‘End In Second Round’ – Undefeated Magdalena Czaban Predicts Stoppage Of Victoria Souza At ONE Fight Night 49
Every division eventually meets someone who changes its conversation. Over at women’s atomweight MMA, that fighter may hail from Krakow, and her name is Magdalena “The Powerpuff Girl” Czaban.
The 27-year-old’s pristine 5-0 record faces its next test on Friday, November 6, when the Polish standout meets Brazilian firecracker Vick Souza at ONE Fight Night 49: Gabriel vs. Magomedov on Prime Video. The high-stakes card airs live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Nobody has found a way to beat Czaban, and her resume explains why. After a decorated amateur career, she finished all four of her opponents on the regional circuit.
That elite pedigree punched her to the global stage, though her debut offered no soft landing. Waiting at ONE Fight Night 46 this past August was Natalie Salcedo, a 34-year-old American who pairs Muay Thai pressure with sharp jiu-jitsu.
With the poise of a seasoned campaigner, Czaban busted Salcedo’s nose early, turned to takedowns in the second round, and sealed a unanimous decision with knees and ground-and-pound. More than a victory, the debut left her with something no scorecard could capture.
Czaban told onefc.com:
“My confidence rose a bit, because I saw that I’m better than I thought, you know? I saw that I can do it. Like I can fight with the best in the world.
“I wasn’t even stressed. I was really excited about the fight. And I really enjoyed fighting in a ring. I think my head felt more calm in the ring.”
Her sophomore assignment is no easier. Souza owns four victories in the promotion, including the biggest of her career this past July, a unanimous decision over former ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Title challenger Ayaka “Zombie” Miura at ONE Fight Night 45.
Back at ONE 167, “Vick” also needed just 91 seconds to guillotine divisional mainstay Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata. None of that is lost on Czaban, who holds no illusions about the size of the task.
She said:
“I think [she has] seven fights in ONE already. She’s really experienced, and I think that’s a really big plus for her.
“She can lead the fight in the way that judges will score for her. So I know I have to do the same to win the fight. But we will see who will do it better.”
Beating Souza at her own game is one path to victory. Winning on the cards, however, is not how Czaban prefers to do business. Her triumph over Salcedo was her first professional bout to reach a decision, yet she felt she had more to give.
This time, she plans to make a louder statement, with a US$50,000 performance bonus as the reward.
The CTRL Fight product said:
“I hope we will have a good [fight] in the ring. I hope we will have a good time and we will show people that we are one of the best in the world.
“I will say it will end in the second round, but I will not say how!”
Czaban’s Unbeaten Record Tells Only Half The Story
Magdalena Czaban’s 5-0 start owes much to how complete she already is. She can pick opponents apart on the feet or wear them down on the mat, shifting between the two without missing a beat.
While that versatility marks her as a potential contender, her greatest edge may have nothing to do with technique.
Where an unblemished slate tends to breed caution, the Polish savant competes with a freedom rarely seen at this level.
She said:
“[Staying undefeated] is not really important for me. It will be nice to have a clear record, for sure, and I will try to do it. But if something will happen, like that’s life.
“The most important thing is to show good MMA for people and for the organization. That’s the main goal for me.”
Czaban knows every rival in the division is chasing the same 26 pounds of gold. What sets her drive apart is that claiming it would carve her a place in her country’s sporting history. Still, she is content to earn every rung, one fight at a time.
Reaching the world’s largest martial arts organization already fulfilled one dream. When Czaban meets Souza on November 6, she intends to prove it will not be the last.
She said:
“I know if I win the fights, it will lead me to the title shots. It doesn’t have to be next year, but I just want to show everyone that I’m still developing and my skill is rising.
“We don’t have a ONE Champion in Poland. If one day it will happen, that would be crazy. I think I will be just happy because the young version of me never imagined herself in that place.”
