The main event of KSW 117 remains intact after both fighters successfully made championship weight. Pawel Pawlak weighed in at 83.9 kg and will defend his title against veteran Mamed Khalidov, who came in at 83.6 kg. The bout represents a title defense for Pawlak against one of the most legendary fighters in European MMA history. Khalidov has been a cornerstone of KSW for years and remains a threat despite his advanced career stage. Both fighters making weight ensures this highly anticipated Polish MMA showdown will proceed as planned.
Pawel Pawlak will put his KSW middleweight title on the line against Mamed Khalidov at KSW 117, with both fighters clearing the championship weight threshold to confirm the main event is officially on.
Pawlak tipped the scales at 83.9 kg, comfortably inside the limit, while Khalidov weighed in at 83.6 kg. The 37-year-old Pole, who trains out of Octopus Lodz, carries a professional record of 12 wins and 3 losses. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, Pawlak is an orthodox fighter who averages 1.67 significant strikes landed per minute and adds a takedown per 15 minutes to his offensive repertoire.
Khalidov, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters in European MMA history, has spent a significant portion of his career competing under the KSW banner and built his reputation as a cornerstone of Polish combat sports. He enters this contest as a genuine threat to dethrone the champion despite being at an advanced stage of his career.
Why it matters
- Pawlak puts the KSW middleweight title on the line in what shapes up as the most high-profile defense of his reign.
- Khalidov's legendary status in European MMA gives this contest significant weight beyond a routine championship bout.
- A Khalidov victory would represent one of the more storied title captures in recent KSW history, while a Pawlak win would further cement his standing as the division's standard-bearer.
- Both fighters clearing weight removes any uncertainty and guarantees the Polish MMA community gets the main event they were promised.
