A powerful left hook ended Krystian Kaszubowski’s night in the early throes of the first round of his welterweight title meeting with defending champion Roberto Soldic at KSW 49 in Gdansk, Poland on Saturday.
“Robocop” caught the Polish prospect with a crisp counter punch as he looked to land a hook of his own. On contact, Kaszubowski crashed forward to the mat, bringing an end to the contest just 85 seconds after the first bell sounded.
Goodluck taking the belt off Roberto Soldic. #KSW49 pic.twitter.com/BLVonw01PQ
— Mike Skytte (@MikeLovesTacosX) May 18, 2019
Scott Askham claimed a second stoppage win over Michal Materla to claim the vacant middleweight title in their co-main event clash with a flush knee in the third round.
From the opening bell, Askham looked for the same body kick from his southpaw stance that stopped their first clash before he was taken down. In the second round, former middleweight champion Materla blasted Askham to the canvas with a right hand.
The Brit marched Materla down in the third. When Materla presented a gap as his back hit the fence, Askham connected beautifully with a jumping switch knee to end the contest.
Damian Grabowski has likely won himself a shot at heavyweight champion Philip De Fries with a stunning second-round stoppage of former title contender Karol Bedorf.
“The Polish Pitbull” knocked Bedorf to the ground in the first round, but failed to finish his countryman after following him to the ground. Bedorf being swept from top position in the second began the finishing sequence. Once he took top control, Grabowski rained down a feast of punches and elbows, forcing Marc Goddard to step in and stop the action.
What a statement! @DGrabowskiMMA finishes Karol Bedorf in the second round. #KSW49 pic.twitter.com/frqjTAjn6Z
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) May 18, 2019
Earlier on, Norman Parke improved his promotional win streak to four with a sound decision win over Artur Sowinski in their catchweight bout. Also in action, Martin Zawada took a dominant win over UFC veteran Thiago Siva, who somehow recorded his best round in the third, despite several introductions to the canvas over the opening ten minutes.
Zawada drops Silva again!! And again Silva survives!! WHAT. A. FIGHT!! #KSW49
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) May 18, 2019
Watch live right now on https://t.co/F6vAzlDmE2!! pic.twitter.com/wcM56SBgz5
Another former UFC fighter, Luis Henrique, opened his KSW account with a controversial win over Polish fan favorite and former heavyweight title challenger Michal Andryszak. The Pole immediately protested the technical submission loss, which was awarded to Henrique when the referee stopped the fight as he perceived Andryszak to be rendered unconscious from a front headlock in the final seconds of the second round.
WOW!!! Luis Henrique finishes Michal Andryszak!!! #KSW49 pic.twitter.com/9PE0Rt3dlF
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) May 18, 2019
Full KSW 49 results:
- Roberto Soldic def. Krystian Kaszubowski via KO (punch) at 1:25 of R1
- Scott Askham def. Michal Materla via KO (knee) at 1:23 of R3
- Damian Grabowski def. Karol Bedorf via TKO (strikes) at 3:56 of R2
- Norman Parke def. Artur Sowinski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Erko Jun def. Akop Szostak via TKO (strikes) at 4:24 of R1
- Martin Zawada def. Thiago Silva via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
- Antun Racic def. Paweł Politylo via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
- Luis Henrique def. Michal Andryszak via submission (technical) at 4:52 of R1
- Leszek Krakowski def. Michael Dubois via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)