Pawel Pawlak successfully defended his KSW middleweight championship for the fourth time by stopping Mamed Khalidov via TKO in the final second of round four. The dramatic finish came at the very end of the scheduled championship bout. This marks Pawlak's fourth consecutive title defense in the middleweight division. The victory continues Pawlak's reign as KSW middleweight champion.
Pawel Pawlak extended his reign as KSW middleweight champion in dramatic fashion on April 19, 2026, stopping Mamed Khalidov via TKO with just one second remaining in the fourth round to record his fourth consecutive title defense.
Pawlak, 37, entered the bout carrying a 12-3-0 professional record and representing his Polish gym Octopus Lodz. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, the orthodox striker has built his championship run on durable, measured fighting. He lands 1.67 significant strikes per minute and adds a takedown per 15 minutes of action, rounding out a well-rounded game that has now proven too much for four consecutive challengers at middleweight.
The finish against Khalidov was among the most dramatic of Pawlak's career, arriving with virtually no time left on the clock in the penultimate championship round. Rather than being forced into a fifth frame, Pawlak closed the show right at the edge of the buzzer, a testament to his persistence inside the cage.
Why it matters
- Pawlak now has four consecutive defenses of the KSW middleweight title, cementing his status as one of European MMA's most durable champions.
- The late stoppage of Khalidov, a legendary KSW figure, carries significant symbolic weight for the Polish promotion.
- At 37, Pawlak continues to perform at a championship level, raising questions about who in the KSW middleweight division could realistically challenge him next.
