KSW 117: Pawlak Defeats Chalidov, De Fries Dominates Once Again — Event Recap

The XTB KSW 117 gala in Warsaw confirmed that the KSW organization consistently delivers events at the highest level of European MMA. It is a brand that has been building its reputation for years through a combination of athletic competition, polished production, and recognizable names. Today, KSW is one of the largest mixed martial arts federations in Europe, attracting both experienced fighters and a wide audience to their screens and to the stands.

The main event of the evening featured a matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats even before the first bell rang. Paweł Pawlak, undefeated for nearly seven years, stepped into the ring to defend his title against the organization’s legend, Mamed Khalidov. The bout lived up to expectations—it was intense, technical, and full of twists and turns. Ultimately, Pawlak emerged victorious, successfully defending his title for the fourth time and reaffirming his dominance in the middleweight division.

In the second bout of the evening, heavyweight champion and true dominant force in his division, Phil De Fries, stepped into the cage to defend his title. The Englishman faced Marcin Wójcik and once again proved that he is unrivaled in the cage. De Fries quickly took the fight to the mat and submitted the 14th challenger he has faced in the KSW cage.

The event also featured some successful comebacks. After a long hiatus, Daniel Rutkowski showed he was in solid form, confidently scoring points against Oleksii Polishchuk. After the fight, he clearly stated his ambition to once again compete for the top titles in his weight class, which promises some exciting matchups in the coming months.

In total, fans saw nine bouts, five of which ended before the scheduled time. This shows that KSW consistently focuses on dynamic, spectacular fights that build fan engagement and enhance the appeal of the entire event.

It is worth noting that the Blachy Pruszyński Company is one of the longest-standing sponsors of KSW galas. Over the years, the brand has become a staple of KSW events, supporting their organization as part of a long-term partnership.

Among the current brand ambassadors are also four athletes who have competed in KSW events. One of them is Mariusz Pudzianowski—a figure of particular significance in both the world of strength sports and MMA. He has been working with the company for over two decades, dating back to his days as a strongman, and his KSW debut in 2009 coincided with the Blachy Pruszyński Company becoming a sponsor of the federation.

The group of ambassadors also includes Damian Janikowski, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, who has been building his MMA career in KSW for years. Another fighter is Krzysztof Głowacki, a former WBO world boxing champion, who made his MMA debut in 2023, scoring impressive victories in the KSW cage. The ambassadors also include Laura Grzyb, who is developing her athletic career and her partnership with the brand.

The next round of excitement is coming soon. KSW 118 will take place on May 15 in Kalisz. Given the fighters’ current form and the matchups announced so far, we can expect another evening of top-level competition.