One of Deontay Wilder’s former foes Artur Szpilka is turning a new leaf in the MMA world.
A former heavyweight contender with a boxing record of 24-5, Poland’s Artur Szpilka bounced back from his first loss in MMA last year – a 14-second TKO result.
Szpilka returned at KSW 105 on Saturday, fighting on home soil and on the same card as super-heavyweight behemoths Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski, the five-time World’s Strongest Man, who he has a stoppage win over.
Pudzianowski his most famous opponent in MMA, it’s also worth noting Szpilka went nine rounds with then WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder before ‘The Bronze Bomber’ put his lights out in a 2016 bout.
With all of his boxing experience, Szpilka’s latest win in the cage couldn’t have been more surprising.
- READ MORE: Thor Bjornsson ignores Eddie Hall’s epic MMA debut win as he talks up ‘Fight of the Year’
Artur Szpilka survived early knockdown against former kickboxer
A MMA fighter for nearly three years now, Szpilka improved to 4-1 as a pro when pitted against former kickboxing star Errol Zimmerman in a heavyweight bout.
His fifth fight wouldn’t last long.
Weighing in at 252lbs, Szpilka was quickly knocked down by his opponent in the first minute of the fight, fighting to survive on the ground.
After a great start to the round, Zimmerman was unfortunately unable to put out the Pole with Szpilka rising back up to his feet.
Artur Szpilka scored first submission win at KSW 105
Szpilka would then score a takedown, the beginning of the end for Zimmerman.
In less than two minutes into the opening round, Szpilka attempted to lock in an arm triangle choke from top position.
Within seconds of the squeeze, Zimmerman was forced to tap out to the submission.
After 29 boxing matches and 4 MMA fights, the green Artur Szpilka had picked up his first submission win, an emotional moment for the 36-year-old in his home country of Poland.
Szpilka called out former foe Arkadiusz Wrzosek following the fight, who had knocked him out in 14 seconds at KSW 94 last May.
English