KSW 117: Pawlak vs. Khalidov is a mixed martial arts event to be held by Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki on April 18, 2026, at the Arena COS Torwar in Warsaw, Poland.
Fight Card
Main card
Middleweight Paweł Pawlak vs. Mamed Khalidov 185 lbs Middleweight Championship
Heavyweight Phil De Fries vs. Marcin Wójcik 265 lbs Heavyweight Championship
Featherweight Daniel Rutkowski vs. Oleksii Polishchuk 145 lbs
Middleweight Andi Vrtačić vs. Albert Odzimkowski 185 lbs
Bantamweight Marcello Morelli vs. Werlleson Martins 135 lbs
Lightweight Hugo Deux vs. Welisson Paiva 155 lbs
Middleweight Jacek Gać vs. Luka Vrtačić 185 lbs
Preliminary card
Bantamweight Tobiasz Le vs. Sebastian Decowski 135 lbs
Featherweight Nacim Belhouachi vs. Jan Mašek 145 lbs
Background
The Clash of Eras: Two Crowns at Stake for KSW 117!
Poland’s premier promotion returns to Warsaw with a card of monumental proportions, delivering a double-header of championship brilliance. On April 18, 2026, KSW 117 features a collision between the absolute peak of the modern era and the greatest legend in the organization’s history. In a landscape defined by power and prestige, this night serves as a definitive chapter in the KSW legacy, where the future of two divisions will be written in blood and gold.
The Main Event: A Legacy vs. The Throne
At the summit of the card, the KSW Middleweight Championship is on the line as the dominant king Paweł Pawlak defends his crown against the immortal Mamed Khalidov. Pawlak has become an unstoppable force in the 185-pound division, utilizing a suffocating clinch game and high-IQ striking to dismantle every contender in his path. For the champion, this is the ultimate opportunity to prove he has surpassed the icons of the past.
In Mamed Khalidov, however, he faces a former two-division champion and the consensus greatest of all time in Polish MMA. Khalidov, even in the twilight of his storied career, remains the most dangerous "wildcard" in the sport, capable of ending any fight with a moment of creative violence. This is more than a title fight, it is a generational war for the soul of the middleweight division.
Co-Main Event: The Heavyweight Dictatorship
The championship intensity remains at a fever pitch as the most dominant champion in KSW history, Phil De Fries, puts his Heavyweight Title on the line once again. De Fries has turned the 265-pound division into a personal kingdom, utilizing a terrifying submission game and world-class wrestling to extend his historic reign.
He meets a formidable challenge in Marcin Wójcik, a powerhouse who has fought his way back to the summit of the rankings with devastating impact. Wójcik possesses the explosive strength and veteran savvy to provide De Fries with his sternest test in years. With the heavyweight landscape shifting following the late withdrawal of Arkadiusz Wrzosek, the stakes for this collision have never been higher.
Featherweight Fire and Middleweight Mayhem
The card is further bolstered by a high-stakes featherweight encounter as the relentless Daniel Rutkowski meets the surging Oleksii Polishchuk. Rutkowski’s world-class wrestling will be put to the test against the dynamic striking of the Ukrainian standout.
The middleweight ranks also see a double-dose of family rivalry and technical warfare. Andi Vrtačić takes on the gritty Albert Odzimkowski, while his brother Luka Vrtačić enters the cage against the explosive Jacek Gać. These matches, alongside a high-speed bantamweight duel between Marcello Morelli and Werlleson Martins, ensure a night of non-stop action where the judges are rarely needed.
The KSW Proving Ground
The evening begins with a series of matchups designed to reveal the next wave of European stars. From the lightweight tactical battle between Hugo Deux and Welisson Paiva to the bantamweight technicality of Tobiasz Le and Sebastian Decowski, the depth of the roster is on full display.
Every exchange is a step toward global recognition, and every finish is a reminder that KSW remains the gold standard for European combat. In Warsaw, a win is more than just a victory, it is a declaration of dominance.
The event is scheduled to be headline by a KSW Middleweight Championship bout between current champion Paweł Pawlak and former two-time champion (also former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion) Mamed Khalidov.
A KSW Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Phil De Fries and Marcin Wójcik is scheduled to serve as the co-main event.
A heavyweight bout between Štefan Vojčák and Arkadiusz Wrzosek was scheduled at the event. However, Wrzosek withdrew from the fight due to a rib injury, so the bout was canceled.
