In what proved to be her toughest fight to date, KSW Women’s Strawweight Champion Karolina Kowalkiewicz kept her undefeated record intact with a close decision victory tonight at KSW 30: “Genesis” in Poznań, Poland. Kowalkiewicz edged out Brazilian standout Kalindra Faria in a non-title bout.
Kowalkiewicz and Faria battled back and forth on the feet for 15 minutes in one of the most action-packed and entertaining women’s bouts in recent history. Kowalkiewicz’s superior boxing proved to be the difference maker in rounds two and three and she was rewarded with a Split Decision win.
Right from the opening bell, Kowalkiewicz (7-0-0) and Faria (15-5-1) were very aggressive with their punches and both landed hard combinations in the opening minute. Kowalkiewicz mixed in leg kicks and Faria countered with kicks to the body. More punches were exchanged and both women once again scored with lengthy flurries. Faria took Kowalkiewicz’s back and tried for a takedown, then hopped on her back and dragged her to the mat. The excellent round ended with Faria working for a rear-naked choke as time expired.
Kowalkiewicz struck first in the middle stanza with a one-two and a stiff jab that snapped Faria’s head back. Power punches were exchanged and Kowalkiewicz landed the more effective strikes. She stuffed a takedown, but Faria landed a knee and she rushed forward with a barrage of left and right hooks. Kowalkiewicz circled to the side and countered with right hands over the top. Faria eventually closed in and clinched, but Kowalkiewicz broke free by landing knees to the body before the bell.
With the fight seemingly even after two rounds, Kowalkiewicz opened round three with a combination and she tried to trip Faria after catching a kick. Faria pulled her leg free and landed a series of hard right hands, but Kowalkiewicz fired back with hooks that caused Faria’s eye to swell. Kowalkiewicz reversed a takedown into Faria’s guard, but the fighters were stood up almost immediately by the referee. Faria charged forward again and Kowalkiewicz carefully picked her shots with right-hand counters. The thrilling bout ended with both women landing punches.
Judge Ben Cartlidge scored the close fight 29-28 for Faria. Judges David Lethaby and Leszek Pawlęga both had it 29-28 for Kowalkiewicz, who took the well-deserved Split Decision win. She remains one of the most talented female fighters in Europe and proved once again tonight that her skills are well ahead of many of the female strawweights who are already in the UFC.
Winner: Karolina Kowalkiewicz by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. She improves to 7-0-0.
(Photo Credit: Scott Hirano, InvictaFC.com)
I don’t think we will ever her ever fighting in Invicta or KSW again. She will probably get a pretty nice UFC deal and drop the KSW belt. She has skills, but no real name value. She’d gain a ton of fans the moment she signs. JJ is still the better Polish fighter though.
Faria will likely also sign. Two loses in a row brainstorming for titles. She needs to be in a division.
Wow, was this fight available to view in the U.S.? If it were, I somehow missed it. Sounds like it was an incredible fight. And Poland of all places now has two standout Strawweights? With a major UFC card coming to Krakow soon, with two more major women’s strawweight fights? Fantastic!
On a side note, in the first wmma fight in Africa ever (also, EFC’s first women’s fight in history), Danella Eliasov defeated Zita Varju via TKO in 4:59 in round 1.
Andy, catch the replay on KSWTV.com.