It's fight season once again for Team Curran members as their top Lightweight, Bart Palaszewski (aka. Bartimus), shows one more time the well-rounded skills needed to be called a champion. Bart has been on a roll by not just winning fights, but putting closure to each one in a very impressive manner. At the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, the Freestyle Combat Challenge put on another great show with an energetic night of fights called the Madtown Throwdown.

The Card featured a number of tough fighters throughout the Wisconsin area. In the main event, Bart Palaszewski took on Ryan Ackerman, a local favorite, in what most thought would be a war. "I know this fight will end fast" says Palaszewski's trainer Jeff Curran, who won the Ironheart Crown Title against Ackerman in October, 2002. Curran continues, "I fought Ackerman and I train with Bart every day. I know for a fact that this fight will not be a war, rather a dominance by Bart."

Ackerman, an active shooto competitor and an MMA stand out at 145lbs, came out to for a fight, but Palaszewski's power and boxing skills were too dominant in comparison. Ackerman scored a takedown late in the first round but Bartimus was able to stand right back up. "Our plan was to win by KO, not submission. I know I can submit Ackerman, but we [my team/coaches] want a KO" says current XFO Champion Bart Palaszewski in a post fight interview. The bout ended 4:30 into the first round after Bart landed a devastating right hand that knocked Ackerman to the canvas. The referee jumped in to stop any further damage to Ackerman. Next for Bartimus is his first title defense against top lightweight contender and Kentucky Fighting Challenge Champion Joe Jordan from team MFS at the XFO 5 event in McHenry, IL.

For more info on XFO visit www.x-fighting.tv