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Sunday, Jan 28, 2007

Soszynski Injured: Rematch With Rothwell Delayed



Soszynski Injured: Rematch with Rothwell Delayed
By FCF Staff

International Fight League heavyweight, Krzysztof Soszynksi, confirmed to FCF this afternoon that he has sustained an injury while preparing for this weekend’s upcoming IFL in Houston, where he was scheduled to meet Silverback fighter Ben Rothwell. As a result, he will be unable to compete, and local Houston fighter Matt Thompson, (3-1) will take his place. The bout would have been the second time the two had fought, as Rothwell stopped Soszynski with strikes last April in the first round, at the IFL’s "Legends Championship 2006" event.

"I did a lot of damage to my lower costal cartilage, the area that joins the ribs to your sternum," Soszynski says in describing his injury. "6 weeks off to heal. I was unable to do anything that involved the abdominal muscles. I was in a lot of pain for 4 weeks. Everything is finally starting to heal up, I will be back to full training in about 10 days. I will be ready for March 17th, IFL show in Los Angeles."

Since their first encounter, Soszynski had gone on to win 4 fights in a row, and in the process defeated other IFL heavyweights like Devin Cole and Tom Howard. In his last fight on December 29th at the IFL’s Championship final event, the Anaconda fighter dropped a unanimous decision loss to Mike Whitehead, in one of the card’s "super-fights." Rothwell, who carries a record of 20-5, is widely regarded by many as the league’s best heavyweight fighter, and has won all four of his IFL fights in the first round. In his last fight at the league’s Championship finals, the Miletich fighter knocked out Devin Cole with a highlight real right kick to the head, on route to the Silverback’s Championship winning performance that evening.



Across The Pond: British MMA News
By David West

Intense Fighting Results
Bushfield Sports Centre, Peterborough, England – January 27, 2007

Intense Fighting (Jan 27, 2007): Antonio Samurai (left) slugs Eric Cebarec - Photo by Zack Lynch
Samurai (left) slugs Cebarec

While the fight card for the latest Intense Fighting event was whittled down from the thirteen announced prior to fight night to nine on the day, there was a good mix of international fighters competing in MMA, kickboxing, and even one boxing match in the cage. Four of the five MMA bouts ended in the first round. Michael Tolozgen, from BTT France, quickly submitted Devils Factory’s Brett Lee with a triangle choke, while Johnny Frachey pounded Kris Savin for the tap-out to make it France 2, England 0. Alan Lee took one win for England, surviving Rachid Nassoudi’s submission attempts to earn a referee stoppage in the third round. Rafal Dziubaude had a rocky start against Roman Webber, who bloodied him early with some frantic ground and pound, but Dzuibaude took Webber’s back, flattened him out and took his turn to unload with both fists, prompting referee Mark Day to stop the contest as Webber was just lying on the canvas taking shots. In the last match of the evening, Brazil’s Antonio Samurai, representing Europe Top Team, out-gunned France’s Eric Cebarec with fast, heavy hands to stop him in just 1:20.

In the best of the kickboxing action, London Thai Fighters’ Attila Nagy was impressive against David Simonek, from the Czech Republic, working a counter-punching game and displaying impressive power. Simonek worked well with high kicks on the outside, but Nagy kept on the pressure and cut his opponent in the third for the win.

Full Results

MMA

Michael Tolozgen def. Brett Lee by Triangle 1:02 R1

Alan Lee def. Rachid Nassoudi by TKO (Referee Stoppage – Strikes) 3:03 R3


Johnny Frachey def. Kris Savin by Tap-out to Strikes 1:13 R1


Rafal Dziubaude def. Roman Webber by TKO (Referee Stoppage – Strikes) 2:58 R1


Antonio Samurai def. Eric Cebarec by TKO (Referee Stoppage – Strikes) 1:20 R1




Kickboxing


Pat Owens def. Tim Holton by Unanimous Decision (3 x 2 mins)


Kevin Anderson def. Mick Trott by KO 0:43 R2


Attila Nagy def. David Simonek by TKO (Doctor Stoppage – Cut) 1:20 R3




Boxing


Gary Barron def. Bertil Queeley by Unanimous Decision (3 x 2 mins)







Horodecki Vs. Palaszewski:

Upcoming Lightweight Battle Has All the Makings of a Classic

By Kelsey Mowatt


They don’t carry the same kind of reputation and historic background of say, Jens Pulver and BJ Penn, and perhaps, aren’t as widely well known in MMA circles as Nick Diaz and Takanori Gomi, but the upcoming International Fight League lightweight bout between Chris Horodecki and Bart Palaszewksi, just might turn out to be the best 155-pound fight this spring. The battle is scheduled to take place this coming weekend, Friday, February 2nd, in Houston, Texas, at the Reliant Centre, as both fighters’ respective teams, the Anacondas and the Silverbacks, are taking each other on in the next round of IFL team action. The lightweight match-up means that one of these two fighters will lose for the first time in the IFL, and that the victor will likely be viewed as the league’s top competitor at 155 pounds.



Photo courtesy of the IFL: Bart PalaszewksiPhoto courtesy of the IFL: Chris Horodecki
PalaszewksiHorodecki



Chris Horodecki continues to become a well known rising star in the sport, as the young 19-year-old fighter has even been called "the Sydney Crosby of MMA" by TKO promoter Stephane Patry. Somewhat of a well kept secret in Canada as he began his MMA career, the Team Tompkins fighter of Polish descent demonstrated his lethal striking skills to American fans of the sport in 2006 for the first time, going 3-0 last year in the IFL. Horodecki remains undefeated in his MMA career, and has amassed a record of 7-0 since he started competing professionally in 2005. Coming from a well accomplished amateur kick-boxing background, evidence to his striking prowess is clearly evident when one examines his pro-MMA record further, of Horodecki’s seven victories, six have come way of knockout or TKO. Arguably his biggest win to date would be his most recent at the IFL semi-finals last November, when Horodecki stopped tough Team Quest fighter Ryan Schultz with strikes early in the second round. He might be more remembered however for his first IFL KO, when in highlight reel fashion, Horodecki stopped Erik Owings last June with a plethora of kicks to the head and body, unleashing the series of techniques in only seconds. Before coming to compete in the U.S., Horodecki had some notable success fighting in TKO, as the fighter also stopped David Goulet and Dave Pariseau at TKO 23 and TKO 24 respectively, in November of 2005 and January last year.


Palaszewski is only 23 years old, and yet carries the record of a well established veteran. Since he began competing professionally in 2002, the Polish fighter has amassed an impressive record of 25-7. When one also considers that Palaszewski went 0-4 to begin his MMA career, his accomplishments since his early setbacks become even more stunning. The Silverback lightweight is currently on an 11 fight winning streak, and most recently, like Horodecki, stopped Ryan Schultz on December 29th with a memorable third round knock-out. On November 2nd, at the IFL’s semi-finals, Palaszewksi earned a split decision victory over UFC and K-1 Hero’s veteran Ivan Menjivar, adding more evidence to the notion that the Jeff Curran trained fighter has become one of North America’s better lightweight fighters. Within his 25 wins, Palaszewski also holds notable victories over the likes of Joe Jordan, Ryan Ackerman and Jay Estrada, twice. The Silverback lightweight has also forged a reputation recently for being an excellent striker, as 6 of his victories during his current winning streak of come way of TKO or KO. Palaszewski, who splits his time training now between Jeff Curran and Pat Miletich, also has a well developed jiu-jitsu game, and was won 8 fights throughout his career, via grappling submissions.


In all likelihood, this Friday’s bout between the two rising lightweight stars of the IFL will be a stand up battle, at least for the opening minutes of the fight. Horodecki, who is certainly better known for his striking game, has been concentrating on his wrestling abilities extensively over the last year, to aid him in keeping the fight where he’s at his best, on its feet. The Team Tompkins’ fighter has also trained with Jeff Curran to improve his jiu-jitsu, and is certainly not lost when the fight hits the mat. That said, most should expect Palaszewski to have the more developed jiu-jitsu game, and although his striking continues to impress, it might not be at the level yet of his younger upcoming opponent. If Palaszewski ends up on the short end of the stand-up game, the deciding factor in the fight may turn out to be whether or not he can get Horodecki to the mat. Analysis aside, all things point to a great, action packed, lightweight war this Friday night.







Fitch to Fight Fioravanti at UFC 68

By Steven Marrocco


After sustaining a broken nose at the hands of Kuniyoshi Hironaka at UFC 64, American Kickboxing Academy standout Jon Fitch has signed on to fight Luigi Fioravanti. The American Top Team fighter will make the cut to welterweight for the upcoming bout with Fitch, which will be held on March 3rd, at Nationwide Arena, in Columbus, Ohio.


His return in March nearly didn’t happen. According to Fitch, Fioravanti stepped up to take the fight after a long list of current UFC welterweights declined. "Joe Silva told my manager Bob Cook [that] he’s having a harder time finding fights for me than anybody he’s ever had," Fitch said.


The Indiana native had an explanation for fighters’ hesitance in facing him. "They know that win or lose, when you fight me, you get hurt," he said. "Other than my very early fights, I have not been in a fight where the guy came out clean on the other side."


Fitch told FCF he will attempt to get cleared by the Ohio State Athletic Commission, possibly extending his current suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who suspended him until April due to the nose injury incurred during his bout with Hironaka.


Fioravanti, an American Top Team product, will be making his debut at welterweight for the upcoming UFC 68 fight. Recently, he dispatched former UFC champ Dave Menne by TKO at UFC Fight Night 7 on December 13th. His sole defeat was at the hands of TUF alum Chris Leben at UFC Fight Night 4 last year on April 6th. Despite wanting a bigger name, Fitch acknowledged the fight would be tough for him.


"My standup is more technical," Fitch said. "But he is heavy handed. He throws a good one two, and at 170, he’s going to have a lot more of a gas tank than he has in the past."


Whatever the outcome, Fitch will surely come prepared to make his case for a shot at the welterweight A list in the crowded field of the UFC welterweight division.

posted by Full Contact Fighter @ 8:00 pm
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