Former light heavyweight champion Rafał Haratyk drops back to middleweight to face fourth-ranked Andi Vrtačić at KSW 124 in Gliwice on Dec. 19, a non-title bout.
From 3 reports by 3 outletsLatest KSW confirms Haratyk vs. Vrtačić at middleweight for KSW 124 3 outlets
What we know
- Haratyk vs. Vrtačić is a non-title middleweight bout at KSW 124 on Dec. 19 at PreZero Arena in Gliwice, Poland.
- KSW's current rankings list Vrtačić fourth at middleweight; an older profile label showing him fifth is outdated.
- Haratyk is ranked first among KSW light heavyweight contenders after losing the belt to Bartosz Leśko in July.
- KSW 124 is headlined by middleweight champion Paweł Pawlak against interim champion Piotr Kuberski.
- Interim heavyweight champion Štefan Vojčák faces Artur Szpilka on the KSW 124 card.
Rafał Haratyk's next fight is a test at a weight he has not fought at in almost four years. KSW matched the former light heavyweight champion with Croatian Andi Vrtačić at middleweight for KSW 124, instead of sending him straight back to 205 pounds after his July title loss.
Haratyk, 39, lost the belt to Bartosz Leśko at KSW 120 by unanimous decision, on scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. It was a rematch: Haratyk had won the first meeting at KSW 111 on all three cards. All of his KSW fights have come at light heavyweight, where he won the vacant title through the KSW EPIC tournament and defended it twice. His last fight at 84 kilograms was a January 2023 Ares title challenge against Abdoul Abdouraguimov. He led deep into round five before being caught in a leg lock with 25 seconds left.
Vrtačić arrives on a different trajectory. He is on a three-fight winning streak, all by stoppage, the latest a second-round finish of Sofiane Bouafia in his hometown of Pula at Brave CF 108. In KSW he has four wins in five fights. He stopped Albert Odzimkowski in the first round in April and knocked out Mateusz Gola with a high kick in January. His only KSW loss was a decision to Michał Michalski in August 2025. He also has a kickboxing background and has won two knockout bonuses and two fight-of-the-night awards in the promotion.
For Vrtačić the matchup is a step up. After the Odzimkowski win he asked KSW's sports director for a top-three opponent, naming Pawlak, Kuberski or a Michalski rematch. He got a former champion instead, and a win would be the biggest of his career. Haratyk, still ranked first among light heavyweight contenders, is a heavier, experienced opponent used to five-round fights.
The fight sits on the same card as the middleweight title bout between champion Paweł Pawlak and interim champion Piotr Kuberski. A strong showing here would put Vrtačić in the conversation for whoever comes out of that fight. Watch whether Haratyk's move down becomes permanent or is a one-off.
Haratyk, 39, lost the belt to Bartosz Leśko at KSW 120 by unanimous decision, on scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. It was a rematch: Haratyk had won the first meeting at KSW 111 on all three cards. All of his KSW fights have come at light heavyweight, where he won the vacant title through the KSW EPIC tournament and defended it twice. His last fight at 84 kilograms was a January 2023 Ares title challenge against Abdoul Abdouraguimov. He led deep into round five before being caught in a leg lock with 25 seconds left.
Vrtačić arrives on a different trajectory. He is on a three-fight winning streak, all by stoppage, the latest a second-round finish of Sofiane Bouafia in his hometown of Pula at Brave CF 108. In KSW he has four wins in five fights. He stopped Albert Odzimkowski in the first round in April and knocked out Mateusz Gola with a high kick in January. His only KSW loss was a decision to Michał Michalski in August 2025. He also has a kickboxing background and has won two knockout bonuses and two fight-of-the-night awards in the promotion.
For Vrtačić the matchup is a step up. After the Odzimkowski win he asked KSW's sports director for a top-three opponent, naming Pawlak, Kuberski or a Michalski rematch. He got a former champion instead, and a win would be the biggest of his career. Haratyk, still ranked first among light heavyweight contenders, is a heavier, experienced opponent used to five-round fights.
The fight sits on the same card as the middleweight title bout between champion Paweł Pawlak and interim champion Piotr Kuberski. A strong showing here would put Vrtačić in the conversation for whoever comes out of that fight. Watch whether Haratyk's move down becomes permanent or is a one-off.
- Summary
- Former light heavyweight champion Rafał Haratyk drops back to middleweight to face fourth-ranked Andi Vrtačić at KSW 124 in Gliwice on Dec. 19, a non-title bout.
- Key points (one per line)
- Haratyk (21-6-2) faces Vrtačić (10-3) in a non-title middleweight bout at KSW 124 on Dec. 19 in Gliwice, Poland.
Haratyk lost his light heavyweight belt to Bartosz Leśko in July; Vrtačić has won three straight.
KSW 124 is headlined by Paweł Pawlak vs. Piotr Kuberski for the middleweight title.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Fight Site Croatia | https://www.jutarnji.hr/sportske/fightsite/ostalo/andi-vrtacic-ima-novu-misiju-ksw-ga-je-upario-s-bivsim-prvakom-ceka-ga-poljski-tenk-15759945
InTheCage | https://inthecage.pl/rafal-haratyk-w-wadze-sredniej-z-mocnym-rywalem-na-gale-xtb-ksw-124/
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/rafal-haratyk-andi-vrtacic-middleweight-ksw124-december19/
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Fighters in this story
Rafal HaratykMore photos
Correction
: KSW confirms Haratyk (21-6-2) vs. Vrtačić (10-3); Vrtačić listed fourth, not fifth The bout is a non-title middleweight fight; Haratyk's loss to Leśko came at KSW 120.
Source: 
MiddleEasy
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Bottom line
KSW booked Andi Vrtačić against ex-light heavyweight champion Rafal Haratyk at KSW 124 in Gliwice on Dec. 19, on the card with the Pawlak-Kuberski middleweight title fight.KSW confirmed Rafał Haratyk's return to middleweight against Andi Vrtačić at KSW 124 in Gliwice on Dec. 19, on a card topped by Pawlak vs. Kuberski. -
Fact
Vrtačić vs. Haratyk is booked for KSW 124 in Gliwice on Dec. 19, 2026.Vrtačić vs. Haratyk is a non-title middleweight bout at KSW 124 in Gliwice, Poland, on Dec. 19, 2026. -
Fact
Haratyk lost the KSW light heavyweight title to Bartosz Leek this summer and returns to middleweight after almost four years.Haratyk lost the light heavyweight title fight to Bartosz Leśko by unanimous decision at KSW 120 in July and returns to middleweight. -
Fact
Vrtačić is ranked fifth in the KSW middleweight division.Vrtačić is ranked fourth at middleweight in KSW's current rankings. -
Article
Andi Vrtačić asked KSW for a top-three middleweight and got something different: a former champion from the division above.Removed -
Article
Rafal Haratyk, the "Polish Tank," is the biggest name the Polish promotion has put in front of the Croatian so far, and the fight opens a card topped by a middleweight title bout.Removed -
Article
Vrtačić, who trains in Pula, is 10-3 and has finished his last three opponents.Removed
Sources
Fight Site Croatia
InTheCageSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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