BUZZ Ziółkowski accepts Włodarczyk's KSW callout, wants fight in March or April

Marian Ziółkowski has said yes to the most persistent callout in KSW's lightweight division. Unbeaten Igor Włodarczyk named him and Mateusz Makarowski after beating Welisson Paiva at KSW 122, and Ziółkowski has now answered in a video on his newly launched YouTube channel.

The timing is awkward for both Nemezis fighters named. Ziółkowski lost to Wilson Varela on the same card, and Makarowski lost to Adam Soldaev. Ziółkowski asked Włodarczyk to leave Makarowski alone for now, saying his teammate needs time to rest, and put himself forward instead.

He was not charitable about the delivery. Ziółkowski praised the Paiva win as Włodarczyk's most valuable so far, but called his cage interview staged, pointing to how quickly it moved from grief over a friend's death to calling fights. He also noted that Włodarczyk calls himself a "product" who knows how to build a career, and said that invites doubt about how sincere it is.

"I totally accept the challenge," Ziółkowski said (translated). He argued that fans and journalists want the fight, and that it is all in the hands of KSW. He ruled out January and February because of a short trip, and pointed to March or April.

The matchup pairs two different stages of a career. Ziółkowski, 36, held the lightweight title from 2020 to 2023 and defended it three times, but health problems slowed him. Since 2024 he has had five fights and won one, a victory over Aymard Guih in May. He is ranked seventh in the division.

Włodarczyk is 23, unbeaten, and has three KSW wins, according to Lowking, which is not yet enough to put him in the top 10. A fight with a former champion would change that quickly if he won. For now, the next thing to watch is whether KSW responds and offers either man a date.