Pawel Pawlak successfully defended his middleweight championship for the fourth time by stopping Mamed Khalidov via TKO in the final second of the fourth round. The dramatic finish came at the very end of a competitive title fight that went nearly the full scheduled distance. This victory marks Pawlak's fourth successful defense of the middleweight belt, cementing his status as champion. The timing of the stoppage, coming literally on the last second of round four, made for a dramatic conclusion to the championship bout.
Pawel Pawlak made a dramatic statement at the very end of round four, stopping Mamed Khalidov via TKO with literally the final second of the round remaining to record his fourth successful defense of the middleweight championship on April 19, 2026.
Pawlak, a 37-year-old orthodox fighter from Poland representing Octopus Lodz, now stands at 12-3-0 overall. The six-foot champion carries a 73-inch reach and has built his title reign on steady, methodical work. His output sits at 1.67 significant strikes landed per minute, and he averages one takedown per 15 minutes, giving him tools both on the feet and on the canvas to control a fight across multiple rounds.
The finish was as dramatic as championship bouts get. Khalidov survived nearly the entire 25-minute contest before Pawlak closed the show in the closing heartbeat of the fourth frame, denying his opponent any chance of riding out the round and forcing a judges' decision.
Why it matters
- Four successful title defenses now cement Pawlak's place as one of the most accomplished champions in his division's recent history
- The late finish underlines Pawlak's persistence and durability across a grueling, near-full-distance championship fight
- Khalidov, a widely respected veteran, gave the champion a genuine test, making the result all the more significant for Pawlak's legacy
