KSW 121: Vojčák vs Wójcik

KSW 121 will no longer decide the promotion’s undisputed heavyweight championship in Liberec on September 19. Instead, it will crown an interim champion. KSW says titleholder Phil De Fries has been ruled out with a cervical spine injury. Štefan Vojčák therefore loses his immediate chance at a rematch and will face Marcin Wójcik instead.

The replacement makes more sporting sense than a late change might suggest. Vojčák is ranked No. 1 at heavyweight and Wójcik is No. 3. Both have challenged De Fries recently and both came up short. They will now decide who leads the division while the champion is unavailable.

Vojčák carries the stronger momentum

Vojčák enters the main event at 10-2. Nine of the Slovak’s ten victories have come inside the distance, with six first-round finishes. His first title fight against De Fries in October 2025 showed both his biggest threat and the gap he still had to close: Vojčák dropped the champion with a heavy strike, but De Fries recovered, wore him down on the ground and earned a third-round TKO.

Vojčák produced the right response in June. Against dangerous kickboxer Arkadiusz Wrzosek, he committed to his wrestling and forced a second-round submission. The win reinforced his place at the top of the rankings. Liberec adds another factor. As a Slovak competing in front of a Czech-Slovak crowd, he can expect far more support than he received in his previous KSW main events in Poland.

Wójcik gets another title opportunity

Wójcik accepted the fight with roughly three weeks to prepare. The 36-year-old owns a 22-11 record and a clear advantage in professional experience. Nineteen of his victories have come by stoppage. He spent much of his career at light heavyweight, won titles with FEN and Gladiator Arena and previously challenged for KSW gold in that division.

His move to heavyweight began with a convincing decision over former UFC heavyweight Augusto Sakai in December 2025. Four months later, De Fries stopped that run by taking Wójcik down and submitting him with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Against Vojčák, Wójcik must manage more than a shortened camp. He also has to show that his game can hold up for extended phases against a physically strong wrestler.

The interim title keeps the division moving

Winning at KSW 121 will not erase either man’s defeat to De Fries. It will, however, give the division a clear order while the length of the champion’s absence remains uncertain. The winner becomes interim champion and the central sporting figure for De Fries’ eventual return. The timing and form of any title unification will depend on his recovery and KSW’s plans.

For Vojčák, victory would support the idea that the first De Fries fight was a stage in his development rather than his ceiling. For Wójcik, it would provide an immediate correction after April’s one-sided title defeat. Because both men already know the standard set by the undisputed champion, KSW 121 offers a credible answer to who should shape the next phase at heavyweight.

The undercard sorts several rankings

Several supporting bouts carry real divisional relevance. Former interim middleweight challengers Michał Michalski and Radosław Paczuski meet after losses to Piotr Kuberski. Both are known for high-pressure striking fights. Michalski has earned five KSW Fight of the Night awards, while Paczuski has scored six knockouts among his eight professional wins.

At welterweight, No. 1-ranked Muslim Tulshaev faces No. 2 Kacper Koziorzębski. Featherweight No. 3 Łukasz Charzewski meets Czech contender Josef Štummer, while Leo Brichta takes on Kacper Formela at lightweight. KSW 121 therefore affects much more than the interim heavyweight title.

KSW 121: date and broadcast

XTB KSW 121 takes place at Home Credit Arena in Liberec on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The official event page lists a 7:00 p.m. start. Germany and the Czech Republic will be on the same summer time zone, so no conversion is required for German viewers.

KSW lists KSWTV and CANAL+ as its broadcast platforms. The free preliminary bouts are also scheduled for the KSW and CANAL+ Sport Polska YouTube channels. Viewers should check the official event page for the services available in their region on fight day.