Dana White’s Contender Series: Martin Kozak vs Christian Echols Preview & Prediction

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Slovakian finisher, Martin Kozak, looks to maintain his undefeated record against Christian Echols in a middleweight scrap.

Martin Kozak vs Christian Echols facts

What time are Martin Kozak and Christian Echols expected to walk out? 9 September 2026 at 1:00 am

Where is DWCS – Season 10, Week 5 taking place? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA

What TV channel is DWCS – Season 10, Week 5 on? UK – Not televised / USA – Not televised

Where can I stream DWCS – Season 10, Week 5? UK – UFC Fight Pass / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

DWCS – Season 10, Week 5 card

Quentin Pasley vs Arlind Berisha (Light Heavyweight)

Reginaldo Geraldo Jr. vs Isaac Moreno (Welterweight)

Martin Kozak vs Christian Echols (Middleweight)

Apollo Gomes vs Kwon Won-il (Bantamweight)

Colton Loud vs Christian Natividad (Flyweight)

Martin Kozak: The "CEO" looks to make the Apex his new office

Standing 6'4" tall, Martin Kozak (6-0) is a colossal middleweight. Undefeated as an amateur and a professional, Kozak has finished every one of his professional bouts within the distance, including four ferocious wins by KO. The "CEO" has been running roughshod over the European regional circuit, most recently earning a brutal win by body kick to earn the RFA middleweight strap. At just 24 years old, he looks to have plenty of room to evolve and grow as a prospect, a scary prospect considering how devastating he's been in his young career to date.

Christian Echols: "The Vanilla Gorilla" looks to defy the odds as the biggest underdog on the card

Best known for a shock KO victory over the highly touted wrestling prospect, Patrick Downey, in Bellator, Christian Echols (8-4) has spent the majority of his career fighting on the American regional circuit, posting a 100% finish rate in victory. A heavy hitter with dynamite in his hands, the 10th Planet Decatur representative is also a BJJ brown belt with a knack for scoring submission victories. "The Vanilla Gorilla" has an extremely inspiring backstory, having overcome addiction to turn his life around and looks to complete a fairytale arc come Tuesday night.

Martin Kozak vs Christian Echols prediction

With the greatest of respect, this looks like a complete squash match.

Echols is a dense middleweight and has big power, but he’s also 5’9”, taking on an undefeated finisher who stands every inch of 6’4”. Kozak has a 100% stoppage rate across six fights and “The Vanilla Gorilla” has been finished in all four of his professional losses to date. He’s just one fight removed from a nasty TKO defeat and his only win since that loss came over a fighter with a record of 1-12.

For the sake of playing Devil’s Advocate, it is worth noting that Echols does have history of defying the odds; his KO win over Patrick Downey in Bellator proved that he’s capable of scoring the upset even when the deck seems stacked against him. However, I think that Kozak’s size and power is going to be a step too far for him here. Even if the Slovakian doesn’t just blast him in the early goings, he’s going to be able to use his range to pick the American apart and eventually find a finish.

The pick is “CEO” to clean house by first round KO.

Prediction: Martin Kozak to win by first round KO