Pawel Pawlak defeated Mamed Khalidov by TKO in the final second of the fourth round in a middleweight title fight. The victory marked Pawlak's fourth successful title defense of his middleweight championship. The dramatic finish came at the very end of round four, showcasing Pawlak's ability to maintain pressure throughout the contest. This win continues Pawlak's reign as the dominant middleweight champion in his promotion.
Pawel Pawlak secured a dramatic TKO victory over Mamed Khalidov in the final second of the fourth round to successfully defend his KSW middleweight championship on April 19, 2026.
Pawlak, now 12-3-0, is a 37-year-old Polish fighter out of Octopus Lodz who trains and competes in an orthodox stance. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, he has built a reputation as a durable, pressure-based champion. The finish marked his fourth successful defense of the KSW middleweight title, underlining his status as the promotion's most dominant middleweight of recent years. He averages 1.67 significant strikes landed per minute and mixes in takedown threats at a rate of one per 15 minutes, giving opponents a layered problem to solve across multiple rounds.
The timing of the stoppage added to the drama. Khalidov survived deep into the fourth round only to be finished in the contest's closing moment, a finish that spoke to Pawlak's relentless forward pressure and his capacity to remain dangerous late in fights.
Why it matters
- Pawlak's fourth title defense cements his hold on the KSW middleweight division with little sign of his reign ending.
- The late stoppage underscores his ability to grind opponents down over full rounds rather than relying on early exchanges.
- Khalidov, a longtime KSW icon, now faces questions about his path back to title contention following the late defeat.
