KSW 96 Preview; Pawlak v Janikowski 2, Silva v Woźniak 2

KSW return to our screens for their monthly offering of MMA pageantry and entertainment. Łódź in central Poland plays host to KSW 96 this Saturday night. After a chaotic fight week which saw two replacement fighters called up, one total cancellation and multiple weigh-in misses, we proceed with eight bouts under KSW mixed martial arts rules, including one for an international championship.

Paweł Pawlak (23-4-1) puts his KSW Middleweight title on the line again in his hometown. The Octopus Łódź man is a UFC veteran who was harshly cut following defeats to Peter Sobotta and Leon Edwards. The 35-year-old bounced back from that disappointment to become the Babilon MMA champion, then signing with KSW and repeating that feat. The bald assassin resembles the Hitman video game character and he acts like him too, walking opponents down and throwing combinations with a lovely jab. Kickboxing is his weapon and he never stops coming. His defensive wrestling is stellar and is something he works hard with in the gym with teammate and fellow KSW champion Adrian Bartosiński. A familiar face will be across the cage from him, a man he beat in a razor close decision back in 2021. Damian Janikowski (10-5) is a national hero, winning a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Training at Skra Sport in the capital Warsaw under the watchful eye of Robert Jocz and Krzysztof Gutowski, Damiano is a man who loves getting into a fist fight. Digging deep, finding something from within to keep going, nobody is better or braver than Janikowski. The 35-year-old has power in his punches and can get drawn into a bloody brawl. His highlight reel will show some glorious suplexes, however with it being a five-round fight, his coaches will be telling him to conserve his energy. The first fight was close and I’d expect the same again. Pawlak is more experienced in going twenty-five minutes, so I’d edge towards him due to cardio.

Revenge is in the air for Ewelina Woźniak (8-2) in a rematch in the co-main event. The 31-year-old has recently changed her club, moving from Czerwony Smok to Ankos MMA, both in Poznań. One of Poland’s top female fighters, she has a vicious kickboxing game where she works in plenty of knees and elbows. Her wrestling is solid and she can choke the life out of you very quickly. It was her cardio that let her down in the first match, and she looks in terrific shape ahead of this one. Maria Silva (10-1) won the ARES title in the third round via rear naked choke against Woźniak. The Brazilian earned a shot at the Contender Series with that win, and came up short. Since then she joined KSW and notched up two wins. The 28-year-old is very strong and a submission threat, particularly with rear naked chokes and guillotines. Early in the fight she carries a lot of power, and she is durable also. This is a high level matchup and I can see Silva winning again.

Radosław Paczuski (5-2) and his friends over at the Uniq Fight Club in Warsaw are dangerous men. Returning from a year out due to injury, Radek started his martial arts journey in kickboxing. With teammates such as Arek Wrzosek, the spars in that room could sell PPVs by themselves. New head coach Bartosz Fabinski will have worked on their wrestling game, as dominant a grappler as you’ll see in MMA around these parts. The 31-year-old is an explosive striker with four knockout wins on his record. Kacper Karski (8-4) subs in for Dominik Humburger who withdrew due to weight cutting issues. The Mighty Bulls Gdynia man is a Cage Warriors veteran and comes in from Strife MMA. The 35-year-old is a BJJ player who likes to throw in an anaconda or D’arce choke, as well as his rear naked choke. Very limited preparation time for this one so he’ll want to start and finish quickly. I’m taking Paczuski via knockout in the first round.

Karolina Owczarz (5-3) returns home to Łódź. Now calling Warsaw her home, she’s been travelling a lot in this training camp, including in GB Top Team in London. The 31-year-old began as an amateur boxer, however it’s her grappling that has got her the most joy in MMA. She’s a former training partner of Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Karolina Wójcik. Her striking defence has shown some holes in the past. Sandra Succar (4-1) has won one and lost one under the KSW banner. The Lebanese is a strong wrestler with a nice armbar and choke game. The 25-year-old is serviceable on the feet and uses inside elbows well. Struggled with her defensive wrestling last time out. I’m picking Owczarz via submission.

Maciej Kacziecko (9-3) is always must-see tv. The 31-year-old is an eleven-fight KSW veteran, winning eight of them. Another who trains in Ankos MMA, he returns from a year out following a loss to Leo Brichta via split decision at the Colosseum. Exciting striker is a title that can be handed out easily, however he has earned it by using his bludgeoning kickboxing game to finish fights. His power holds throughout and he can go the distance in the bloodiest of wars. Welisson Paiva (9-4-2) accepted this fight so late that he didn’t even make it during the weigh-in window. Ahmed Abdulkadirov pulled out due to illness and the Brazilian stepped in to save the fight. The 21-year-old is a knockout artist, winning seven of his nine wins with strikes. He’s dangerous early and won’t be afraid to meet Kacziecko in the middle of the cage, which is where I think the Pole will finish him violently.

Bartlomiej Kopera (13-7) is another Łódź native that should have lots of support in the arena. When he finishes fights, it’s by submission and exclusively by choke. Coming from a judo background, he’s as tough as they come and has only been finished once. The 31-year-old has won four-in-a-row and will want to keep that form up. Dawid Smiełkowski (10-1) is a man who just knows how to win, whether he’s up or down on the cards. Moving up a weight, the Ankos MMA man has a habit of pulling finishes out of nowhere. The 28-year-old has powerful kickboxing, can throw lethal body kicks, and can switch it up and go high. His punches will leave a mark. Smiełkowski by knockout is my prediction.

Marek Samociuk (5-4) is a man who has fought in many different disciplines. Winner of the first bare knuckle vale tudo tournament with Wotore, the Pole has shown his heavy top game in wrestling early in his career. The 27-year-old has since joined Uniq Fight Club to level up his striking game with the likes of Arek Wrzosek and Radek Paczuski, which has shown some results of late. That striking game is becoming a threat, which will open up more grappling options. Denis Górniak (5-1) is a newcomer who was a professional boxer. The first round is his playground and his favourite feature is the knockout. The 26-year-old has serious power in his hands and also has a couple of submission wins to his name. I think Samociuk has enough about him to survive the striking and utilise his wrestling for the win.

Michał Domin (6-3) is one of those guys that takes the hardest fight on the table, with his only losses coming to strong talent such as Robert Ruchała, Patryk Kaczmarczyk and Nikolay Grozdev. The 29-year-old is on a roll of four wins, and is a very competitive and well rounded fighter. He’s very quick in the scrambles, synching up submissions in an instant, and also throws volume on the feet, wearing you down via attrition. Isai Ramos (8-1) stunned KSW fans with a quick 47-second submission win over Jembiev in his debut. The Ecuadorian trains out of Brazil and is a submission expert. Seven of his eight wins have been via tap out. His most effective techniques are the armbar and rear naked choke. Domin’s toughness should get him the victory.

KSW 96 is live from 6pm Irish time on Saturday and access can be purchased at KSWTV.com or on the ViaPlay subscription service in select countries (including the U.K.).