Pawel Pawlak successfully defended his middleweight title for the fourth time by stopping Mamed Khalidov via TKO in the final seconds of the fourth round. The bout held title status in the middleweight division. Pawlak's victory came dramatically late in the fight, securing the stoppage just before the round ended. This marks another successful title defense for the Polish champion and extends his reign over the division.
Pawel Pawlak extended his reign as middleweight champion with a dramatic fourth-round TKO finish of Mamed Khalidov in the final seconds of the round, making it four successful title defenses in the division.
Pawlak, 37, enters the record books as one of Polish MMA's most durable champions. The Octopus Lodz product carries a 12-3-0 professional record and competes at an even six feet tall with a 73-inch reach. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, Pawlak lands 1.67 significant strikes per minute at a 33 percent striking accuracy rate, complementing his output with one takedown attempt per 15 minutes. The late stoppage was a testament to his perseverance, with the finish arriving just as the fourth round was drawing to a close.
Khalidov, one of Poland's most decorated combat sports figures, was unable to secure the upset on this occasion. Verified data for Khalidov was not available in the AgentMMA database at the time of this report.
Why it matters
- Pawlak's fourth title defense cements his standing as the division's dominant force and makes him an increasingly difficult champion to unseat
- A late stoppage in the fourth round underscores Pawlak's ability to find finishes even deep into a grueling contest
- The win over a legendary regional name like Khalidov adds further prestige to what is already a landmark title reign for Polish MMA
