It is officially #KSW87 fight week!!
KSW returns to the 🇨🇿 Czech Republic this Saturday with a STACKED card! pic.twitter.com/ePmQ6hgyzf— KSW (@KSW_MMA) October 10, 2023
Darko Stosic wants another crack at longstanding KSW heavyweight titleholder Philip De Fries.
The No. 1 contender will seek to improve upon his 5-2 record in the popular Polish promotion when he collides with Michal Martinek in the KSW 87 main event this Saturday at Werk Arena in Trinec, Czech Republic. Stosic has secured 13 of his 18 professional victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, nine of them inside one round. He last appeared at KSW 84, where he punched out Stefan Vocjak in the third round of their July 15 encounter. The well-traveled 31-year-old failed to unseat De Fries in February 2022, when he submitted to fifth-round punches from the champion.
As Stosic makes final preparations for his forthcoming battle with Martinek, here are five things you might not know about him:
1. He rose out of modest means.
Stosic was born on Feb. 9, 1992 in Lacarak, Serbia, a village of roughly 11,000 people situated on the southwest quadrant of the landlocked European nation. It rests 50 miles to the northwest of Belgrade, the country’s largest city and capital.
2. Tangible achievements highlight his regional resume.
The MMA Red Star rep captured the Final Fight Championship heavyweight crown when he was awarded a majority decision over Dion Staring in the FFC 26 headliner on Aug. 4, 2016. Stosic retained the title on two occasions—he outpointed Staring to a unanimous decision in their rematch and chopped down Emil Zahariev with leg kicks—before he was stripped of the championship for pursuing opportunities outside the organization.
3. People in high places appreciate his work.
Stosic signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in December 2017 and had a four-fight run with the company. He put away Jeremy Kimball with elbows and punches in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 134 pairing, then proceeded to suffer consecutive decision defeats to Devin Clark, Kennedy Nzechukwu and Jamahal Hill. Stosic was released by the UFC in February 2020.
4. He put his passport to use.
The 6-foot, 240-pound heavyweight has suited up as a mixed martial artist in 11 different countries. In addition to his native Serbia, Stosic has fought in Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria, Croatia, the United States, Greece, Germany, Sweden and Poland.
5. A lifelong commitment to martial arts brought many benefits.
Stosic holds the rank of black belt in judo. He has won multiple national championships and Balkan regional titles in the discipline.