak.

Serving as the co-main event, Tomasz Narkun (16-3) returns to defend his Light Heavyweight title for the first time since the Colosseum show in 2017. “The Giraffe” takes on London based Pole Przemysław Mysiala (23-9-1).

Croatian Welterweight champion Roberto Soldić (16-3) aims to win his 4th fight in a row in a short notice catchweight bout against wrestler Michał Pietrzak (8-3). The Pole comes in as a late replacement after an injury forced challenger Patrik Kincl to pull out on fight week. “Robocop” has been in incredible form as of late, finishing his last 3 fights within the distance via strikes. 

Northern Ireland’s Norman Parke (27-6-1) gets the reward for his recent fine form with an interim Lightweight title fight. The Bushmills man has won his last 4 by decision, with 3 coming under the KSW banner. Parke is hoping to set up a trilogy fight with Mateusz Gamrot with a win. “Gamer” Gamrot, the current Featherweight & Lightweight champion, is on hiatus from MMA. To get the trilogy, the Ulsterman must first get through the extremely popular Polish Zombie, Marcin Wrzosek (14-5). A former KSW champion in his own right, Zombie has taken this fight on short notice and would become a 2 weight champion with a victory.

Polish Olympic hero Damian Janikowski (3-2) returns to the cage after a KO defeat last time out. The wrestler had been winning the fight until getting hit with a spectacular head kick from Aleksandar Ilić. He takes on English kickboxer slash entertainer Tony Giles (6-1).

Stepping into the cage for his 50th fight on the 50th KSW card, Polish legend Antoni Chmielewski (32-17) will bring down the curtain on his career with a fight against England’s Jason Radcliffe (15-7). Radcliffe is coming off an impressive KO victory over Hakon Foss at Cage Warriors 106.

Moving up to Middleweight, former champion Dricus Du Plessis (12-2) returns to London to begin his march towards Scott Askham’s title. The South African won’t have an easy time of it against UFD gym’s Joilton Santos Lutterbach (30-7). The Brazilian born German is on a 6 fight win streak, including a win over Craig White at Cage Warriors 102.

Opening the card, Limerick’s Catherine Costigan (6-2) competes for the first time since 2017. “The Alpha Female” will face fellow KSW debutant Aleksandra Rola (2-0). Rola is considered a top prospect and one to watch.

KSW 50 comes live from the SSE Wembley Arena on Saturday 14th 2019.