Phil De Fries submits Karol Bedorf to retain KSW Heavyweight championship

Phil De Fries’ resurgence as a heavyweight champion to be reckoned with continues after he submitted former KSW heavyweight beltholder Karol Bedorf to retain his title.

De Fries has a penchant for takedowns and relentless pressure from on top, which could be risky against a submission specialist such as Bedorf.

But Sunderland’s De Fries threw caution to the wind with his clinch and wrestling, taking the fight to the floor without fear.

Bedorf seemingly couldn’t find a way out from underneath in both the first and second rounds as he wore a number of punches and elbows from his opponent.

De Fries then started working for a straight armbar from the crucifix position and got it, forcing the frantic tap from Bedorf.

The KSW crowd at Wembley fell silent and De Fries continues his return to fighting form.

Erko Jun earns second-round TKO win over Popek

With the vast majority of this London crowd against him, Erko Jun silenced Wembley’s SSE Arena with a second-round TKO win over Popek.

The Bosnian started fast, but Popek grew into the first round and maybe edged it.

Emboldened from the opening stanza, Popek continued to take the fight to the bigger man in Jun, before diving in for a single-leg takedown.

However, that takedown attempt led to Popek’s downfall.

Jun successfully stuffed the takedown and spun to take Popek’s back. The Polish rapper quickly flattened belly down on the mat, only for Jun to rain down punches from above. The referee quite rightly intervened, handing Jun the TKO victory.

Michał Materla stops Damian Janikowski in the first round

Polish Olympian Damian Janikowski is a wildman.

Janikowski, who won a wrestling bronze medal for his country, looked to have edged the contest in its early stages against Polish middleweight mainstay Michał Materla.

However, Materla bided his time.

As Janikowski launched into yet another flying assault, Materla landed a right hand which dropped Janikowski.

After a tiring scramble, Janikowski got back to his feet but looked slower in his strikes and Materla took full advantage.

As Janikowski winged a laboured right hook, Materla floored him with a counter left. Following up with some crushing ground and pound, referee Marc Goddard was forced to call an end to the fight.

Big win for Materla, who advances to the final of KSW’s middleweight mini tournament. Materla will face the man who beat him last, Scott Askham.

 

Roberto Soldic recaptures the KSW welterweight belt with knockout win over Dricus Du Plessis

Croatia’s Roberto Soldic recaptured his KSW welterweight title in style, knocking out rival Dricus Du Plessis – the man who dethroned him earlier this year.

Soldic seemed to have Du Plessis’ number throughout, outstriking the South African with both punches and kicks.

In the third round, Soldic caught Du Plessis with a wild hook which grazed the top of his head, seemingly wobbling him.

Sensing the finish was coming, Soldic poured on the pressure and that proved too much for Du Plessis.

Impressive victory for Soldic, who won back his title and cemented his place as one of Europe’s most exciting fight prospects in the process.

 

Scott Askham victorious with liver kick knockout

https://twitter.com/KSW_MMA/status/1048651097248862209

Scott Askham has some nasty kicks, and they were on show at KSW 45.

As opponent Marcin Wójcik retreated to the cage, Doncaster’s Askham landed a nasty liver kick which folded the Pole in half.

Askham quickly followed up with some vicious punches against the cage to render Wójcik unconscious and take home the victory.

Stunning win for Askham, who looks right at home at KSW and advances to the final of the promotion’s middleweight tournament.

 

Wagner Prado knocks out Lukasz Parobiec in first round

The fight didn’t last long, but there was plenty of action as heavyweights Wagner Prado and Lukasz Parobiec traded leather from the outset.

Unfortunately for Parobiec, Prado came off the better in each exchange, culminating in a stunning first-round knockout.

 

KSW 45: The Return to Wembley full results

Heavyweight Championship: Phil De Fries defeats Karol Bedorf by submission (armbar) in the second round.

Heavyweight: Erko Jun defeats Popek by TKO (punches) in the second round.

Middleweight: Michał Materla defeats Damian Janikowski by TKO (punches) in the first round.

Welterweight Championship: Roberto Soldic defeats Dricus Du Plessis by KO (punches) in the third round.

Middleweight: Scott Askham defeats Marcin Wójcik by KO (kick to the body and punches) in the first round.

Heavyweight: Thiago Silva defeats James McSweeney by unanimous decision after three rounds.

Heavyweight: Wagner Prado defeated Lukasz Parobiec by knockout (punches) in the first round.

Light Heavyweight: Akop Szostak vs. Jamie Sloane was called off as a No Contest due to an accidental foul.

Lightweight: Leszek Krakowski defeats Alfie Davis by split decision after three rounds.