It is officially happening. Borys Mańkowski is trending on the metaphorical Twitter of real MMA Life.
A couple weeks ago, we speculated the Polish Welterweight might be the next big 170-pound European thing, a suitable target for the all-seeing international eye of the UFC. And today, at KSW 29 in Krakow, Borys submitted David Zawada with an arm triangle in just one minute and twenty seconds. According to Sherdog play-by-play, things went like this:
The Krakow crowd is animated immediately, chanting for the Polish champion. Zawada jabs and leg kicks on a crouching, creeping Mankowski, until the Mankowski changes levels and thumps him to the canvas with a power double. Mankowski bulls his way through Zawada’s guard and into full mount. He bases down hard, going chest to chest with his German challenger and forcing his way to head-and-arm control. Zawada already has blood rushing to his face and is struggling for breath before Mankowski passes to side control. When he does, it’s elementary: Zawada is trapped and forced to tap, giving Mankowski a successful title defense.
Poland beats Germany, the balance of the universe is restored, and a “crouching, creeping” Mańkowski confirms that he’s the guy to watch when the UFC contemplates expanding its reach into Europe later this year.
Thanks again to Dominik Jamrozy for enlightening me about Borys.
Image courtesy of Sherdog.
