Ziolkowski Outpoints Mankowski, Chuzhigaev Upends Narkun at KSW 66

The Golden Boy keeps the gold!!

Marian Ziółkowski with the biggest win of his career!! #AndStill #KSW66 pic.twitter.com/N6Mf5iRNoe

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 15, 2022

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki started the new year with a double championship headliner that went down at the Netto Arena in Szczecin, Poland.

KSW 66 was headlined by a closely-contested lightweight championship affair between divisional kingpin Marian Ziolkowski and former 170-pound titleholder Borys Mankowski. The defending champion Ziolkowski (24-8-1, 1NC; 5-2 KSW) utilized his crisp jab and footwork as he stung his opponent throughout the fight. Meanwhile, Mankowski (22-9-1, 11-6 KSW) retaliated with takedowns and shots from short distance. The match was pretty even going into the fifth stanza, as both fighters took home two rounds each. However, the strategy of “The Golden Boy” turned out to be the most efficient in the final frame, as he continued to score points with his jab. Mankowski attempted a final assault, but his adversary denied it. When the dust settled, the ring announcer revealed that all three judges gave Ziolkowski 48-47 nods, rewarding the Polish fighter with his second title defense.

INCREDIBLE!!! #KSW66

Ibragim Chuzhigaev ends the six year title reign of Tomasz Narkun!! #AndNew pic.twitter.com/BJ6Id5R3Ts

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 15, 2022

In the co-feature, Ibragim Chuzhigaev scored an impressive promotional debut, as he outstruck defending 205-pound champion Tomasz Narkun. Chuzhigaev (16-5, 1-0 KSW) looked lighter on the feet, and he marked his opponent's left eye early in the fight. Shortly thereafter, the Russian dropped his opponent with a spinning backfist. The Russian spent considerable energy blocking Narkun’s takedown attempts in the first three stanzas. “The Giraffe” landed a takedown in the fourth frame, forcing his opponent to carry his weight and getting close to a finish with a choke. In the final round, Chuzhigaev stopped several desperate takedown attempts from Narkun and scored with some kicks. Ultimately, Chuzhigaev earned a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) in addition to a new title for his collection.

OVERHAND RIGHT!!!

Michal Materla finishes Jason Radcliffe!! #KSW66

WELCOME HOME MICHAL!! pic.twitter.com/8ena2Dwa8m

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 15, 2022

Earlier, KSW legend Michal Materla (31-8, 20-6 KSW) crushed Jason Radcliffe (17-9, 2-2 KSW) with punches at the 4:07 mark of the first stanza of their middleweight encounter; Krystian Kaszubowski (10-2, 5-2 KSW) took a unanimous decision from short-notice replacement Robert Maciejowski (5-4-1, 0-1 KSW) after his opponent was deducted a point; Sebastian Rajewski (12-6, 4-1 KSW) outpointed Ultimate Fighting Championship vet Niklas Backstrom (11-4, 0-1 KSW) with at lightweight; Wojciech Janusz (11-7, 1-0 KSW) tapped Damian Skarzynski (5-4, 0-1 KSW) via rear-naked choke 64 seconds into their 215-pound catchweight bout; former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship title challenger Donovan Desmae (15-8, 1-1 KSW) overcame Lukasz Rajewski (11-7, 1NC; 4-4 KSW) thanks to an out-of-nowhere triangle-armbar submission at the 4:07 mark of the second frame.

On the preliminary card, Gracjan Szadzinski (9-4, 3-3 KSW) smashed a careless Francesco Moricca (9-6-1, 0-1 KSW) with a left hook after 1:58 into Round 2 of their 160-pound catchweight; Kacper Koziorzebski (8-4, 2-2 KSW) upended Hubert Szymajda (9-5, 0-2 KSW) on all three scorecards in their welterweight affair; at bantamweight, Patryk Surdyn (6-2, 1-2 KSW) outgrappled David Martinik (5-4, 1-2 KSW) en route to a unanimous decision.