KSW 103 Preview: Brichta v Harry, Fadipe Returns

We’ve got some Friday night fights this week in Liberec, Czechia. KSW 103 goes down in the sold out Home Credit Arena for the third time in promotional history. Nine bouts are on deck under KSW MMA rules.

Leo Brichta (12-5) is one of the most popular fighters operating in Czechia and will have the benefit of the home audience cheering him on. The Prague man is a veteran of Oktagon MMA and is known for his exciting style, aggressive approach and knockout threat. The 27-year-old comes from a Muay Thai and kickboxing background, whilst also being a good submission player with a knack for taking the back and sinking in a rear naked choke. He has two KSW wins, including a high profile victory over Roman Szymański at Colosseum 2. Łukasz Charzewski (13-2) has been employed in the role of spoiler. The 32-year-old is a former FEN champion, training out of Wrocław. The Pole is a very good all rounder with a solid kickboxing game and a wrestling machine. He is more of a decision fighter and has lots of cardio, putting pressure on opponents. Despite that, he is on the exciting side for someone who doesn’t get too many finishes.

Damian Piwowarczyk (8-4) heads into tenth KSW fight after recently moving to Warsaw to train with Uniq Fight Club with the likes of Arek Wrzosek and Radek Paczuski, as well as Nemesis under Robert Jocz. The 27-year-old has developed a really fun kickboxing game, particularly showing heavy hands of late, working the head and body. The Pole has long limbs which he uses effectively in the submission game. He’s going to mature into a serious talent, has had to face really experienced opponents lately which has salted his record a little, however he’s the future of the division. Bartosz Szewczyk (8-3-1) is making his promotional debut, is a Contender Series alumnus and a former FEN champion. The 27-year-old is a very dangerous kickboxer with brutal kicks and mean punches, and his submission game is usually taking the back for a rear naked choke. The Ankos MMA man has an action packed style and pushes for a finish.

Dominik Humburger (8-2) is the pride of Liberec and serves in the Czech armed forces as a soldier. The Ankos MMA man is known for his devastating striking style, carrying power throughout the fight and particularly deadly in the second round after he’s made his reads. The 29-year-old has nasty ground and pound, raining down heavy blows. The Czech isn’t known for using many submissions so far in his career. Borys Dzikowski (4-1) makes his fifth KSW appearance and is a good news story after taking up MMA to lose weight, and it being a huge success. 27-year-old is a physically strong and powerful striker with a knockout threat. Training out of Wrocław, he can take a punch, is very durable and can wrestle competently. He’s starting to settle into pro life and knows how to win a close fight.

Matúš Juráček (11-4) is a colourful figure and a big fan of Slavia Prague, a side currently top of the league. With that, he’ll bring a sizable crowd to Liberec and he’s also an Oktagon MMA veteran. The 30-year-old has pro boxing experience, and carries serious punching power. The Czech isn’t afraid of a three round war and will go toe-to-toe with anyone, and his submission game is usually a rear naked choke threat. Krystian Kaszubowski (11-5) is a hardy KSW veteran making his eleventh appearance under their banner, and is regarded as one of the most exciting promotional mainstays, win or lose. The Pole is mean on the inside, throwing big punches and slicing elbows that cause damage. The 30-year-old Mighty Bulls man is a good wrestler who can smother opponents and only loses to good opposition.

Steven Krt (6-2) had a great debut knockout win back in September in the second round and is a well rounded individual with a solid choke game. The Czech is a damaging puncher and is dangerous even late on with knockouts. He has won his last six and has won titles for RFA and IAF. Henry Fadipe (14-12-1) is an exciting fighter training out of Fantom MMA in Moore Street in Dublin and makes his sixth KSW appearance. The 33-year-old has great footwork, patient striking and a knockout threat. He works hard at his grappling and it’s starting to show in his fights, and he always takes the toughest fight available and is taking this at short notice. Never a dull moment with Herculeez.

Welisson Paiva (11-3-2) had a great second round knockout against seasoned Maciej Kazieczko last July in his KSW debut. The 22-year-old is a damage machine, knockout artist and a big heavy hitter. The Brazilian has no fear, will fly in and trade with even the most seasoned veterans. We haven’t seen much of a submission threat so far, he’s mostly let his striking do the talking. Dawid Śmiełkowski (11-2) trains out of Ankos MMA in Poznań is a very exciting kickboxer who smashes leg kicks, digs to the body and has a high kick threat, as well as throwing flying attacks. The Pole knows how to win, and can pull it out when behind. He has durability and is a decent wrestler with some chokes in his arsenal.

Oleksii Polischuck (12-5) is a Ukrainian training out of Poland heading his fifth KSW fight. The 28-year-old is a very strong wrestler with a heavy top game, and likes to utilise ground and pound. He has a nice submission repertoire, is particularly very good at armlocks and his boxing is getting better all the time, with some snap behind his punches. Alfan Rocher-Labes (11-3) has an even 1-1 record in KSW so far, and the 27-year-old has a wicked guillotine, alongside good arm attacks. The Frenchman has won six of his last seven and is a very durable fighter. His striking is competitive and has a couple of knockout wins.

Jacek Gać (2-1) trains out of the Uniq Fight Club and Legia Fight Club in Warsaw and comes from a kickboxing background. The 33-year-old has an exciting striking style and is a very fast starter who goes for the kill immediately, with all victories coming in round one. He’ll need to show some improved grappling defence as he progresses. Samuel Bily (debut) is a young Czech turning pro, coming in from IAF, and was an amateur boxer. He has big power in his hands, and was knocking people out for fun in the big gloves. Very little takedown threat is expected, he’s likely to want to keep this standing.

Josef Štummer (4-2) is another Liberec native and he makes his fifth appearance for KSW. The Czech is known for his wrestling and suplexes, earning the nickname “Air Štummer”. The 28-year-old has a wide variety of submissions, from triangles to guillotines to scarf holds. He is very serviceable on the feet. Nacim Belhouachi (4-3) won his KSW debut in December by first round ground and pound. He is predominantly known for his grappling, and mostly takes the back for the rear naked choke. The Frenchman lands damage in the wrestling and has one win via ground and pound. Starting fast is a trait of his and he is always looking for a finish.

KSW 103 is live from Liberec at 18:00 Dublin time this Friday 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.