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"Najman doesn’t stand any chance to beat Saleta" – interview with Lukasz Jurkowski
We present with the interview with the first KSW tournament champion and one of the Polish MMA pioneers Lukasz Jurkowski. The popular Juras talks about his upcoming fights, being a color commentator and predicts the outcomes of the KSW14 fights.
Hi Lukasz. We haven’t talked for quite some time, so how are you?
- Thanks, I’m fine. Lot of work, I can’t complain about being bored. I started my preparation for the next bout on November 6th.
Where will it be?
- I will fight at Moosin show in Chicago. I’m just waiting for the contract and I’ll start hard trainings.
So have your preparations been in the preliminary phase so far?
- After KSW 14 I will start serious training camp, at the moment dedicate too much of my time to prepare some fighters for the upcoming show. Additionally I work for TV and as a result I don’t have time for myself.
Do you know when you will be back at KSW shows?
- After preliminary talks with Maciek and Martin we’ve decided that I will fight at the fifteenth Martial Arts Confrontation.
Let’s talk about KSW 14 event, it is only days away. What do you think about this card?
- I’m really glad I’m able to witness how KSW has grown from their beginnings. Another spectacular event, another huge arena, millions of people in front of TVs and live broadcast on free-to-air Polsat. Is there anything better than that can be done for Polish MMA?
Many extraordinary showdowns awaits us in Atlas Arena on September 18th. I want to ask you about your predictions. Let’s begin with Krzysztof Kulak versus Daniel Dowda. What can you say about this bout.
- It’s definitely a great fight for Polish MMA fans. It’s guaranteed fireworks as both of them have very exciting styles. Who will win? The better fighter (laughing). But seriously, although I’m friends with both Krzysiek and Daniel I see Kulak winning this one. He’s more experienced and well-rounded than Dowda. They both have a ton of heart and I’d like to see this fight go to the judges scorecards. I think this will be one of the most thrilling fights in Polish MMA.
The KSW light heavyweight tournament final with the best Polish 205-pounder Jan Blachowicz and Spaniard Daniel Tabera is another interesting fight. Who will claim the tournament title?
- Janek will win via 2nd- round TKO. This is my prediction. Janek is a tremendous fighter in every aspect of the MMA game. His mentally tough and extremely determined. Add that to his very tough training camp and you have deadly mixture which is set to blow up on September 18th.
Przemyslaw Saleta vs. Marcin Najman bout attracts enormous media attention. I know that you prepare Przemek for this fight, that’s why I ask you for the objective analysis.
- It’s hard to be objective in this case. Przemek is a great friend of mine. Training with him is pure pleasure, because he learns everything in a blink of an eye. He’s an experienced fighter with championship titles and physically he’s 100% ready for this fight. I don’t think Najman stands any chance to beat him. Only amazing luck will give him the victory.
The KSW 14 main event will feature Mariusz Pudzianowski against heavyweight boxer Erick Butterbean Esch. What’s your prediction for this one?
- Mariusz’s MMA career is finally on the right track. It’s actually good that he took that lesson from Sylvia in the States. He now understands that MMA is not a game, but a very hard work. He’s determined, trains hard so everything should be fine. Let’s be realistic, if Mariusz takes him down it won’t last long, as long as he follows the game plan.
I personally believe that Pudzian has to instantly take him down, because messing with Butterbean’s stand-up may result in a brutal KO loss for Mariusz. Do you agree with me?
- It’s not a secret that Pudzian wants to fight him on the ground. His wrestling and ground control are his biggest assets in MMA. However, if goes mad and decide to put on the show and trade with Butterbean, he’ll get knocked out. Hands high, double leg takedown, ground and pound till the ref stops it, that’s how Mariusz Pudzianowski will this fight.
The lightweight tournament is another attraction besides the extra fights. We know six out eight participants, what can you tell us about them?
- It’s probably the best lightweight tournament in Europe. Great names, top Polish lightweights with exception of Maciej Jewtuszko. The 70 kilograms weight division is one of the most spectacular and with such a line-up it’s a guaranteed barnburner.
Who do you favor?
- Maciek Gorski obviously. I also think Michal Meta Mankiewicz might be a dark horse of the tournament.
So how do you rate the sporting level of this show?
- We will know it after the event ends. Personally, I’m really looking forward to doing the color commentary in Lodz.
Thanks for your time Lukasz, see you at KSW 14 and all the best in your future fights.
- Thanks and greeting to all MMA fans in Poland.
Interview by Artur Przybysz
Hi Lukasz. We haven’t talked for quite some time, so how are you?
- Thanks, I’m fine. Lot of work, I can’t complain about being bored. I started my preparation for the next bout on November 6th.
Where will it be?
- I will fight at Moosin show in Chicago. I’m just waiting for the contract and I’ll start hard trainings.
So have your preparations been in the preliminary phase so far?
- After KSW 14 I will start serious training camp, at the moment dedicate too much of my time to prepare some fighters for the upcoming show. Additionally I work for TV and as a result I don’t have time for myself.
Do you know when you will be back at KSW shows?
- After preliminary talks with Maciek and Martin we’ve decided that I will fight at the fifteenth Martial Arts Confrontation.
Let’s talk about KSW 14 event, it is only days away. What do you think about this card?
- I’m really glad I’m able to witness how KSW has grown from their beginnings. Another spectacular event, another huge arena, millions of people in front of TVs and live broadcast on free-to-air Polsat. Is there anything better than that can be done for Polish MMA?
Many extraordinary showdowns awaits us in Atlas Arena on September 18th. I want to ask you about your predictions. Let’s begin with Krzysztof Kulak versus Daniel Dowda. What can you say about this bout.
- It’s definitely a great fight for Polish MMA fans. It’s guaranteed fireworks as both of them have very exciting styles. Who will win? The better fighter (laughing). But seriously, although I’m friends with both Krzysiek and Daniel I see Kulak winning this one. He’s more experienced and well-rounded than Dowda. They both have a ton of heart and I’d like to see this fight go to the judges scorecards. I think this will be one of the most thrilling fights in Polish MMA.
The KSW light heavyweight tournament final with the best Polish 205-pounder Jan Blachowicz and Spaniard Daniel Tabera is another interesting fight. Who will claim the tournament title?
- Janek will win via 2nd- round TKO. This is my prediction. Janek is a tremendous fighter in every aspect of the MMA game. His mentally tough and extremely determined. Add that to his very tough training camp and you have deadly mixture which is set to blow up on September 18th.
Przemyslaw Saleta vs. Marcin Najman bout attracts enormous media attention. I know that you prepare Przemek for this fight, that’s why I ask you for the objective analysis.
- It’s hard to be objective in this case. Przemek is a great friend of mine. Training with him is pure pleasure, because he learns everything in a blink of an eye. He’s an experienced fighter with championship titles and physically he’s 100% ready for this fight. I don’t think Najman stands any chance to beat him. Only amazing luck will give him the victory.
The KSW 14 main event will feature Mariusz Pudzianowski against heavyweight boxer Erick Butterbean Esch. What’s your prediction for this one?
- Mariusz’s MMA career is finally on the right track. It’s actually good that he took that lesson from Sylvia in the States. He now understands that MMA is not a game, but a very hard work. He’s determined, trains hard so everything should be fine. Let’s be realistic, if Mariusz takes him down it won’t last long, as long as he follows the game plan.
I personally believe that Pudzian has to instantly take him down, because messing with Butterbean’s stand-up may result in a brutal KO loss for Mariusz. Do you agree with me?
- It’s not a secret that Pudzian wants to fight him on the ground. His wrestling and ground control are his biggest assets in MMA. However, if goes mad and decide to put on the show and trade with Butterbean, he’ll get knocked out. Hands high, double leg takedown, ground and pound till the ref stops it, that’s how Mariusz Pudzianowski will this fight.
The lightweight tournament is another attraction besides the extra fights. We know six out eight participants, what can you tell us about them?
- It’s probably the best lightweight tournament in Europe. Great names, top Polish lightweights with exception of Maciej Jewtuszko. The 70 kilograms weight division is one of the most spectacular and with such a line-up it’s a guaranteed barnburner.
Who do you favor?
- Maciek Gorski obviously. I also think Michal Meta Mankiewicz might be a dark horse of the tournament.
So how do you rate the sporting level of this show?
- We will know it after the event ends. Personally, I’m really looking forward to doing the color commentary in Lodz.
Thanks for your time Lukasz, see you at KSW 14 and all the best in your future fights.
- Thanks and greeting to all MMA fans in Poland.
Interview by Artur Przybysz
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