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Round 1
Welcome one and all to KSW 65, the final event for the Polish
promotion for 2021, capped off with two exciting title bouts.
Kicking off the card, we have 20 year-old Shamad Erzanukaev making
his professional debut at bantamweight, facing 23 year-old Bartosz
Rewera (1-0), who missed weight by a pound. Rewera begins with a
1-2 that barely misses, but it’s soon Erzanukaev who gets him
against the fence, unleashing a few punches that partially get
through and attaining the clinch. Erzanukaev has double underhooks
and clearly wants to get it to the ground. Still, Rewera is hanging
tough, using a whizzer to stay upright for now. He even manages to
regain one underhook. Marc Goddards separates the two men due to a
lack of action. Erzanukaev fires a body kick that partially gets
through. However, it’s Rewera that is stalking him. He gets a
little too aggresisve in doing so, as Erzanukaev times a nice
double-leg to get him down. However, in the ensuing scramble,
Rewera gets out and briefly ends up on top. They end up in yet
another clinch against the cage. They grapple for a while, and
eventually Erzanukaev gets a nice headlock takedown, landing in the
half-guard. Pretty soon, Rewera regains full-guard, at which point
Erzanukaev postures fully up. Rewera doesn’t move and Erzanukaev
uses it to get to half-guard, where he unloads several brutal
elbows. Rewera tries to rise, but gets mounted in the process.
However, Erzanukaev is too high and Rewera sweeps him, ending up on
top. A Erzanukaev armbar attempt is easily defended and both men
decide to stand. Erzanukaev launches a huge flying knee and it
catches Rewera, who is hurt. He is unable to capitalize on this,
though. Suddenly, Erzanukaev looks a little tired and Rewera lands
a couple of punches against the cage. Rewera then tries a takedown
against the cage to no avail, which is where the round ends. 10-9
Erzanukaev.
Round 2
Erzanukaev fires a body kick that lands, but Rewera uses it to take
him down, desperately rotating from the top to get to side control.
However, Erzanukaev spins with him and Rewera only ends up in
full-guard. Erzanukaev uses butterfly hooks, but Rewera is too
heavy and stays on top. They scramble and Rewera goes for a weird
possible kneebar. It fails and Erzanukaev uses the opportunity to
sweep and gain side control. However, this too is not for long as
he doesn’t secure position and Rewera scrambles up. Erzanukaev
wrestles him back down, however, and is now in side control. He
works away with short punches. He then adds a series of hard
elbows. He briefly gets the mount, where he continues unloading
with punches and elbows. Rewera manages to scramble and get him
back to side control, but this round is all Erzanukaev. 10-9
Erzanukaev.
Round 3
The final stanza starts and Rewera is clearly the fresher man. He
lands a nice body kick and when Erzanukaev tries to shoot, he
easily defends. He fires a head kick soon after that is barely
blocked and Erzanukaev’s punches are easily avoided. Erzanukaev
throws a very tired jab. Rewera partially lands with a combination
against the cage and they clinch. A tired Erzanukaev still manages
to get Rewera down, draped along his back, with Rewera trying to
post up on his knees. It’s unsuccessful, as Erzanukaev puts him on
his back and briefly takes the back with both hooks in. Rewera
tries to turn into him, but Erzanukaev wins the scramble and
briefly has a tight arm triangle. He decides to bail on the
submission attempt in favor of full mount. This time, he is very
patient, trying to secure the base and only then posturing up to
rain down GNP. However, Rewera still sweeps him at the perfect
time, ending on top. It’s not for long, as Erzanukaev sweeps him
right back to end on top with 2 minutes left. Rewera tries to kick
him off, but Erzanukaev merely passes to side control. He lands a
few tired forearms to the face, but nothing significant. Rewera
tries to get up, but in the process eats a far more significant
punch by Erzanukaev, who tracks him well and stays on top to end
the round. 10-9 Erzanukaev (30-27 Erzanukaev).
The Official Result
Shamad Erzanukaev def. Bartosz Rewera via Unanimous Decision
Round 1
Coming up next, Piotr Olszynka (6-7-1) takes on young 19 year-old
prospect Patryk Likus (1-0). While already a huge favorite, Likus
hedged his bets by coming in 3 whole pounds overweight against a
natural bantamweight. Likus pumps his jab to start, but Olszynka is
moving his head well and avoids them. Olszynka fires his own 1-2,
but Likus dodges easily. Likus throws more jabs, but none of them
are close. A Olszynka leg kick misses. They throw leg kicks
simultaneously and each lands. Olszynka throws a left hook that
almost clips Likus. Likus responds with a spinning backfist that
isn’t close. A Likus front kick is closer. Likus awkwardly pulls
his head straight back against Olszynka punches, but isn’t punished
for it. Olszynka lands a leg kick, and Likus finally manages to
touch him with a jab. Likus now lands a front kick to the body and
nearly succeeds with a roundhouse to the head. Likus continues
throwing kicks, including a spinning back roundhouse, but it
misses. Olszynka tries an overhand right, but it too misses. A
Likus roundhouse kick to the head misses, and a second one is
blocked. With a little over a minute left, there has been very
little in the way of damage. Olszynka comes forward with punches,
misses all of them, but does connect with a leg kick. Olszynka
scores with another leg kick, though it’s light. Likus tries a
flying knee, but it misses, and the follow-up punches are blocked.
Olszynka comes forward with a wild flurry, but the left hook lands,
even if not hard. I have the big underdog winning the opening
round. 10-9 Olszynka.
Round 2
Likus comes forward aggressively to start the second, trying a 1-2
and then a roundhouse kick to the head, but it all misses. A second
such attempt is also unsuccessful. However, Olszynka responds with
a flurry and courtesy of Likus having his chin straight up, he gets
caught with a couple, though the damage isn’t great. Likus tries to
get it back with a spinning backfist, but Olszynka is out of range.
Both men try kicks, but neither succeeds. Olszynka lands another
small flurry. He ducks under a Likus spinning back roundhouse kick
and clinches, but can’t get the takedown. They do, however, clinch
along the fence. Olszynka lands a few foot stomps, but nothing big.
They trade a few inoffensive knees and Likus lands a few short
slaps to the head. Eventually, they disengage and Likus tries
another flying knee. It misses, and Olszynka soon lands a nice 2-3
upstairs. Likus does hit a spinning elbow that is only partially
blocked. Olszynka gets the better of simultaneous left hook lands.
However, he gets too aggressive, and as he is coming forward, Likus
throws a spinning backfist that catches Olszynka and lays him out
completely cold. The fight is waved off and it’s an extraordinary
turn-around in a fight I had Likus, the heavily favored young
prospect, losing the first 9 plus minutes.
The Official Result
Patryk Likus def. Piotr Olszynka via KO (Spinning Backfist) at 5:00
of Round 2
Round 1
Moving up the card, Anita Bekus (4-2) challenges Magdalena Sormova
(10-3) at women’s strawweight. Sormova begins aggressively, coming
forward and throwing punches. None land, but a leg kick does. Bekus
fires back but is unsuccessful. After another, weaker leg kick
connect, Sormova clinches. However, she tries too hard for the
takedown and ends up with Bekus on top of her, in open full guard.
Bekus works away with the occasional punch and elbow, which are
consistently landing. Sormova, for her part, is happy to stay on
her back, doing little to either get up or throw up submissions.
Finally, halfway through the round, she begins throwing a few
elbows from her back. She looks for a possible triangle, but
doesn’t get very far, while eating a little bit of punishment from
Bekus. Sormova goes for a possible armbar, but it’s very loose and
she doesn’t have Bekus nearly tight enough. While Bekus doesn’t
defend it correctly, trying to pull it out too quickly, she still
gets out quickly and easily enough. Sormova finally scrambles, but
is far too slow, and Bekus manages to take her back. It’s not very
secure and a better fighter would turn into her, but Sormova
succumbs to the hold, accepting Bekus on her back, who lands more
punches as the round ends. 10-9 Bekus.
Round 2
ormova begins the second round with a nice jab that catches Bekus
flush. Bekus soon clinches, knowing now that she has an advantage
in the grappling. They grapple along the fence, and Bekus briefly
gets a harai goshi, bringing Sormova to her knees. However, she
instantly rises and they soon separate. After Sormova throws a kick
that is mostly blocked, they clinch again. This time, Bekus simply
muscles Sormova down. However, she is very loose and Bekus
scrambles to take Bekus‘ back! She lands a few punches but is way
too high. Bekus could easily shake her off to end on top, but
doesn’t do so. Sormova, meanwhile, doesn’t take the opportunity to
solidify her base. Sormova manages to stay on top, though, despite
how very shaky her position is, landing the occasional short, small
punch. She manages to wrap her legs around Bekus‘ stomach in a
weird modification of a body triangle, which is supposed to be
around the waist. Still, it works, and Sormova continues landing
short punches as Bekus can’t get out. They continue in this
position, with Bekus now being the one accepting the inferior
position and not taking simple steps to get out. Despite being
ridiculously high and almost sliding off for the past few minutes,
Sormova ends the round on her opponent’s back. 10-9 Sormova.