Olympic Medalist Damian Janikowski has opponent for KSW 43 Main Event
Damian Janikowski vs. Yannick Bahati set for KSW 43 main event
Olympic medalist and national hero Damian Janikowski (2-0) will face former BAMMA and EFC middleweight champion Yannick Bahati (8-3) in the main event of KSW 43 in Wroclaw, Poland on April 14.
After winning bronze in wrestling at London 2012, Damian Janikowski finally made his anticipated MMA debut at the monumental KSW 39 stadium event last May where he stopped American Julio Gallegos with strikes just less than ninety seconds into the first round. The 28-year-old then followed this up with a TKO stoppage win over former champ and the vastly more experienced Antoni Chmielewski at KSW 41 in December. This will be Janikowski’s first main event in KSW and it will also take place in his hometown. He is relishing this opportunity and is very confident heading into this fight.
“It is an honor and a privilege for me to headline my first KSW and in my hometown. I can’t wait to walk out into that arena,” said Janikowski. “Yannick looks good, he is a good fighter. I’ve watched some of his fights when he won but I’ve also watched how he has lost, so I am pretty confident going into this bout on April 14.”
Bahati is a dangerous middleweight with a ton of experience. After a number of wins on the UK scene he was signed by the South African based EFC promotion and would go on to win their middleweight title. While champion there he returned to the UK to win the BAMMA middleweight strap and thus becoming a simultaneous champion in two major promotions. However, he dropped the two titles in two previous fights losing to Dricus Du Plessis, who challenges for the welterweight title at KSW 43, in EFC and Mike Shipman in BAMMA, respectively. Now the 27-year-old has his sights on becoming KSW middleweight champion and Janikowski is just somebody in his way.
“Damian Janikowski is just a person that I got to beat on April 14,” stated Bahati. “He’s an Olympic level wrestler but I’m a world class fighter. Damian is not on the level that I’m at. I’ll show that by coming to his hometown, entertaining the Polish fans by finishing him early and building some momentum to put me closer to the KSW middleweight title.”
KSW 43 takes place April 14 from the breathtaking and historic Hala Stulecia venue, built over 100 years ago. Ticktes are on sale now from eBilet.pl and fans can watch live from anywhere around the world on www.KSWTV.com.
KSW 43 preview:
