Salahdine Parnasse, the two-division champion of Poland-based MMA promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW), demonstrated an impressive title defense in his featherweight bout at KSW 85. The event took place on August 19 in Nowy Sącz, Poland, and featured Parnasse defending his featherweight championship against interim champion Robert Ruchala in the headlining matchup.
Despite competing in his hometown, Robert Ruchala entered the cage as the underdog, which was understandable given Parnasse’s established skill set. The 25-year-old French fighter boasted an impressive record with 17 wins and just 1 loss. He had recently secured the vacant lightweight title, cementing his status as one of the promotion’s top stars.
On the other hand, Robert Ruchala, also 25, had less experience but was showing promise in his young career. The Polish fighter had entered the cage undefeated, amassing 9 victories since making his professional debut in 2019.
The match between Parnasse and Ruchala was intensely competitive from the outset. Both fighters displayed their determination as they engaged in a fierce exchange of strikes right from the start.
In a shocking moment during the fight, Robert Ruchala managed to knock Salahdine Parnasse down with a precise combination featuring a spinning elbow strike. However, Parnasse quickly recovered and effectively defended against Ruchala’s subsequent attacks throughout the first round.
As the fight progressed into the later rounds, Salahdine Parnasse began to assert his dominance. He outperformed Ruchala in both striking and grappling exchanges. In the third round, Parnasse came close to securing a victory with a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes.
The highlight of the match occurred near the end of the fourth round. Parnasse, while in a top position, unleashed a soccer kick targeting Ruchala’s liver area. The impact of the kick left Ruchala incapacitated, and he could be seen screaming in pain. Parnasse followed up with a series of punches to Ruchala’s head, but fortunately, the referee intervened in time to stop the match.
With this victory, Salahdine Parnasse successfully defended his featherweight title and extended his winning streak to five consecutive victories. His remarkable performance, particularly the well-executed liver kick, left a lasting impression on fans and solidified his status as a dominant force in the featherweight division.
— calfkicker (@calfkickercom) September 8, 2023