Former KSW MMA Middleweight Champion Michal Materla has been arrested by Poland’s Central Investigative Bureau for alleged participation in organized crime.
According to reports by Serwis Glosu Szczecinskiego out of Poland, a total of 10 police officers stormed Materla’s house, then arrested the fighter in front of his wife and children. Materla wasn't the only person arrested for ties to organized crime in Poland, as he was just 1 of 21 people arrested in this sting by Polish law enforcement.
Materla will be held for a minimum of three months in a Polish prison at the request of the District Prosecutors Office Of Poznan. He will be held as more information and evidence is gathered for the case.
The KSW MMA promotion, when contacted by Bloody Elbow, issued the following statement on their former middleweight champions arrest:
In connection with the latest press reports regarding the detention of Michal Materla by the Central Investigative Bureau, we would like to inform you that KSW will advise you of its position on this matter as soon as the police authorities publicly release information on the reasons for the detention and, should the case come to Court, on any eventual judgement.
We value and respect Michal Materla as a sportsman
We are also aware that for many fighters sport is a new and better path to follow in life after personal difficulties in the past. As a matter of principle, we do not write any one off who made up for their past mistakes and made legal amends.
At the same time, there is no place for breaking the law in KSW and in this respect KSW will not treat any such cases with leniency, either now or in the future.
In this instance, it is for the Courts to decide whether the law has been broken.
Materla is currently on a two fight winning streak in the professional MMA ranks, including a win over former World Series Of Fighting Welterweight Champion Rousimar Palhares.
