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The main event of KSW 120 is now behind us. Rafał Haratyk competed for the light heavyweight championship belt against Bartosz Leśko.
The popular “Polish Tank” remains undefeated in the octagon. Haratyk has won the vast majority of his KSW bouts by knockout, and the only ones he failed to finish early were Piwowarczyk and today’s opponent.
Last October, Bartosz Leśko faced off against a fighter from DAAS Berserker’s Team Bielsko-Biała, and it was one of the best fights of the past year. Although the final result was a “unanimous decision,” the fighter from Gdynia put on a strong performance. A confident victory over Bartosz Szewczyk solidified his position, and KSW gave him the chance to get a rematch against the champion.
ROUND 1. – Leśko immediately started with front kicks. Haratyk didn’t wait; he closed the distance and engaged in a slugfest. The KSW champion looked for a left cross, but had to constantly watch out for the challenger’s punches and kicks. Noteworthy was Bartek’s stance; he kept his hands high and fought in a more traditional style than usual. Haratyk landed a dangerous front kick but was immediately met with a quick left. Leśko targeted the champion’s leg, while the champion countered effectively. “The Polish Tank” seemed to know exactly when his opponent would attack, blocking precisely where needed. The fighters set a fast pace from the very first seconds, causing them to slow down halfway through the round. The challenger aggressively lunged at Rafał, who skillfully dodged his attacks. The statistics, however, were painful—the champion took quite a beating from Leśko, though both fighters picked up the pace again toward the end.
ROUND 2. — Leśko started with a hook kick to the leg. Haratyk attacked mainly with his fists, closing in on his opponent—but Leśko mercilessly kicked at his leg. “The Polish Tank” asserted his dominance by landing powerful strikes. Leśko, however, kicked with precision, and his front kicks connected with the champion’s chest. Leśko’s kicks slowed the champion down, preventing him from finding his rhythm. Finally, he took advantage of Bartek’s moment of respite and landed a few punches on him. Leśko, seemingly shaken, took several more hooks to the ribs. “The Polish Tank” caught his opponent in a clinch against the cage. There, both traded blows—kicks, knees, and shoulder strikes. The end of the round belonged to the challenger, who landed one more dangerous spinning kick.
ROUND 3. — Leśko attacked with inside kicks to both of the champion’s legs, and the champion’s reaction showed that the kicks were having the desired effect. Haratyk was by no means outdone and kept threatening with hooks. Bartosz came out with one goal in mind and didn’t even shy away from the clinch initiated by his opponent. Haratyk looked for combinations with his fists, but a moment later he was hit with a dangerous counter. The KSW champion’s head wobbled, but he remained alert—and countered the pressing challenger. “The Polish Tank” pressed forward with straight punches to the body and followed up with kicks.
ROUND 4. — Haratyk immediately closed in on his opponent in the center of the cage, which cost him a kick to the groin. The champion didn’t even need the full five minutes and was looking to pick a fight in the center of the cage. Leśko attacked in karate style—with kicks and punches. Haratyk, however, countered with a classic move, knocking him to the mat! Haratyk looked for an opportunity to finish off the challenger with a choke, but Leśko slowly, gradually, got back to his feet. Haratyk went for a high kick, but Leśko dodged it just in time. The challenger looked to land an elbow from above, a move that had connected earlier in the fight. The champion unleashed a short flurry after missing, but his opponent always tried to counter the “Polish Tank’s” attacks.
ROUND 5. — Haratyk “locked onto” his opponent, pushing him against the fence, but it was Leśko who threatened him with an offensive. Haratyk was supposed to pick up the pace, and that’s what he tried to do—but Leśko kept pressing, fueled by the Gdynia crowd. “The Polish Tank” launched some fairly light attacks, kicking and punching, but the challenger immediately threatened him with a powerful punch! Rafał responded as best he could—despite an unknown injury to his left hand, he locked in a clinch, avoided a guillotine choke, and took Leśko down. There, he landed punches to both the torso and the head. He capitalized on Bartek’s attempt to escape by getting behind him… but the tired champion let Leśko get back on his feet. The challenger had the champion pinned against the cage, and Haratyk was reeling from the Mighty Bulls fighter’s successive strikes. An exhausted Haratyk looked for openings, but it was Leśko who sealed the final moments in his favor.
RESULT: Bartosz Leśko won by unanimous decision.
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