Martial Arts Confrontation III Making it international
Date, place: 2005-01-15, Restauracja Champions, Warszawa back
The third event was by far more richer with visual effects than the earlier ones. A ramp with lots of lights, musical setting and short promo videos about each participant were really impressive. It?s not a surprise that Polsat Sport cable channel once again aired the show live. This time it was January. Although the temperature was below zero and it was snowing, the Champions restaurant was packed and the atmosphere was as hot as the Sahara desert sand. What is the most important, KSW 3 was the first international event, apart from Polish participants, the best fighters from Lithuania and Belarus entered the competition. Just like at the two previous shows, the eight-man tournament was held. The event once again saw KSW veteran Lukasz Juras Jurkowski (tae kwon-do ITF), who that time made his way to the ring accompanied by a specially written hip hop song. Other participants included Lukasz Chlewicki (jiu jitsu), Jacek Buczko (wrestling), Marcin Zontek (shidokan), Slawomir Zieba (combat kalaki), Siergiej Rozwadowski (kickboxing / Belarus), Michal Chmielewski (sambo) and KSW 2 champion Antoni Antonio Chmielewski (judo). After extremely exciting quarterfinals (Buczko?s injury in the Chlewicki bout) and back and forth semis, Juras and Antonio once again entered the ring to compete for the championship gold. Chmielewski proved his supremacy again, tapping Jurkowski with a collar choke after a vicious battle. His convincing victories encouraged Maciej Kawulski and Martin Lewandowski to offer him a professional contract. He didn?t reject it and he became the second member of the KSW Team. Besides the tournament there was also one extra fight in-between the semifinals. Lithuanian Remigjus Zhiashys and Belorussian Andrei Gerasimchuck squared off against each other. Zhiaushys claimed the victory with a first round armbar. Recapping the third show you have to mention the organizational aspect. The small venue seated a considerable crowd of avid fans, who followed every fight with great deal of interest. It was also an unique experience for the promoters. They were able to provide people with different characters, mentality, martial arts background with exceptional sporting experience.
