KSW is set for another amazing summer showdown with KSW 96. The event will take place on July 20, 2024, in Lodz, Poland. Though champion Pawel Pawlak and challenger Damian Janikowski will meet in the night’s main event. This card may be the most important to the returning, improved Bartlomiej Kopera. A veteran of four KSW bouts, Kopera fought his way to earning his second shot at the big league. The event can be seen worldwide on KSWTV.
Finding MMA and Early Career
” I think my first contact with MMA was thanks to my older brother. He was one of the first in Lodz to start fighting as an amateur. Back then it was called Shooto League and I also followed in his footsteps and tried this formula,” Kopera told MYMMANEWS.
Kopera made his official debut in February 2013 earning a submission victory in just 34 seconds. He would continue this string of dominance throughout his amateur career. He only needed to last 13 months to acquire the experience necessary to turn pro. Eight of his 14 amateur wins would come by way of a first-round submission. Kopera does have three unofficial bouts listed from 2010 to 2012 with limited information available. His professional debut would come on September 2012 at Fighters Arena 3.
Professional Career and KSW
After a stellar amateur career, Kopera stepped in the cage with a six-fight pro veteran in Kamil Lebkowski. Though Kopera lost a split decision, he turned it around winning his next six bouts in a row, four by submission finish. On the doorstep of KSW, Kopera would earn two of those victories in the Fight Exclusive Night organization, a regional “feeder” for the massive Polish KSW company. A 47 second armbar win at Fight Exclusive Night 13 in August 2016 was enough to earn him a contract in KSW.
KSW 42: Narkun vs. Khalidov would see Kopera grace the KSW cage for the first time. Though Kopera would go on to lose his four KSW appearances, all were by decision with one a majority and one a split. The time away from KSW has seen Kopera rebound going 4-0. “The streak of recent victories is definitely the result of many factors. The main one was definitely the change in the training system,” stated Kopera. “During training, I pay more attention to the whole and less divided into a given area. My brother, who leads my preparations, changed his training approach thanks to his trips to the United States, which is now paying off.”
Kopera is ready to show not only KSW but the fighting world that he has made the corner in his professional career. He has made the changes needed to be a forced to be reckoned with. “I think the fans will receive a fight at a really high level of sport and none of us will give up until the last second. I will be eager to win!” stated Kopera.
