Mamed Khalidov (photo via KSW / Twitter)

By FCF Staff

On the heels of KSW’s massive, Colosseum card, the promotion’s president says the company is bigger than the UFC in Poland.

Recently KSW held an event at  PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland, which reportedly had over 50,000 fans in attendance. It was the latest card for KSW, which has been promoting events now since 2004.

More recently, KSW President Martin Lewandowski appeared on “The MMA Hour“. When he was asked if the promotion is bigger than the UFC in Poland, Lewandowski said yes (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“True,” Lewandowski said. “People want to train KSW here in Poland. That’s what I heard also in U.S., some people want to train UFC. ‘I’m going for UFC training.’ So that’s what is happening also here after 19 years of being in the market. I think that’s the value of being a leader on the market and the pioneer also because we started MMA here in Poland before KSW, it was real underground. So I think that’s what makes us very unique and I think Poland is very unique on the world market, to be honest.

“Of course, the biggest is U.S., but in terms of the promotion, the way how people treat the fighters, and I must say that this is many thanks to KSW, that we started this 19 years ago.”

When Lewandsoki was asked about the possibility of holding an event in North America, he seemed to acknowledge the promotion is hesitant to do so, right now.

“We’re not going to grow in America or just fight for this market because it’s been taken by three promotions,” Lewandowski answered. “It’s a tough market, so Europe is something we feel OK, we understand, we’re all European, so better communication and also understanding on the field.

“Yes, because of Mamed Khalidov, Mariusz Pudzianowski, these two guys who are very famous and popular in the Polish community, not only in the U.S., but in Canada, wherever the Poles are living. So definitely it’s been in my mind. One of the Chicago Sears Arena approached me and also Madison Square Garden, they want to host KSW, but this is a nice dream, we need to work on that.”

The company’s next card, KSW 84, is scheduled to take place on July 15th.