Irvin (200.6) is scheduled to meet Khalidov (191.8) in the main event of KSW 15, going down March 19 at Torwar Hall in Warsaw, Poland. According to MMArocks.pl, the promotion expected that Irvin would come in overweight, which may explain why Khalidov also failed to make the middleweight limit. An update on the site's weigh-in page stated that Irvin spent four hours in the sauna and still could not make weight. As of now, the fight is listed as a catchweight affair.
By contrast, both co-main event fighters hit their marks, coming in under the 205-pound limit for their light heavyweight title tilt. Pride Fighting Championships veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou tipped the scales at 204.4 pounds, while hometown favorite Jan Blachowicz came in at 205.1.
All but one of the remaining competitors were on-point, including both men competing for the lightweight tournament title. Maciej Gorski came in at 153.9 pounds, while Niko Puhakka registered the lightweight limit of 154.3 pounds. Gregory Babene came in just barely over the middleweight limit for his bout with Michal Materla (185.2), tipping the scales at 185.7 pounds. According to the MMArocks.pl, he will be required to make the 185.2-pound limit for the contest to become official.
Khalidov was originally supposed to defend his middleweight strap against veteran Greco-Roman specialist Matt Lindland, but “The Law” was reportedly forced to withdraw from the contest with a hand injury. Former UFC talent Thales Leites was then tapped as a replacement opponent, but the Brazilian was also bitten by the injury bug and had to pull out.
Irvin was then called on as a third challenger. The American was supposed to co-headline last week's Shark Fights 14 card with fellow UFC exile Houston Alexander, but the bout was reportedly scrapped due to Irvin's alleged positive banned-substances test in California and a late injury to Houston.
Mamed
Khalidov (191.8) vs. James Irvin
(200.6)
Jan
Blachowicz (205.1) vs. Rameau
Thierry Sokoudjou (204.4)
Maciej
Gorski (153.9) vs. Niko Puhakka
(154.3)
Lukasz
Jurkowski (205.5) vs. Toni
Valtonen (209.4)
Karol
Bedorf (228.8) vs. Rogent
Lloret (230.4)
Antoni
Chmielewski (185.2) vs. James Zikic
(185.2)
Michal
Materla (185.2) vs. Gregory
Babene (185.7)
Marcin
Rozalski (227.1) vs. Marcin
Bartkiewicz (241.4)
Aslambek
Saidov (169.8) vs. Ruben
Crawford (169.3)
Editor's note: This item was updated at 12:38 a.m. ET after Sherdog.com incorrectly reported that the Khalidov-Irvin bout was for a title, when in fact the bout is a non-title affair.
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