Heavyweights Mariusz Pudzianowski, Karol Bedorf to Clash at KSW Event in Early 2018

Five-Time “World’s Strongest Man” Mariusz Pudzianowski and former heavyweight champion Karol Bedorf will lock horns at an as-yet-to-be announced KSW event in early 2018.

The Polish promotion announced the matchup on Thursday.

"This is a fight years in the making", KSW co-owner Martin Lewandowski said in a release. "The stars have finally aligned to allow Mariusz Pudzianowski and Karol Bedorf, two KSW legends, step into the cage opposite each other. They are two larger than life fighters, a true clash of the titans.”

The 40-year-old Pudzianowski enters the bout on a three-fight winning streak. Most recently, he captured a majority decision win over Jay Silva at KSW 40 in Dublin on Oct. 22. “Pudzian” owns a 12-5 career mark that includes triumphs over Sean McCorkle, Oli Thompson, Rolles Gracie and Bob Sapp.

Bedorf saw an eight-fight winning streak come to an end at KSW 37 in December 2016, as he relinquished the heavyweight crown to Fernando Rodrigues Jr. in a second-round technical knockout loss. The 34-year-old did not compete at all in 2017 due to injury.