Janikowski v Giles | KSW
Also confirmed for the card is a middleweight clash between KSW legend, Antoni Chmielewski, and London’s own, Jason Radcliffe.
The lineup for KSW’s landmark card in London continues to grow as Olympic bronze medalist, Damian Janikowski (3-2), takes on combat sports veteran and reality TV personality, Tony Giles (6-1), in a middleweight contest. Bloody Elbow also has learned that another bout at 185 lbs has been added to KSW 50 which sees legend of the promotion, Antoni Chmielewski (32-17), face off against previous Bellator and Cage Warriors fighter, Jason Radcliffe (15-7). The shows takes place on Saturday, September 14th from Wembley Arena.
Janikowski returns to the city where he won his Greco-Roman wrestling medal in 2012 and will look to snap a two-fight losing streak. The Pole is one of the most popular fighters in KSW and began his MMA career with three finishes over former KSW, BAMMA and EFC champions. In only his fourth professional bout, Janikowski stepped up to face Polish MMA icon, Michal Materla, in the KSW middleweight tournament but came up short before losing to Aleksander Ilic at KSW 47, where he was dominating before being caught with a devastating head kick in the third round. A win at Wembley Arena will get him back on track and remind fans of the talent that he possesses inside the cage.
Tony ‘The Rhino’ Giles will look to take advantage of this huge opportunity given to him by taking out one of the faces of KSW which would propel him straight into the middleweight title picture. He has a background in kickboxing and is on a six fight winning streak in well-known UK promotion UCMMA where he has finished all of his victories. The London native is used to the cameras and bright lights as he has featured in a number of reality TV shows and documentary series including ‘Gypsies Next Door.’ This is the kind of bout that KSW have utilized successfully in their history to appeal to fans outside of the MMA bubble so their shows garner more interest.
In a rather fitting moment for one of KSW’s original stars, Antoni Chmielewski (who won tournaments at KSW 2 and 3), will come full circle and have his retirement bout at the milestone event in his fiftieth professional fight. The 37-year-old ends a near two-year layoff to have his swansong after losing his last three bouts against Damian Janikowski, Lukasz Bienkowski and Michal Materla. Looking to spoil the party is London’s own, Jason Radcliffe, whose power-striking was on display in his last fight at Cage Warriors: Night of Champions when he defeated Hakon Foss by first round TKO.
KSW 50 is expected to be headlined by a heavyweight title clash between current champion, Phil De Fries, and fellow UFC veteran, Damian Grabowski, which is only one of four title fights scheduled to take place on fight night. In the co-main event, Tomasz Narkun will look to defend his KSW light heavyweight title against an as-of-yet unnamed opponent while KSW welterweight champion, Roberto Soldic, will also put his belt on the line. Norman Parke and Marion Ziolkowski will both compete for the KSW interim lightweight title after current champion, Mateusz Gamrot, announced a hiatus from the sport.