KSW 102 Preview; Przybysz v Azevedo, Kaczmarczyk and Paczuski return

KSW is the first major European promotion in action in 2025. KSW 102 takes place in Radom, located about an hour south of the Polish capital Warsaw. The RCS Arena hosts its third promotional event and this Saturday night will see nine bouts go down under KSW MMA rules, including one for an international KSW title.

A vacancy has emerged at the top of the bantamweight division following Jakub Wikłacz’s release to chase his UFC dream. The Olsztyn man’s greatest rival, Sebastian Przybysz (12-4-1) is on deck to try and get his old belt back. The Gdynia man has turned into a fantastic well rounded fighter over the years, and always brings great entertainment to proceedings. The 31-year-old is a really tricky submission player with a big box of tricks. Long legs help him to sink in triangle chokes, and his ability to smell blood in the water provides danger in snatching quick submissions. On the feet, his boxing is very crisp, can throw with volume and he works his levels very effectively. His only hiccups have been to Wikłacz and Antun Račić, both former champions themselves. Bruno Azevedo (21-4) had a great KSW debut, a submission win over Oleksii Polischuck. The Brazilian is a veteran of regional organisations such as One Championship, Shooto and Road FC. The 34-year-old is a BJJ whizz, with a particularly strong skill at arm attacks. A big chunk of his wins have been via armbar or arm triangle. He’s got a lot of experience against great opposition and he should give Przybysz a run for his money.

There is one man in particular the crowd will be there to see, and that’s the “Prince of Radom” Patryk Kaczmarczyk (11-3). The 26-year-old is a former Armia Fight Night champion and has all the elements it takes to be a star. The Pole is one of the hardest workers on the pro scene, and he’s looked in phenomenal shape in recent times. When talking about ability, his wrestling is very strong and he can dominate on top for long periods. In the striking exchanges, he’s fluid, powerful, can put on the pace and is developing a real mean streak. He looks the part, he talks the part and he plays the part. His hometown awaits another classic performance. Ahmed Vila (12-5-1) is a Cage Warriors and Oktagon veteran who is known for being a handful. The Bosnian has won five of his last six, and he specialises in the grappling exchanges. The 28-year-old is very skilled in a wide range of chokes, as well as being able to hold positions in wrestling exchanges. He’ll need to put on the performance of his life against Kaczmarczyk and his Radom Army.

One of the things MMA fans are most guilty of is forgetting that it’s supposed to be fun, and Radosław Paczuski (7-2) packs a lot of living into his cage time. The 32-year-old has a kickboxing background and is a former FEN champion. The Uniq Fight Club man has big power, which has helped him towards six knockout wins. The Pole isn’t afraid of a firefight, and he’ll crack with the best of him. He has trained with top strikers such as Arek Wrzosek, Errol Zimmerman and Alistair Overeem. From walkout to when the final bell rings, you simply have to tune in. Kleber Silva (22-13) is a man who’s going to play into that fun. The Brazilian is a veteran of Bellator, Brave CF and M-1 Global. The 37-year-old has never refused a fight and he’ll have no fear of going toe-to-toe with anyone. The Bahia man has devastating striking, notching up fifteen knockout wins, and that danger exists for all three rounds. This one shouldn’t need the judges.

Adam Soldaev (8-2) has long been known as a big prospect on the Polish scene. The 27-year-old is a very classy kickboxer with five knockout wins. The WCA Warsaw man glides around the cage with the grace and danger of a swan. The Pole works the levels, smashes the legs, digs to the body and rips up top. On the mat, he’s an armbar expert. Danu Tărchilă (8-2) is one of the brightest young talents in Europe. The 21-year-old has won three of his four promotional bouts and is a modern martial artist who is good everywhere. The Moldovan has a classic Romanian style kickboxing game that can spark you out at a moments notice, as well as being able to control over the distance. He’s got a slick back take which helps him attack the rear naked choke.

Muslim Tulshaev (12-3) has won both his KSW bouts since coming in from ARES. The 30-year-old has a strong Caucus wrestling style with a submission threat. The Berlin based fighter has a mean streak on the feet as well, and his left hook comes all the way from hell. He’s a very tough competitor. Daniel Skibiński (22-9) is one of the toughest, grizzliest veterans on the Polish scene. The 34-year-old is a former Babilon MMA champion and Cage Warriors veteran. The Czerwony Smok man has won his last three, and is known for his heavy striking game. Eight victories have come from knockout. He trains out of a very high level BJJ gym, so don’t discount his abilities in the grappling.

Wiktoria Czyżewska (4-1) is the owner of one of KSW’s knockouts of the year in 2024 with her head kick win over Erianny Castaneda. The 20-year-old has been practising karate since childhood and is one of the fiercest women in the sport. If she’s allowed to dictate the pace, she’ll run people over like a steamroller. There isn’t another fighter on the roster that can match her volume when she’s on form. Her power absolutely obliterates her opponents. Adrianna Kreft (5-2) holds an amateur victory over Czyżewska via split decision. The 32-year-old is physically strong and has a lot of cage experience. The Pole is good at kickboxing from range, and making it messy closer with grappling. She carries a significant submission threat if you make the slightest mistake.

Cesary Kęsik (15-4) returns to KSW after two wins in other promotions. A soldier by day, he’s made a great pro career of putting on entertaining fights. The 34-year-old trains out of Cross Fight Radom, and is an absolute Tasmanian devil on the feet. The Puławy man’s striking is vicious, with hammer punches and slicing elbows. He’s also a competent wrestler with decent submissions. “The Lublin Tank” likes to keep things out of the judge’s hands. Andi Vrtačić (5-2) makes his second KSW appearance and is coming off a great knockout win in FNC over Kamil Oniszczuk. The Croatian is a very good kickboxer with three knockout wins, and he’s dangerous in all three rounds. He’s a tough out for anyone and has only been defeated by championship level fighters.

Piotr Kaczprak (11-4) is another local fighter training out of Cross Fight Radom and is a former Babilon MMA champion. The 27-year-old is a BJJ black belt with four submissions on his record. The Pole is also a very competent kickboxer with a lot of danger in his punches and a wicked head kick. He’s used to fighting at a high level against top competition. Julio Cesar Neves (36-2) makes his second KSW appearance, with this first being a loss to Kaczprak’s training partner, the great Daniel Rutkowski. The Brazilian is a very experienced practitioner and has most of his joy on the feet with twenty knockout wins. The 30-year-old also has a mean guillotine and lovely anaconda / D’arce choke game. The Bellator veteran has thirty finishes in total and always comes to entertain.

Kamil Gawryjołek (5-1) had a perfect amateur career before turning pro, and has mostly won since. The 27-year-old is good on the feet and has the size and power to ruin your night very quickly. The Puławy man can equally take this to the mat and smash you with ground and pound, or sink in a choke. He’s young for the weight and is learning and improving at a rate of knots. Miha Frlic (3-0-1) is a newcomer and is an IMMAF amateur veteran, winning silver in the 2022 championships. The Slovenian has won his last three the same way, using those big fists to cause a stoppage in the first round. He’s a big man who can do big damage.

KSW 102 is live from Radom 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.