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 defense of the KSW middleweight championship. The dramatic finish came at the very end of round four, highlighting Pawlak's ability to finish strong. The bout was a title defense for Pawlak against the veteran Khalidov. Additional details about the finish or fight flow were not included in the brief post.
Pawel Pawlak cemented his status as KSW's premier middleweight on April 19, 2026, stopping Mamed Khalidov by TKO in the final second of the fourth round to make the fourth successful defense of his KSW middleweight championship.
Pawlak, now 12-3-0, is a 37-year-old orthodox fighter from Poland who trains out of Octopus Lodz. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, he has built his title reign on durability and finishing ability. He lands 1.67 significant strikes per minute and adds a takedown per 15 minutes of action, giving him the tools to grind opponents down over championship rounds. The timing of Saturday's finish — with one second remaining in round four — underscored his capacity to stay dangerous deep into a fight.
Khalidov, the veteran KSW stalwart who has long been one of European MMA's most recognizable names, came up short in what was framed as a serious title challenge. No detailed fight flow information was included in the post-event report.
Why it matters
- Pawlak's four successful defenses place him among the most accomplished title holders in KSW history
- The dramatic late finish adds another highlight to a reign that shows no signs of slowing despite Pawlak being 37
- Khalidov's failure to recapture championship gold raises questions about where the veteran goes next in the KSW middleweight division
