Bare-knuckle fighting group Gromda under fire after fighter linked to attack on Ukrainians

The Polish bare-knuckle fighting organization Gromda is under fire following a violent assault on a Ukrainian couple in Wrocław, an incident in which one of the identified attackers is a fighter associated with the promotion.

Social media footage captured three men brutally beating the couple outside a store. The victims, who are Ukrainian, reportedly had their accent targeted by the assailants. Media reports identified one of the aggressors as Adam C., known as "Cycu," who competes in Gromda.

This incident follows controversial remarks made by Gromda's chief, Mariusz Grabowski, in a July interview. In the video, filmed while drinking vodka, Grabowski made derogatory comments about foreigners in Poland, referring to them as "lamusów i nierobów" (slobs and good-for-nothings). His associate in the video used an ethnic slur for Ukrainians, "chochołów," and spoke of needing to "straighten them out."

Gromda is notorious for its brutal fights, where competitors use bare fists, often resulting in severe injuries. Fights lack weight classes and judging, typically ending only by knockout, submission, or medical stoppage. The organization's gritty aesthetic, featuring settings resembling basements or abandoned rooms, amplifies the violence. Beyond the ring, Gromda has increasingly used its social media platforms to feature fighters espousing anti-immigrant sentiments, further fueling the controversy surrounding the organization.

“

Gość ma być gościem, a nie drzeć mordę i Polaków zaczepiać. Teraz poczuli polską gościnność i odp...ają u nas co chcą. Trzeba będzie zebrać chłopaków, to się wyprostuje chochołów (obraźliwe określenie Ukraińca – red.), bo im się coś najwidoczniej po...liło w głowie