23 fighters are ready for the EC Open-Weight in the mens’s division, Latvia 3-4th October. Who will win?!
As previously mentioned, the Open Weight class is interesting for several reasons. Naturally, there is the matter of crowning a winner, but one of the most intriguing aspects is the prospect of seeing bouts between two champions—who would normally compete in different weight divisions—facing off against each other. Photo by the never resting: Okiem Sportowca
There is a strong possibility of this happening at this year’s Open-weight tournament, and looking at the lineup, there are matchups we would very much like to see.
Maciej Mazur (Poland) made an incredibly strong “comeback” earlier this year at the European Championship (EC) weight-category tournament. By winning the heavyweight division—and doing so in highly convincing fashion—he is once again among the pre-tournament favorites.
However, there are undoubtedly significant hurdles to clear before this scenario might unfold. Maciej Mazur reached the final back in 2018, facing the legendary Valeri Dimitrov (Bulgaria) at the time. This year’s lineup features no previous EC EKO Open-weight champions, meaning that whoever wins will mark a major milestone in their career.
Another fighter to watch closely is Patrik Lajtos (Hungary). He won the Light-heavy weight weight class earlier this year—and yes, this is a matchup we would love to see: Patrik Lajtos vs. Maciej Mazur. Photo: SHSZ Shinkyokushin Harcművész Szövetség
Whether or when this might happen remains to be seen, though it is reasonable to assume they would not meet until the final. For the record, Patrik Lajtos reached the Open-weight final in 2024, finishing in a solid second place.
Marek Wolny (Poland) won in 2022, facing David Mskhaladze (Georgia) in the final. David Mskhaladze is competing again now; he won his weight class (-90 kg) in 2025. Back in the 2022 Open-weight tournament, he defeated the aforementioned Patrik Lajtos in the semifinals—an incredibly demanding bout! Photo by the never resting: Okiem Sportowca
At the 2022 Openweight European Championship, David Mskhaladze received the “Spirit Award,” while Patrik Lajtos took home the “Technique Award.” We would love to see a rematch between them—and we’d also like to see David Mskhaladze face Mazur, for that matter!
But it doesn’t stop there; there are several other fighters we want to see in action: Artem Akimenkov (Poland), Samuel Jacob Hallas (Denmark), Gergely Fekete (Hungary), and Orestas Abazorius (Lithuania)—to name a few.
We have focused here on those who have made their mark previously, but that doesn’t mean others won’t stand out as well. It is also important to remember that, given the tournament’s knockout format, the consequences of a single bout—such as accumulated damage—can significantly impact a fighter’s performance later in the competition.
This element is always an “X-factor,” and it is good to have such unpredictability in the sport; if the outcome were entirely predictable, interest would fade. That is, for instance, one of the downsides of fully seeded brackets. Photo: SHSZ Shinkyokushin Harcművész Szövetség
We would also like to mention that the host nation, Latvia, is fielding a competitor in this division. Latvia hosting its first European Championship for the organization is a major milestone in itself, and it is especially gratifying for the host nation to have the opportunity to field local fighters. Latvian Kyokushin Federation FB
What we saw of Klaudijs Jankevics at this year’s Carpathia Cup left us with a very positive impression of a skilled, all-round fighter. He displayed good footwork, sharp timing, and excellent combinations. That performance was in the -80 kg division; now, in the openweight class, a mobile fighter with strong footwork could hold the key to success.
All that remains is to wish good luck to everyone involved—organizers and participants alike.