KSW: The art of the spectacle

On Monday, September 27, riot police stormed a press event in Warsaw and arrested Popek, one of the fighters involved in the KSW 37 co-main event. Dressed in black uniforms and equipped with masks, headgear and weaponry, the law enforcement officials blindsided the infamous Polish rapper during a media interview and pounced before he had a moment to react. Popek was shoved to the floor, handcuffed and was forcibly dragged out of the building in front of hundreds of fans and curious onlookers.

Apart from the screams and shouts from Popek’s entourage, the Warsaw hall had been stunned silent. It would be hours before it became clear that the entire arrest had been orchestrated by KSW,…