At KSW 65, Roberto Soldic added to his legacy as one of the great MMA crushing machines, by dealing out multiple fractures to the face of opponent Mamed Khalidov.
KSW 65 was headlined by one of the biggest fights in European MMA history. Reigning middleweight king Khalidov (35-8) put his title on the line against Soldic (20-3) in a battle of division champions. “Robocop,” the current welterweight titlist, has become the face of KSW by creating a path of utter destruction in winning his last seven fights, all by knockout.
In his next great test, the 26-year-old took the risk of moving up in weight and facing Khalidov, a stalwart star of European MMA and a dangerous and well-rounded fighter who has scored 31 finished in his 35 career victories. And although Soldic was a notable favorite heading into the fight, UFC 259 proved that becoming a champ-champ is no easy task. After middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya came up short against Jan Blachowicz in his bid to add the light heavyweight title to his trophy case.
Roberto Soldic broke Mamed Khalidov’s face at KSW 65
In the end, Soldic showed his decision was a prudent choice, as arguably the best fighter outside the UFC crushed Khalidov with a second-round KO. It was a highlight-reel finish where the 41-year-old was out cold for some time following the left hook that ended the bout.
The loss was the first time in 17 years that Khalidov was stopped via strikes in a cage fight. However, losing his title, and consciousness temporarily, wasn’t the only thing he suffered on Saturday. Polish MMA outlet InTheCagePL broke the news on Wednesday that Khalidov underwent surgery this week to repair multiple fractures in his face.
MMAFighting confirmed the news with KSW officials, who also commented on the “successful” surgery that required a metal plate being inserted into the face of the former 185-pound champion.
“The reports are true regarding the injury Mamed Khalidov suffered at KSW 65,” KSW sports director Wojslaw Rysiewski said in a statement. “He suffered a broken orbital and multiple fractures and, as a result, needed a metal plate inserted. Under the care of some of the best medical professionals in Poland, the surgery was a success and full recovery is expected. Mamed’s spirits are high, however, no timeframe was given for recovery and he will be monitored closely over the coming months.”
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