Krzysztof Jotko

Krzysztof Jotko is a Polish middleweight who arrived in the UFC in December 2013 as an undefeated prospect with an unusual backstory: a former breakdancer from Orneta whose interest in MMA was sparked by watching Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock on television. Over nine years on the UFC roster, he compiled a 17-5 record that reflected his steady, grinding approach to fighting. Rather than accumulate knockout finishes or submission heroics, Jotko became known for his decision-heavy style, ultimately tying for the third-most UFC decision wins per win percentage in promotion history and tying for the most split decision victories in UFC middleweight history. He never broke through to title contention, but remained a reliable middleweight who could outlast and outlast his opponents through sheer durability and methodical technique.

Jotko's UFC run was punctuated by losses to notable contenders like Uriah Hall (KO, 2017), Brad Tavares (TKO, 2018), Sean Strickland (decision, 2021), and ultimately Brendan Allen (submission, October 2022), after which Dana White released him from the promotion. That loss, combined with a brief stint in the PFL in 2023 that ended in a no contest, might have signaled the end for many aging grinders. Instead, Jotko rebuilt himself in Oktagon MMA starting in April 2025, where he entered the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament alongside fifteen other middleweights competing for a one-million-euro prize pool.

At 36 years old, fighting outside the UFC for the first time in a decade, Jotko authored a redemption that few expected. He won all four of his tournament bouts, culminating in a first-round rear-naked choke submission of Turkish middleweight champion Kerim Engizek in the final at Oktagon 82 in January 2026. That victory not only crowned him tournament champion and landed him €300,000 (nearly $350,000 USD), but also snapped Engizek's 17-fight winning streak - one of the most dominant runs in contemporary middleweight MMA. For a fighter once deemed expendable by the UFC, Jotko's resurgence at an age when most decline is a powerful reminder that consistency, competitive fire, and the will to compete at the highest level can yield late-career validation that no middleweight contract can diminish.