Many people involved in Polish MMA are curious how the fifteenth Martial Arts Confrontation will look like. Instead of Mariusz Pudzianowski, Przemysław Saleta and Marcin Najman, the show will be headlined by the elite Polish mixed martial artists. Many analysts wonder whether the KSW15 TV ratings will be on par with the last three shows’ numbers. We won’t make those predictions, but we’ve asked writers and journalist from Polish media about it. Let’s see what they envision for the upcoming KSW show.

- I can now assure you that KSW 15 will be exceptional. The essence of mixed martial arts, no freakshows, just the best fighters in Poland providing the best combat action! When it comes to the venue, smaller not always means worse. Torwar is a unique place for KSW, the spectators are much closer so the show’s reception is more comfortable. Khalidov after his draw with Sakurai has a lot to prove, Jan Blachowicz is touted by experts as the next international MMA star, will he show another progress in his game? Kulak, KSW middleweight champion, is a very experienced fighter, who always cares about the out-of-the-ring spectacle for the fans. The first KSW tournament winner Lukasz Jurkowski will this time exchange his side ring commentary booth for the place inside the ring. Last but not least Maciej Gorski will square off against the Finn in the lightweight tournament final. We don’t even know the opponents of the KSW Team fighters and we’re already excited for the show. Reserve your time for the 19th of March! – iplaSPORT reporter Pawel Slodownik encourages

- KSW 15 will be very intriguing, because this time the fight card consists exclusively of the true MMA warriors, not celebrities. It’s interesting how such a change will affect the marketability of the show. The March’s event will be a serious test of this sport’s popularity in Poland. Are the viewers interested in true MMA competition or rather a so-called “Fighting to the stars” with Przemek Saleta, Mariusz Pudzianowski or Marcin Najman. However, the first glance at the announced KSW 15 line-up is enough to predict that no one attending the show will be disappointed – writer for Super Express Jan Ciosek says.

- I’ve waited for this show for a long time. Khaldiov, Blachowicz, Jurkowski, Kulak are KSW’s elite. What’s more the show returns to Warsaw, where it was born. KSW 15 should answer the most important question, which is often raised in discussions about Polish MMA future – are celebrities such an attraction? The promotion will have a hard time getting rid of the freakshow label created by Najman, Saleta or Pudzianowski. The ratings of their fights were through the roof, but the sporting quality was not there. Mamed Khalidiov himself is worthy a sold-out Torwar arena. Jan Blachowicz can be another breakout star, while Lukasz Jurkowski provides every show with a special character. I have no doubts that Torwar will be packed, but will they attract millions of TV viewers. Even if it won’t be the case, the KSW 15 show should satisfy the hardcore MMA fans and be the most stacked fight card in the history of Polish MMA – writer for Budo.pl Oskar Berezowski predicts.

- With KSW 15 the organization returns to its roots. The promoters left out freakshow fights, which guarantees a feast for true MMA fans. We’ll finally be able to see Mamed Khalidov back in the ring. This is a fighter who needs no introduction. Every MMA enthusiast looks forward to his fights. In the last KSW tournament Jan Blachowicz proved his world class aspirations and I’m pretty sure that he won’t disappoint this time either. Maciek Gorski will have a tough battle against Niko Puhakka in the lightweight tournament final. They both were dominant in the earlier rounds, so I expect a fantastic showdown. I’m rooting for Maciek, but I respect Niko’s skills and I know the Pole has to be 100% ready to beat him. Lukasz Jurkowski fight is a nice surprise. He was sensational in his last outing in the States where he won by a stunning knockout. I hope his performance in Warsaw will be also spectacular. The show looks amazing on paper. As I said before, it will be a feast for true MMA fans – Sport dla Wszystkich editor in chief Jaroslaw Gdak admits.

- KSW 15 without Pudzian, but with the top KSW stars at Torwar is a good idea. After a nearly one and a half year drought of MMA shows in Warsaw, the fans are really looking forward to this event. From the TV ratings standpoint, as all experts rightly point out, it will be an important test of how Pudzian’s and other celebrities fights affected KSW, and Polish MMA in general, popularity.
As for the fight card Martin and Maciej built the show around their most skilled stars, however we don’t know their opponents yet. A hard task of fulfilling the expectations of hardcore fans awaits the KSW promoters. If KSW 15 is meant to be a step forward in Mamed Khalidov’s and Jan Blachowicz’s careers, in March they have to face higher ranked opponents than Sakurai and Tabera. – writer for MMARocks.pl Wojslaw Rysiewski says.

- I’m impressed with idea behind KSW 15. The fact that this time we won’t see the fighters/celebrities (although I don’t like this name) in the ring gives this show a special flavor. It’s obvious that this will be a test of the growth of Polish MMA popularity and KSW brand in particular and whether the promoters were able to create starts out of Khalidov, Blachowicz or Gorski. I truly believe that the answers will be positive, after all KSW shows are not only about what happens in the ring, but they are also amazing spectacles. Foreign guests, fighters, coaches who participate in the events, rate KSW shows among the best. I’m sure it won’t be different this time, especially judging from the names announced for the March’s show. Both Lukasz Jurkowski and Maciej Gorski will fight in their home city, Mamed Khalidov is a renowned KSW star and attracts thousands of fans, Krzysiek Kulak is an exceptional figure and he also can count on his supporters, Jan Blachowicz, now Warsaw’s resident, guarantees a world class level of fighting. In general I agree that this will be the best MMA show in the history of Polish MMA – KSW announcer and Polsat TV vice-president Pawel Wojcik says.

- KSW 15 promises to be an extremely interesting show. Interesting only for true MMA fans, though. Supporters who expected another confrontation of athletes not particularly connected with combat sports, this time won’t be able to fulfill their desire of watching two gladiators, known more as celebrities than as warriors. The biggest MMA stars will battle in the magical square using punches, kicks and joint locks for victory, as well as viewers attention. The best KSW fighters will be there not only to showcase their formidable skills, but also to prove that without Mariusz Pudzianowski, Marcin Najman or Przemyslaw Saleta they can also draw casual sports fans.
Mamed Khalidov has been announced as the show headliner, what guarantees top-notch quality and an exciting scrap also for fans who are not avid MMA supporters. Besides the Chechen we will see a highly-touted prospect Jan Blachowicz alongside the always entertaining Maciej Gorski. The female audience will await Krzysztof Kulak’s appearance. Besides being a crafty fighter and winning KSW middleweight title, Kulak has been engaged in a conflict with Marcin Najman. He even announced he’d a have sparing session with him to prove that he has no boxing skills. Despite loud taunts the encounter didn’t happen, both men ended their war of words without exchanging punches.
What’s interesting Lukasz Jurkowski won’t serve as a color commentator of KSW 15, he’ll swap a mike for gloves and he’ll enter the ring. The last KSW show revealed a conflict between him and Najman. Juras announced that he’ll never do the commentary of Najman’s fights. Maybe the KSW promoters will surprise us by putting the boxer from Czestochowa in the commentary booth during Juras’ bout at KSW 15? For now the thing is certain – the legendary Andrzej Janisz will be a play-by-play commentator. Polish MMA supporters can’t imagine a live broadcast without him. On March 19th 2011 in Torwar the fans will see many ring wars waged by the elite mixed martial artists. – Boxingnews.pl editor-in-chief Lukasz Glowacki says.

- Personally, I really enjoy the idea of the event with rematches and no celebrities. However, KSW show without mainstream stars will be a brand new experience for many fans created during the “Pudzian era”. For those who followed KSW for years Khalidov, Blachowicz, Kulak and Jurkowski fights don’t need any recommendations, especially when we’ll see rematches of the best KSW bouts. For the promoters it’s a great challenge to sell i.e. Kulak vs Materla or Jurkowski vs Dalgliesh rematches to the audience who have never seen the original fights. However, I have no doubts that Torwar will be sold out and a few million people will tune in to watch KSW 15. It will be a test for Polish MMA and I have a feeling that the results will surprise even the biggest optimists – writer for Sports.pl Pawel Kowalik claims.

- The fifteenth Martial Arts Confrontation will undoubtedly be a greatest test for KSW Federation and Polish MMA in general. We’ll see whether the accelerated by Pudzianowski, Najman, Saleta and Esch train still rides with such an unbelievable pace. We’ll see whether KSW 15 without celebrities is able to gather millions of viewers, who at the last shows were watching Pudzian. Even if it turns out that the upcoming show is not as successful as the previous ones, Martin Lewandowski and Maciej Kawulski won’t need to answer unfavorable comments from their competition and MMA community. Mamed Khalidov, Jan Blachowicz, Lukasz Jurkowski, Maciej Gorski and Niko Puhaka guarantee the highest possible sporting quality of KSW 15. – writer for Wirtualna Polska Artur Mazur says.