UFC Signs 4 European Stars, Including 2 Ex-KSW Champs

While they may not have name recognition going for them stateside, these four new Ultimate Fighting Championship pickups should go a long way with the promotion.

Courtesy of a video on social media on Thursday, KSW interim featherweight champ Robert Ruchala (11-1) announced that he was now a member of the UFC roster. On the same video, accompanied by new manager/agent Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Ruchala called fellow KSW fighter and former champ, Jakub Wiklacz, who also confirmed he was going to be joining the UFC as well.

With two-division champion Salahdine Parnasse in his way, Ruchala was never able to hoist the undisputed 145-pound strap in the KSW cage. He earned the interim strap in 2023, and failed to unify it with Parnasse months later. As Parnasse was preoccupied with other divisions, another interim belt opened up, and Ruchala claimed it a second time. On this current run, the 27-year-old American Top Team fighter had to defend it, smashing Kacper Formela at KSW 100.

KSW colleague Wiklacz has not lost in his last seven outings, which include three engagements with Sebastian Przybysz for the bantamweight crown. Wiklacz claimed it from Przybysz in 2022 and retained it in a draw against the same man nine months later. He was able to face and beat new opposition in the form of Zuriko Jojua, but Przybysz was nipping at his heels and got another title shot that Wiklacz again overcame. The Polish champ was released by the organization in December, with his goal of signing with the UFC.

It’s official 📄✍🏻🚨 @jakub_wiklacz @joannamma pic.twitter.com/etlRjTvqLE

— Robert Ruchała (@robert_ruchala) June 19, 2025

UFC Snags Ex-PFL Heavyweight Champion Amidst Flurry of Signings

In addition to Ruchala and Wiklacz, the UFC picked up Ante Delija (25-6), a heavyweight who won the 2022 Professional Fighters League tournament to claim the million-dollar check and gold belt. MMA Fighting first reported this news on Friday.

Croatia’s Delija, a protégé of the legendary Mirko Filipovic, burst onto the scene in 2021, where he reached the heavyweight tournament final and was turned away by eventual victor Bruno Cappelozza. The 2022 campaign for Delija could have not gone better, including a notable knockout of Renan Ferreira, to win the gold. While he tried in 2023 and 2024, he could not get past the opening match. The promotion booked him a non-tourney tilt against Vadim Nemkov in January, only to be replaced by Corey Anderson. Since leaving the PFL, he laid waste to Yorgan De Castro in the Fight Nation Championship organization in Slovenia.

Finally, the fourth member of this week’s European pickups comes in the form of Oktagon MMA standout Shaqueme Rock (11-1-1). This news came first courtesy of Low Kick MMA. The lightweight from Britain has won four straight, including three first-round rear-naked chokes, but he did not reach the Oktagon belt before leaving its confines to the UFC. Prior to joining Oktagon, “Shem Rock” took home the Full Contact Contender title by tapping Mike Thompson with his favored rear-naked choke—the Monarchy MMA product has produced nearly three-quarters of his wins via submission, with most by that move. None of the four fighters have debut dates or opponents listed yet.