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"It will be an exceptional event for Polish MMA" – interview with Lukasz Jurkowski
The first KSW tournament champions Lukasz Jurkowski will be one of the featured fighters at the fifteen Martial Arts Confrontation March 19th in Warsaw. The always popular Juras will fight in front of the Polish audience for the first time since May 2009. We present you with the interview with Lukasz, who reveals which two fighters he wants to settle the score with at KSW 15.
Hi Lukasz. You haven’t fought in Poland for over a year now. Are you happy that at KSW 15 you’ll able to compete in your home town, where you have a lot of supporters?
- Sure I am. I’m very eager to fight at Torwar once again knowing that I’ll have many fans rooting for me.
Have you missed fighting Poland?
- At my last fight in US, there were many Polish fans backing me up. Now I’m coming back to Warsaw and I’m sure the support will be even bigger. I love fighting in Poland!
The first names of the fighters competing at the March’s show have been revealed. Mamed Khalidov, Krzysztof Kulak, Jan Blachowicz, Maciej Gorski, you and Niko Puhakka will all fight at KSW 15. A stellar card, isn’t it?
- Looks like an exceptional event for Polish MMA fans. I hope that after Pudzianowski’s and Saleta’s fights, the fan base of this sport has grown. KSW 15 will be interesting test of MMA’s popularity in our country. These names you’ve mentioned guarantee that this will be the best card in Polish mixed martial arts history. That’s why I sincerely invite you all to check it out, especially those who watch KSW only because of Pudzian. (laughing).
KSW 15 will be a strictly sporting event. There will be no freakshow fights, only the best of the best mixed martial artists in Poland. Do you think it’s a good idea? Do you believe that people will tune in to watch Khalidov, Blachowicz and Jurkowski instead of Pudzianowski and Najman?
- Well it’s obvious that this show won’t have as big ratings as the last three Pudzianowski’s bouts. Half of the people in attendance in Spodek and Atlas Arena were there only to see Mariusz. I hope that Torwar will be packed in March, because we have already done that before Pudzian era. We’ll see how many viewers we’ll be able to gather on Polsat.
The last two KSW shows had more than 13 and 15 thousand people in attendance. The Torwar in Warsaw is much smaller venue with only 6 thousand seats. Do you think there is a need for such smaller events, when the interest in KSW is so huge?
- Maciek and Martin both do amazing job to promote the sport here. Now they want to check how many fans MMA has gained after Pudzianowski’s and Saleta’s fights. They’re preparing a show with the best, albeit not the most popular fighters. It will a peculiar test for MMA industry in Poland. How many people will have an interest in watching Janek, Mamed or Krzysiek? I’m really curious myself.
Let’s get back to you. Recently your weight has varied a lot. In which division do you plan to compete at KSW 15?
- It will be more than likely at light heavyweight. I only had two fights at heavyweight. In between the training camps I sometimes weigh more than hundred kilograms. I will need to work a lot to drop to ninety- three, but it’s not the first time. (laughing)
Was any opponent offered to you?
- The show will be titled “Rematch” so I expect someone whom I lost to.
If you could chose, who would it be?
- I have things to prove to two fighters. Martin Zawada who beat me at KSW 6, when I had very little knowledge how to prepare for a big fight and I overtrained myself. The other guy is Dave Dalgliesh, we have things to settle...
KSW 15 will feature the lightweight tournament final with Maciej Gorski and Niko Puhakka. I know that you’re helping Highlander in his preparations. How are they going? What are his chances against the crafty veteran?
- Puhakka is a solid fighter, qualified in every aspect of the game. He’s very calm in the ring and well- conditioned. On paper Maciek won’t be the favorite, but it’s good for us. Highlander is a true competitor, being an underdog only makes him train harder. I believe in his success, because I see his preparations every day. Maciek will also get an additional motivation, as he and Zosia are having a baby girl soon. By the way all the best for them and their future daughter.
Maciek will win by TKO in the third round. Why? Because he’ll set a pace the Finn won’t be able to handle. The conditioning will be the key to success in this bout and we all know the legendary Highlander’s cardio.
There was a unexpected moment at KSW 14 after Blachowicz vs Tabera bout, when Matuesz Borek asked Janek if he’ll propose to your sister. Could you tell us more about it? Janek was visibly surprised with this question.
- It’s an interesting story and not exactly my own idea. I talked to Janek’s mum before the show and she was also curious about his and my sister’s plans. When Mateusz Borek asked if he can ask Janek about anything from his private life on air it was the first thing that came to my mind. We later talked about it and he is ok with it. (laughing)
To end the interview I’d like to ask you how you handle the duties of being a pro fighter, a color commentator, a husband and a father? It’s quite a lot of responsibilities and the day has only twenty- four hours.
- It’s hard to be one hundred percent focused on each of these things. When I don’t have a fight scheduled I’m fully devoted to my commentary job. For the last few months we had so much work with Andrzej Janisz, that we have barely slept. I’m also a coach and I have my family life. Before the KSW 15 show I’ll need to plan everything very carefully to have eight weeks of solid preparations without interruptions. Is it even possible? Probably not, but I’ll try. (laughing).
Lukasz, thanks for the interview and all the best in your various occupations and private life.
- Thanks. Greetings to all!
Interview by Artur Przybysz
Hi Lukasz. You haven’t fought in Poland for over a year now. Are you happy that at KSW 15 you’ll able to compete in your home town, where you have a lot of supporters?
- Sure I am. I’m very eager to fight at Torwar once again knowing that I’ll have many fans rooting for me.
Have you missed fighting Poland?
- At my last fight in US, there were many Polish fans backing me up. Now I’m coming back to Warsaw and I’m sure the support will be even bigger. I love fighting in Poland!
The first names of the fighters competing at the March’s show have been revealed. Mamed Khalidov, Krzysztof Kulak, Jan Blachowicz, Maciej Gorski, you and Niko Puhakka will all fight at KSW 15. A stellar card, isn’t it?
- Looks like an exceptional event for Polish MMA fans. I hope that after Pudzianowski’s and Saleta’s fights, the fan base of this sport has grown. KSW 15 will be interesting test of MMA’s popularity in our country. These names you’ve mentioned guarantee that this will be the best card in Polish mixed martial arts history. That’s why I sincerely invite you all to check it out, especially those who watch KSW only because of Pudzian. (laughing).
KSW 15 will be a strictly sporting event. There will be no freakshow fights, only the best of the best mixed martial artists in Poland. Do you think it’s a good idea? Do you believe that people will tune in to watch Khalidov, Blachowicz and Jurkowski instead of Pudzianowski and Najman?
- Well it’s obvious that this show won’t have as big ratings as the last three Pudzianowski’s bouts. Half of the people in attendance in Spodek and Atlas Arena were there only to see Mariusz. I hope that Torwar will be packed in March, because we have already done that before Pudzian era. We’ll see how many viewers we’ll be able to gather on Polsat.
The last two KSW shows had more than 13 and 15 thousand people in attendance. The Torwar in Warsaw is much smaller venue with only 6 thousand seats. Do you think there is a need for such smaller events, when the interest in KSW is so huge?
- Maciek and Martin both do amazing job to promote the sport here. Now they want to check how many fans MMA has gained after Pudzianowski’s and Saleta’s fights. They’re preparing a show with the best, albeit not the most popular fighters. It will a peculiar test for MMA industry in Poland. How many people will have an interest in watching Janek, Mamed or Krzysiek? I’m really curious myself.
Let’s get back to you. Recently your weight has varied a lot. In which division do you plan to compete at KSW 15?
- It will be more than likely at light heavyweight. I only had two fights at heavyweight. In between the training camps I sometimes weigh more than hundred kilograms. I will need to work a lot to drop to ninety- three, but it’s not the first time. (laughing)
Was any opponent offered to you?
- The show will be titled “Rematch” so I expect someone whom I lost to.
If you could chose, who would it be?
- I have things to prove to two fighters. Martin Zawada who beat me at KSW 6, when I had very little knowledge how to prepare for a big fight and I overtrained myself. The other guy is Dave Dalgliesh, we have things to settle...
KSW 15 will feature the lightweight tournament final with Maciej Gorski and Niko Puhakka. I know that you’re helping Highlander in his preparations. How are they going? What are his chances against the crafty veteran?
- Puhakka is a solid fighter, qualified in every aspect of the game. He’s very calm in the ring and well- conditioned. On paper Maciek won’t be the favorite, but it’s good for us. Highlander is a true competitor, being an underdog only makes him train harder. I believe in his success, because I see his preparations every day. Maciek will also get an additional motivation, as he and Zosia are having a baby girl soon. By the way all the best for them and their future daughter.
Maciek will win by TKO in the third round. Why? Because he’ll set a pace the Finn won’t be able to handle. The conditioning will be the key to success in this bout and we all know the legendary Highlander’s cardio.
There was a unexpected moment at KSW 14 after Blachowicz vs Tabera bout, when Matuesz Borek asked Janek if he’ll propose to your sister. Could you tell us more about it? Janek was visibly surprised with this question.
- It’s an interesting story and not exactly my own idea. I talked to Janek’s mum before the show and she was also curious about his and my sister’s plans. When Mateusz Borek asked if he can ask Janek about anything from his private life on air it was the first thing that came to my mind. We later talked about it and he is ok with it. (laughing)
To end the interview I’d like to ask you how you handle the duties of being a pro fighter, a color commentator, a husband and a father? It’s quite a lot of responsibilities and the day has only twenty- four hours.
- It’s hard to be one hundred percent focused on each of these things. When I don’t have a fight scheduled I’m fully devoted to my commentary job. For the last few months we had so much work with Andrzej Janisz, that we have barely slept. I’m also a coach and I have my family life. Before the KSW 15 show I’ll need to plan everything very carefully to have eight weeks of solid preparations without interruptions. Is it even possible? Probably not, but I’ll try. (laughing).
Lukasz, thanks for the interview and all the best in your various occupations and private life.
- Thanks. Greetings to all!
Interview by Artur Przybysz
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