KSW 106 Preview; Parnasse v Ziółkowski, France v Poland

Our monthly dose of KSW action sees the promotion make its debut in Lyon. A newly built, modern arena, the LDLC will host KSW 106. The state of the art venue sits beside the elite Groupama Stadium, and can hold up to 16k fans depending on the event configuration. Nine bouts will take place under KSW mixed martial arts rules, including one for an international title. The theme of the evening will be France vs Poland.

Salahdine Parnasse (20-2) aims to defend his KSW Lightweight Championship for a third time in his nation’s third largest city. The French phenom is Europe’s greatest talent outside of the UFC, and possesses a skillset that makes him one of the best fighters in the world. The 27-year-old is entering his prime years and is only getting more and more dangerous. The Parisian has elite footwork, with professional dancers looking to him for inspiration. The Lion of Atlas glides around the cage picking off opponents, fist or foot, he doesn’t discriminate. The Prince of Pain can wage a war of attrition, or he can hit a picture perfect blow to end it. He likes to wear opponents out and use submissions to finish it, however in recent years he’s developed a mean, mean finishing threat with his strikes. Standing in the opposite corner will be a man he was due to face at KSW Colosseum 2 before injury forced him to pull out at the eleventh hour, Marian Ziółkowski (25-9-1). The Golden Boy is the former champion who had to give up his title due to an ACL injury, a title he defended three times. The Nemesis Fight Team man can often be found in the commentary booth when not fighting, and his only blemish since winning the title was a loss to Wilson Varela, another occasion where his body let him down. The 34-year-old has a fantastic submission game, using his long limbs to submit thirteen foes along the way. The Pole is also an accomplished striker, going toe-to-toe with the division’s best and is well capable of out-scoring over the twenty-five minutes. The mind is willing, the skills are there, can the body hold up?

I very rarely use the word bonkers, however the co-main event should be bonkers. Damian Janikowski (10-7) just doesn’t do boring, and he’s a man who works tirelessly to perfect his craft. Another Nemesis Fight Team man, he’s really benefited from Krzysztof Gutowski’s fantastic coaching in the stand-up exchanges. The 35-year-old was a bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling, however the Wrocław man loves trading on the feet and fears no man. The Pole always takes the toughest matchups possible and he will go blood and thunder for fifteen minutes solid. Laïd Zerhouni (14-9) is another man who gets viewers to tune in every time he appears on a card. The Frenchman virtually always guarantees finishes one way or the other. The 29-year-old is explosive in the striking game, and can absolutely run through you like a truck with his power. The Montpelier man can also channel the violence into his submission game, softening you up for a rear naked choke or forcing you to offer up a limb. This is the type of fight where a cutman proves his metal.

Mickael Lebout (24-12-3) is a pioneer of French MMA and comes from a time when the sport wasn’t even legal in the country. The UFC veteran is as tough as old boots and picked up a win in his KSW debut in Paris last December. The 37-year-old is an effective grappler, very hard nosed and patient. He’s also competitive on the feet and can eat a shot, and is nearly fifteen-years at this. Amin Ayoud (23-5) is a Brave CF and Ares veteran and comes in on a three-fight win streak. No stranger to fighting local legends, the former UAE Warriors champion is known locally for his rivalry with Damian Lapilus. The 29-year-old is a very well rounded martial artist, possessing power in the striking and a plethora of submission holds that he can attack at any time. He’s developed a quality name on the regional scene, and now it’s time to step up to Europe’s top tier.

Aymard Guih (19-13-1) has won both his KSW bouts to date, two impressive wins against contender Dawid Smiełkowksi and FNC champion Francisco Barrio. The Marseille man is stronger in the grappling aspect of the arts, smothering opponents from top position and raining down ground and pound, softening you up for a sub. The 37-year-old has won seven of his last eight and is in the form of his life. The Frenchman is capable on the feet and can take a shot. Mateusz Makarowski (12-7-1) is a former Babilon MMA champion and is a veteran of Oktagon and Cage Warriors. The 28-year-old is an impressive kickboxer who has little interest in what the judges mark on their cards. The Rzeszów man has nine knockout wins on his record and carries massive single shot finishing power.

Alioune Nahaye (15-4) was victorious in his KSW debut last December with a decision win over Eduard Kexel. The Ares veteran has a nice kickboxing game, with flashy attacks and doing a lot of damage with his legs. The 33-year-old picks opponents apart, and can also mix it up with his wrestling. The Frenchman is very experienced and keeps up a good level of activity. Piotr Kaczprak (12-4) has a hat trick of wins in the promotion, the latest of which was in January where he won via triangle choke. The Radom man is a high level BJJ black belt, and he has finished five bouts by submission. The 27-year-old favours the rear naked choke, and he’s also got a serviceable kickboxing game with a wicked head kick.

Michał Guzik (5-0) picked up his first promotional win last August via split decision over Konrad Rusiński. The Kraków man had a long amateur career and it shows in his professional bouts to date, displaying a wide ranging skill set. He’s durable on the feet with a dangerous clinch game, his cardio is top notch and he can control with his wrestling. Joël Kouadja (9-13) is a pro since 2013 and came up through the unsanctioned era in the country. The Frenchman is a veteran of Bellator and Cage Warriors, and comes in on a two-fight win streak. The Atch Academy man primarily likes to do his business on the feet, where he can utilise his heavy strikes to subdue opponents.

Amaury Wako-Zabo (3-0) made a good first impression with a knockout win over Maciej Rębacz in December. The Parisian had a stellar amateur career, showcasing good submissions, particularly arm attacks. The Frenchman can wrestle well and utilises ground and pound impressively, with some threat standing up. He showed his commitment to the goal by cutting part of his hair off to make weight. Kacper Fornalski (1-0) won his debut last September with a first round rear naked choke victory. The Pole is part of the new school of MMA, beginning at junior level, moving up into adult amateurs, amassing over thirty bouts before turning pro. The Pole has a wicked submission game with a massive box of tricks. On the feet he’ll attack a guillotine. One the mat, he’s got a different choke technique for every day of the month. Both men have huge promise.

Hugo Deux (4-1) represents the tricolour this Saturday, however he trains out of Nemesis in Warsaw. The Lyon man picked up a nice win against Costello Van Steenis in his debut, however fell victim to an Adam Brysz all time epic comebacks in his last KSW appearance. The 29-year-old has gone 3-0 in Strife MMA, and he has a very solid standup game. The Frenchman is accurate and offensive, with decent grappling. Krystian Blezień (9-4) won his debut via split decision. The Dębica man is always competitive and has faced a high calibre of opposition. The 30-year-old is well rounded, with a nice blend of striking and submission threat. He’s got cardio to the full fifteen, and offers enough of a finishing threat to keep you on your toes.

Souheil Kaouchen (debut) had a perfect amateur career, going unbeaten. The Parisian is a beautiful striker with three knockouts in the bigger gloves. Let’s see how he does in the four ounce ones. Oskar Stachura (debut) is another new school MMA player, starting off in the juniors and moving up through the ranks. The Pole has had an astonishing amount of fights for his age, competing at least 25-times. The 20-year-old showed a wide range of submissions in his arsenal, and also some pop in his punches.

KSW 106 is live from Lyon at 18:00 Dublin time this Saturday night and the PPV can be purchased at KSWTV.com. If you’re looking for a taste of what’s to come, the first two fights will air for free on Youtube, as well as the infamous KSW opening ceremony.