Narkun scores comeback tapout of Khalidov to cap action-packed KSW 42
KSW pulled out all the stops for Saturday's card in Lodz, and the fighters delivered as expected.
In a catchweight clash of champions that capped an action-packed bill in Poland, light heavyweight king Tomasz Narkun recovered from a pair of early knockdowns to submit middleweight champ Mamed Khalidov with a triangle choke at the 1:18 mark of Round 3.
TOMASZ NARKUN!!! Mamed Khalidov tapped out! #KSW42 pic.twitter.com/P8MUJMyNZ1
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 3, 2018
The long-indomitable Khalidov sent Narkun to the canvas twice during the opening frame with as many right hands, but the latter recovered to batter Khalidov with knees from the clinch to open the third before handing him his first defeat in eight years with the fight-ending choke.
Narkun extended his win streak to six with the tapout, with every one of those victories coming inside the distance.
Narkun is down TWICE!!! #KSW42 pic.twitter.com/YNoeRBqelc
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 3, 2018
In the middleweight co-headliner, UFC alum Scott Askham bludgeoned Polish fan favorite Michal Materla with body kicks, then finished him with one to the head just over a minute into his promotional debut.
What a sensation! Scott @scottaskham1 just shocked the whole Poland! #KSW42 pic.twitter.com/zDrCESmp7a
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 3, 2018
Undefeated lightweight champion Mateusz Gamrot atoned for a chaotic October rematch opposite Norman Parke that ended in a no-contest during the third defense of his crown. He finished a workmanlike effort with a keylock from mounted crucifix that forced Grzegorz Szulakowski to tap in the fourth round.
IT'S OVER! Mateusz Gamrot is a scary man! #KSW42 pic.twitter.com/HZyfkV1OzI
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 3, 2018
As for flyweight titleholder Ariane Lipski, the aptly named "Violence Queen" outdueled a game Silvana Gomez Juarez to earn a unanimous decision, marking her second successful defense of the crown while extending her win streak to nine.
#KSW42 Official results: Ariane Lipski def. Silvana Gomez Juarez via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46). pic.twitter.com/iAGSOdhNzc
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 3, 2018
Juarez fell to 6-2 as a professional with the verdict.