Materla has been passionate about sports from a young age, starting with swimming for seven years and becoming the Polish Junior Champion. At the age of 14, he transitioned into triathlon training, where he enjoyed challenging workouts and excelled in swimming as a part of their cardio routine.[4] Materla have fond memories of competing in regional triathlon competitions, even once finishing in fourth place despite losing his bike saddle during the race. Eventually, he moved on to combat sports, attending a camp in Brazil to learn mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Materla have found success in mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and submission wrestling.[5][6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Materla began his career in mixed martial arts in 2003, in his debut match at the MMA Polska 2 Materla defeated Tomasz Janiszewski by guillotine. After defeating Andrzej Kulik via kimura, Materla went and amassed with 6–2 score in Europe promotions before joining Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW).[6]
Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
Materla made his KSW debut against Evert Fyeet at KSW VI: Konfrontacja as part of KSW VI tournament at middleweight. He won the fight via rear-naked choke. On the same night Materla submit Valdas Pocevicius in semi-finals and Krzysztof Kułak in finals in round one to win the tournament.[7]
Materla next faced Jan Antoska at KSW VII: Konfrontacja on June 2, 2007, in Quarterfinals of VII tournament at middleweight. Materla won the bout via guillotine choke. Later at same event in semi-final of tournament Materla faced Antonio Mendes, he lost the bout via split decision.[8]
Materla returned in KSW after four years, in 2011, against Gregory Babene at KSW 15: Konfrontacja. He won the bout after submitting Babene with a guillotine choke.[9][10] Materla won his next two bouts against James Zikic and Matt Horwich, which earned him title shot for the vacant KSW Middleweight Championship.[11][12]
In a rematch, Materla faced Jay Silva in a non-title bout at KSW 24: Clash of the Giants on September 28, 2013. Materla lost the bout via KO in round two.[16] Materla faced Jay Silva in a trilogy at KSW 26: Materla vs. Silva III.[17] Materla won the bout via unanimous decision.[18] In his next two bouts Materla knocked out Jorge Bezzer in non-title bout and defend his title against Tomasz Drwal.[19][20]
On August 29, 2017, it was reported that Materla signed contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and was expected to face Thiago Santos at UFC Fight Night 118 on October 21, 2017.[26] However, on September 1 it was revealed that Materla choose to re-sign with KSW and bout was scrapped.[27][28]
Martela rematched with Scott Askham in KSW Middleweight Tournament Final at KSW 49: Materla vs. Askham 2 on May 18, 2019, for vacant KSW Middleweight Championship.[35] Materla lost the bout via KO in round three.[36]
EFM and return to KSW
On June 20, 2020, Materla fought at the EFM 3 against Wilhelm Ott for EFM Middleweight Championship, he defeated Ott in the 1st round and won the title in process.[37][38]
On October 10, 2020, Materla returned to the KSW against Aleksandar Ilić at KSW 55: Askham vs. Khalidov 2.[39] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[40] Three days later, he was awarded a bonus in the fight of the night category of that bout.
On November 14, 2020, at KSW 56: Materla vs. Soldić, Materla fought against the KSW Welterweight Champion, Roberto Soldić, fight took place at middleweight.[41] He lost the bout via technically knockout in first round.[42]
On June 5, 2021, at EFM Show 2 in Bulgaria was to take place, Materla was supposed to defend the EFM Middleweight Championship, but the bout was moved to September 11.[43] The opponent of the popular Cipao in the new date of the bout was revealed to be Moise Rimbon whom he faced before in 2006.[44] Materla won the bout via unanimous decision.[45]
In December 2021 he announced that he was returning to the KSW.[46] Materla returned to the cage of the Polish giant on January 15, 2022, at KSW 66: Ziółkowski vs. Mańkowski against Jason Radcliffe.[47] He won the bout in the first round by TKO.[48]
On May 28, 2022, at KSW 70: Pudzianowski vs. Materla, Materla faced the former strongest man in the world, Mariusz Pudzianowski, the clash took place at heavyweight.[49] He lost the bout in the first round, after Pudzian hit him with uppercut, knocking Materla out cold.[50][51]
During the first XTB KSW 78, which took place on January 21, 2023, Materla faced Kendall Grove in rematch.[52] Materla won the fight via technical knockout in the second round, after he took down Kendall and smashed him in the ground position with strong elbows.[53]
Materla faced Radoslaw Paczuski at XTB KSW 83: Colosseum 2 on June 3, 2023.[54] He won the bout via knockout in the first round.[55]
Exactly three months later, in the comain of KSW 92, Materla faced Piotr Kuberski, losing the bout 5 seconds before the end of the first round when he was knocked out by Kuberski.[57]
Personal life
In 2012, he played a feature role in the music video for the song "Wolves Two" from the album Robaki of the Luxtorpeda music group.[58] In December 2016, he was detained in his home in Szczecin as part of a mass action by officers of the Central Police Investigation Bureau against people suspected of collaborating as part of an organized criminal group.[59] Due to this incident, Materla was in pre-trial detention for seven months. On December 23, 2022, the District Prosecutor in Poznań discontinued the criminal case against Materla in its entirety.[60][61]
