Tomasz Narkun, the former KSW light heavyweight champion, returns to the cage after a nearly two-year break. He has signed a contract with the Oktagon MMA organization and will debut in Szczecin. Simultaneously, the major return of Mamed Chalidov was announced; he will face the undefeated Paweł Pawlak for the KSW middleweight championship belt on April 18 in Warsaw. Both fighters have been away from the main stage for a long time.

Narkun returns after two years

Tomasz Narkun has signed a contract with the Oktagon MMA federation and will perform at event number 86 in Szczecin. This marks his return after nearly a two-year break from competing in a major organization.

Chalidov fights for KSW title

Mamed Chalidov will face the undefeated Paweł Pawlak for the KSW middleweight championship belt. The fight will take place on April 18 in Warsaw at the XTB KSW 117 event.

Narkun's organization change

Narkun, who previously sought a contract with the UFC, ultimately joined the Czech Oktagon. Earlier talks with KSW did not lead to an agreement.

Undefeated KSW champion

Pawlak remains undefeated in the KSW circular cage, with his streak comprising twelve victories. This is Chalidov's first fight in a long time.

The Polish mixed martial arts (MMA) scene is experiencing a true revolution, announcing two spectacular veteran returns in a short time. Tuesday evening (February 24, 2026) brought official confirmation that Tomasz Narkun, the former KSW light heavyweight champion, has signed a contract with the Oktagon MMA organization after a nearly two-year break. His debut in the new federation is scheduled for event number 86 in Szczecin, which will also be Oktagon's first event on Polish soil. Narkun's opponent is to be Alexander P. This ends speculation that the fighter might return to his native KSW federation, which he left in the past. The Polish organization KSW, founded in 2004, has dominated the mixed martial arts market in Central and Eastern Europe for years, promoting stars such as Mamed Chalidov and Mariusz Pudzianowski. Tomasz Narkun was one of its long-time champions in the light heavyweight category before leaving the federation in 2022 in search of new challenges, including in the American UFC. Almost in parallel, a day earlier (February 23), news of another monumental return spread around the world. Mamed Chalidov, a legendary fighter and former KSW champion, will return to the cage on April 18, 2026, after a long break. At the XTB KSW 117 event in Warsaw, he will face the current, undefeated middleweight champion, Paweł Pawlak. This fight is particularly exceptional because Pawlak, as the current belt holder, has yet to find a conqueror in the KSW circular cage, having won twelve consecutive bouts. Wojsław Rysiewski, KSW's sports director, had no doubts about the significance of this matchup: "It would be truly incredible," he commented on the fight's potential. Narkun's return was preceded by numerous negotiations and plan changes. After leaving KSW, the fighter focused for a time on smaller events, fighting three times, which – as sources indicate – did not translate into interest from the UFC. Ultimately, his financial expectations were reportedly too high for KSW, which directed him towards the Czech Oktagon. For fans of Polish MMA, the coming weeks will therefore be extremely exciting, offering both the debut of a big name in a new organization and an epic championship title fight in the native federation, which many consider a dream match.

Mentioned People

  • Tomasz Narkun — Former KSW light heavyweight champion who signed a contract with Oktagon MMA
  • Mamed Chalidow — Former KSW champion who will fight Paweł Pawlak for the middleweight belt in April
  • Paweł Pawlak — Current, undefeated KSW middleweight champion
  • Alexander P — Future opponent of Tomasz Narkun at the Oktagon MMA event
  • Wojsław Rysiewski — Sports director of the KSW organization