Poland’s number one fighter, Mamed Khalidov improved his winning streak to eight by choking out Ryuta Sakurai in the first round at KSW 25 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Sakurai took the fight to the ground after being on the receiving end of Khalidov’s punishing punch and knee combinations, but it was the Pole who took advantage of the position by locking up a fight-concluding triangle choke. Aside from the takedown by Sakurai, Khalidov convincingly controlled every aspect of the fight.
The middleweight contest was a rematch of a controversial 2011 bout that ended in a majority draw.
Khalidov (28-4-2) has now finished his eighth straight opponent and remains one of the premier fighters not signed by the UFC. The loss puts 42 year-old Ryuta Sakurai (24-18-6) at record of 2-2 since 2012.
Saidov earns decision over Acacio to retain championship
KSW Welterweight Champion Aslambek Saidov relied upon every dimension of his game to earn a unanimous decision win against former PRIDE fighter Daniel Acacio.
In the first round, Saidov implemented his usual wrestling game to take down Acacio, remain in the top position, and fend of multiple sweep attempts from the Brazilian opponent. The pace of the fight slowed in the second as did the playing ground. Each fighter methodically picked their shots on the feet in a round that could’ve been scored a 10-10 draw. Saidov, the southpaw striker, took control of the fight on the feet in third by launching combinations at Acacio, keeping him at bay, as well as on the ground by obtaining a takedown and Acacio’s back.
With the victory, Aslambek Saidov (15-3) now has an 11-1 record in KSW. Acacio’s (30-14) trend of winning fights by decision ended at three with the conclusion of this bout.
Moks submits Simon with a guillotine choke
Polish welterweight Rafael Moks rans through 21 year-old Luiz Cado Simon by submitting him at 1:35 in the first round with a guillotine choke.
Having no interest in showcasing his stand-up, Moks immediately attempted a takedown on his opponent and eventually gave up his position in order to try for a heel hook. When the heel hook didn’t elicit a tap, Moks immediately postured up and latched on a tight guillotine.
Rafal Moks (9-6) has now won three consecutive bouts with a guillotine choke in the first round. Simon’s (7-3) impressive 3-0 start to 2013 ended with a defeat in his KSW debut.
A trio of TKOs on the undercard
An overhand right from Germany’s Abu Azaiter dropped Kryzstof Kulak in the first round of their middleweight clash, and Azaiter followed up with a litany of ground and pound strikes until the fight was called off by the official. Kulak (25-14-2) has now dropped his second straight, while Azaiter (8-2) improves earns his third straight TKO victory.
Former Strikeforce and Bellator light heavyweight Virgil Zwicker ended Mike Hayes’s night early with a devastating overhand right that led to a TKO victory in the first round. Zwicker’s (12-3) career KO/TKO percentage was raised to 75% as it was his ninth victory of the sort, and Hayes (19-9-1) has now lost five of his last six.
Recent UFC heavyweight Oli Thompson dominated fellow Kamil Walus with a steady diet of takedowns and ground and pound, ultimately finishing his opponent in the second period with right punches. Thompson (12-5) is now 3-1 since being let go by the UFC, and the loss snaps Walus’s four fight winning streak.
Strus defeates Horwich on the scorecards
Despite being taken down several times by Matt Horwich, Piotr Strus was able to convince two of the judges to award him the contest by connecting with a multitude of clean striking combinations.
It was paramount for Strus to not drop a single round because he was deducted a point in the third frame for grabbing the ropes. While one judge scored it a draw, the other two felt as though Strus did enough on the feet to dismiss the grappling of Horwich.
Strus (9-2) improves his KSW record to 2-1 with his fifth career decision victory. The loss is Horwich’s (28-22-1) first in KSW since 2011.
Main Card (KSWTV.com)
Mamed Khalidov def. Ryuta Sakurai via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1
Aslambek Saidov def. Daniel Acacio via unanimous decision
Rafal Moks def. Luiz Cado Simon via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:35
Abu Azaltar def. Krzysztof Kulak via TKO – Round 1, 2:20
Virgil Zwicker def. Mike Hayes via TKO – Round 1, 1:12
Oli Thompson def. Kamil Walus via TKO – Round 2, 1:24
Piotr Strus def. Matt Horwich via majority decision