Before launching the first project of Top 8 PAL decided to see American sportsman Dave Chaffee among the participants. But Dave, unfortunately, could not participate, because he entered into a rather restrictive contract with another organization.

Before the Top 8 finals, PAL contacted Chaffee about his participation in the Zloty Tur so that he could get into the second project. His negotiations were delayed, and the decision came only now: Dave Chaffee is ready to participate in the second project of Top 8. Therefore, the conditions for participation in this championship and the number of transition fights had to be slightly changed.

Initially, one passing match was planned between Deivydas Rimkus and Alex Kurdecha. Dmitry Silaev won the +105 kg category and the absolute weight, so he enters the project without a transition match. If there is another one participant, one more duel is needed - with Krasimir Kostadinov.

“Krasimir Kostadinov, who won first place in his category and second in open, did not have to fight in transition fights. But once Dave Chaffee enters the game, we decided to make the changes this way: Alex Kurdecha and Krasimir Kostadinov will meet on February 9 in Kyiv, Ukraine, during the Junior Camp and find out which of them falls in Top 8. The second match - between Chaffee and Rimkus - will be held on February 16-17 in Klaipeda, Lithuania. This fight will show whether the American is worthy to fight in the project”, - explains Igor Mazurenko.

Dave Chaffee is a top American athlete who pulled with Denis Tsyplenkov, Andrey Pushkar. We see hem also between those, who could compete with Levan Saginashvili. If Chaffee is selected for the project, he falls into the pool of contenders with Tim Bresnan and Dmitry Silaev, and at the first stage he can just get to Levan, or to Vitaly Laletin, Evgeny Prudnik or Dmitry Trubin.