Not many fights this weekend for a betting guy like myself, but there is a KSW show Saturday that should meet my and others needs.
KSW 41, Live From Poland on Dec. 23
KSW is a Polish MMA outfit if you haven't watched their shows before. Usually pretty good fights that are competitive. They are sort of like an Eastern European Bellator with mostly B level cats, some A level, from that region and some freak shows like the "Popek Monster". Paweł Rak, as he is lesser known as, will be fighting this weekend. He's a rapper while being a 3-2 (1-1 in KSW) record heavyweight MMA fighter. You also might remember him as the guy who got the massive cuts made on his face to look more gangsta, scary or whatever vibe he was going for.
The Popek Monster Hearts You
Anyway on to the fights I think see some value in which is not the "Popek Monster" fight, although I promise you that one will be fun for the 30 to 90 seconds it lasts so make sure to watch that one if you are a fan of spectacles.
Salah Dine Parnasse (9-0-1, 4Subs, 1KO, 0-0 in KSW)
Lukasz Rajewski (7-2, 1NC, 5KO's, 1-2 in KSW)
The first fight I like is a fight between a 20 year old French fighter, Salah Dine Parnasse (9-0-1, 4Subs, 1KO, 0-0 in KSW), who's making his debut in KSW & a 28 year old Polish native, Lukasz Rajewski (7-2, 1NC, 5KO's, 1-2 in KSW). Parnasse is a speedy kickboxer who's got quality defense & distance management beyond his years. He's in and out & will make you pay for any mistake you make. And even when he makes a mistake he's actively fighting his way out of it and can make you pay if you gamble a little too much on the edge you thought you had. I'm not confident in his chin because he's not really been hit, but Rajewski has been in vs far lesser opposition than Parnasse, 6 of his 7 wins are over opponents with a combined 18-22-1 record, and is going to be the much slower fighter in there so I'm not sure that'll be an issue tomorrow.
This is a virtually pickem fight, which I feel is off, with Rajewski being -125 & Parnasse being -115. I'm recommending 5 units to win 4.35 units. I suspect Parnasse will get a submission in the 2nd round or cruise to a clear 3-0 decision.
Maciej Kazieczko (3-0, 2KO's, 2-0 in KSW)
Gracjan Szadzinski (6-2, 4KO's, 0-1 in KSW)
The other fight I have interest in is between two Polish combantants, Maciej Kazieczko (3-0, 2KO's, 2-0 in KSW) and Gracjan Szadzinski (6-2, 4KO's, 0-1 in KSW). Kazieczko gots some pop, but he's been relatively inactive with only 3 fights in a 2.5yr career so I'm not sure if he's been injured or just not taking his MMA career seriously. If he touches a guy he can stun you enough to get you outta there soon after, but he gets into rough spots on the ground way too easily and his gas tank is half empty after the ring walk. He fights off the back foot and seems to have a tendency to throw wild-ish punches that the right guy will capitalize on. Szadzinski on the other hand seems measured in his approach, likes to come forward and can take a good shot. He's got petrol for days in his tank and I think thats where things will pay off for him.
Kazieczko is -130. Szadzinski is -110. I'm recommending 3 units on Szadzinski to win 2.73 units. I think Kazieczko's 0 is gonna go. I think if he's not that tough he'll get KO'd in the 2nd or 3rd round, maybe even partially due to gassing or if he's tough he'll stick around to hear a 2-1 decision for Szadzinski.
I don't really love any of the other fights &/or don't feel comfortable with either the odds or my familiarity with the fighters to bet on so I'll leave my betting with just those two bouts.
Hope you enjoy the show and hope you win some money if you're betting.
Oh and here's a trailer for the event to maybe get you a little more excited for the festivities, betting or not.