Martin Kozak Secures Second-Round TKO Over Christian Echols at DWCS

Slovakian middleweight prospect Martin Kozak improved his stock on the global stage with a dominant performance during the fifth episode of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10. Competing at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Kozak earned a second-round technical knockout victory over former Bellator competitor Christian Echols. Throughout the contest, Kozak utilized aggressive striking to dismantle Echols, ultimately forcing the referee to intervene and stop the fight in the second frame. The victory is widely viewed as a major step forward in the middleweight’s pursuit of a UFC contract. For Christian Echols, the loss marks a difficult outing following a turbulent lead-up to the event, where the fighter had notably missed weight during the official weigh-ins. While Dana White has yet to officially announce the contract recipients for this week's episode, Kozak’s emphatic finish has positioned him as a primary candidate for a roster spot in the UFC middleweight division.

Source: MMA Mania.