Rousimar Palhares returns to middleweight for KSW debut against Michal Materla

Rousimar Palhares will return to the middleweight division for his KSW debut against former champion Michal Materla on Oct. 1, MMA Fighting has confirmed following a report by MMA Rocks.

Palhares (18-7) had a successful 4-0 run as a welterweight with four submission before suffering his first defeat against Emil Meek last May. According to his manager Alex Davis, "Toquinho" will return to 170 pounds after this upcoming fight.

Materla (23-5) held and defended the KSW middleweight championship for over three years before suffering a 31-second loss to Mamed Khalidov last November. Materla recently improved to 14-3 under the KSW banner with a first-round stoppage over Antoni Chmielewski.

"I’m happy that KSW believes in Rousimar and signed him," Davis said. "Rousimar is a fighter that has made a few mistakes in the past, but he was a victim from the media more than anything else, which is really unfair. He held this too long, he did this or that. That’s not fair.

"He never stopped being one of the best welterweights on the planet, and over there in Poland people will appreciate him a lot. He will show what he’s capable of again. He will do great fights, provide for his family, and pay his bills. I’m happy for him, and will always be by his side."

KSW 36 is set to take place at the Zielona Gora, Poland, and will feature light heavyweight champion Tomasz Narkun and lightweight champion Mateusz Gamrot against yet-to-be-announced opponents.