Seth Baczynski (22-14 MMA) is back at it on September 28, and he’ll be competing for a world title. “The Polish Pistola” will take on Canada’s own Teddy Ash (11-3) at Unified MMA 34 for the vacant middleweight championship.
Baczynski enters the bout having won three of four since being released from the UFC in 2015. He’s seeking his fourth win in a row and the Unified MMA middleweight belt.
Opposing the 11-time UFC veteran will be Ash, a surging prospect and the Unified MMA light heavyweight champion. Ash is on a five-fight winning streak and is hoping to punch his own ticket to the UFC with a win over Baczynski.
Ash vs. Baczynski
“He’s a younger guy coming up trying to make a name off me,” Baczynski told MMASucka. “I’ve got to do everything within my power to stop that. He’s a very admirable opponent and one of the younger dudes coming up in the game. He’s ready to fight and so am I.”
Baczynski is excited to bring his skill-set to Canada, where Ash will be the home crowd’s favorite. A long-time welterweight, Baczynski will be competing at middleweight for his third straight fight. Ash, who’s competed at both middleweight and light heavyweight, will likely be the bigger man come fight night.
“It’s a tough match-up,” Baczynski said. “He’s obviously a bigger 185’er. He has really big hips, powerful kicks and punches hard.”
Baczynski’s Training Partners
He praised his training partners for helping him in his fight camp against Ash. Like Ash, the UFC’s Jordan Johnson is someone who fights at 205 who is moving down to 185. Baczynski said he’s also been training with UFC middleweight C.B. Dollaway and Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader for close to a decade.
“Having all those guys that are that good, I can’t even remember the last time I won a round in practice,” Baczynski laughed. “I feel like having guys that caliber to compete against every day and feeling that every day, I’ll be as prepared as I could be for Teddy Ash.”
Baczynski said a win over Ash would be the biggest of his run since being released by the UFC. His resume contains wins over Matt Brown, Alex Garcia and Neil Magny while he’s fought Alan Jouban, Leon Edwards, Thiago Alves and Brad Tavares.
Baczynski’s Future Plans
A win over Ash would be big for his career, which he doesn’t intend on winding down anytime soon. Although Baczynski is 36, he finally feels healthy after a string of injuries limited him to four fights since April 2015. He hopes a victory could earn him a shot in a larger promotion, and he’s open to whichever one that might be. He said the UFC, Bellator, ONE FC, RIZIN and the Professional Fighters League are all options.
“I want to stay active,” he said. “That’s the one thing that would deter me from signing with a bigger promotion. Look, I’m no spring chicken. I want to get as many fights as I can in at a higher level and I don’t want to fight once every nine months. I want to fight 3-6 times a year.”
He said he’d love a crack at an organization like RIZIN or the PFL where he could compete multiple times in one night.
The veteran isn’t overlooking his next challenge in Ash, however.
“He’s a very entertaining fighter, I’m a very entertaining fighter,” Baczynski said. “We’re going to put on a good show for everybody. I’m hoping I can find a way to get the finish and get another win on my record.”
Baczynski vs. Ash can be seen on PPV at UnifiedMMA.ca. Unified MMA 34 takes place at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta on September 28.
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