Her last fight left everyone speechless – she managed to push Lucie Pudilová to the edge, and it was just a hair’s breadth away from her being the one to fight for the title now. Their bout was talked about as one of the best of the evening, and Bolander is attracting more and more fans. However, the Norwegian fighter doesn’t have it easy… yet she relentlessly pursues her goals.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/a55b254c-e928-473f-825f-cbe99e32582f/cs.1734711257963.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/15e0548f-f9c1-471d-817b-9b4f99568d10/cs.1734711258372.png"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent>Your last fight against Pudilová was incredibly close. How do you look back on that fight now? Do you feel like you deserved the win?I mean, feeling like you deserve to win—I don’t know. The judges are there, they’re doing their job, and I trust them. So, I guess she deserved the win. What I know from the fight is that it’s a fight I should have ended way earlier. But the circumstances were different, and all I can say is that if I meet her again, it will not be a judge’s decision.You are currently the backup for the title fight between Szabová and Pudilová – how challenging is it to stay ready to jump in if needed? Do you think about that possibility, or are you solely focused on your own fight?I’m still at that level where I need to improve in all aspects of MMA. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the cage—it probably never will. But I know where I’m going. The one on the other side is just another piece of the puzzle, someone I have to get through to reach the next level.It’s not very challenging to be a backup in this title fight. Honestly, this is probably the first time I’ve ever hoped someone would get injured or sick so I can step in. It’s not personal. I just want that title fight more than probably any of the other girls.We’re curious about the situation of MMA in Norway, where the sport is reportedly illegal. What’s your take on that?I definitely want to be part of making MMA legal in Norway. I do think it will happen, and I hope to help the process.How does the legal situation in Norway practically complicate your career and your preparation for fights?It complicates things for the career. It makes it way harder to get sponsorships. For me personally, the hardest part is not having any insurance for what I do, which bothers me a lot. Most people don’t have insurance because they expect something bad to happen, but because it’s a safety net. It would be nice to have that backup.Is it even possible to train in your country?It’s absolutely possible to train properly here. We have a lot of great people, but competing in MMA is hard.What advice would you give to Norwegian girls who want to pursue MMA?I have a very simple mentality: if you want to do something, figure it out and make it happen. It doesn’t matter if there’s a lot of support or none at all. If you want it enough, you’ll find a way.That’s my philosophy. If you don’t have something, it’s just a matter of time before you get it. It’s up to you to figure out how to go from point A to point B.Women in MMA are generally still often underestimated. What do you think women bring to the sport?I think we create this perception ourselves to some extent. For me, I present myself as a feminine woman—soft and approachable on the outside—but when I step into the cage, I bring what I need to prove I can fight. I understand that women in MMA are underestimated. We’ll never be boys or guys, but that’s not my goal. I don’t care about how people view me outside the cage. I want people to look at me as a fighter. I don’t want people to watch me because I’m a woman or because of how I look. I want them to watch me because they like how I fight.Is there anything that women in MMA have to deal with that’s particularly challenging compared to men?Weight cutting in female divisions is harder. Physically, fighting isn’t something natural for women. Our bodies aren’t made for it, but we still do it.How did you get into MMA?As for how I got into the sport, I think it’s about the people. Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve stayed because of the people I’m surrounded by. I’ve always loved the people in combat sports, and that’s why I’ve stayed.What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?My biggest lesson is to trust myself more than I ever have before. I know what I’m capable of, and what I don’t know yet will come with time. The most important thing is: don’t stress. Whatever happens, happens for a reason. Your job is to work through it, learn from it, and build from it.You’re fighting right after Christmas, which is usually a time of rest and good food for most people. How do you balance the festive atmosphere with the hard training for a fight?I’m just focusing on the fight. I don’t really care about the Christmasy things. I think it’s nice, but I’m not big on traditions. Fighting is what I love, so that’s my focus.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1070"></oktfightcomponent>Does it also mean you can’t see your family that much?I love spending time with my family, and I’ll still be seeing them every day while I’m training. It’s not much different; there’ll just be more family around. It’s going to be nice.And what about New Year’s Eve, do you have any New Year’s resolutions?My resolution is to have good fights. I want my family and friends to stay safe and sound, and I want to help those around me who need it. That’s all I want for the new year.THE BEST OKTAGON CARD IN HISTORY IS HERE! OKTAGON 65 ON DECEMBER 29 IN PRAGUE – DON’T MISS IT!<okteventcomponent eventid="98"></okteventcomponent>

An outstanding OKTAGON fighter in an interview about the conditions for MMA in her home country and much more. 

BOLANDER: I WANT TO HELP LEGALIZE MMA IN NORWAY

For ten years, we have been writing stories together. OKTAGON celebrates a decade of entertainment, matches, and moments when we faced fear. To mark this milestone, we teamed up with Footshop to create a special collection, The Art of Fight. It was completely designed and created by the Footshop team in Prague. And just like every fight in the cage, this collection tells its own story.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/76274d54-3796-4173-8226-53209b963090/cs.1785528306695.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/cd0a4f80-c590-4e26-9d11-a599844aa340/cs.1785528314945.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent>The Art of Fight collection is for everyone who hasn’t given up on their dream, regardless of how tired they were, how many people doubted them, or how many times they were told they couldn’t do it. Most people only notice you once you reach the top. But this is for you. For the one who chased their dream long before anyone was even watching. This story is sewn into every piece of the collection – and now you can wear it too.Footshop x OKTAGON brings this spirit into an exclusive thirteen-piece collection that blends the raw energy of combat sports with a streetwear aesthetic. The faces of the collaboration include fighters Václav Štěpán, Nick Stamidis, and Jakub Batfalský.The entire The Art of Fight collection is available right now on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://store.oktagonmma.com/">OKTAGON Store</a> and at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Footshop.cz">Footshop.cz</a>. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting your journey or have been fighting for your dream for a long time – this collection is for you.

For ten years, we have been writing stories together. OKTAGON celebrates a decade of entertainment, matches, and moments when we faced fear. To mark this milestone, we teamed up with Footshop to create a special collection, The Art of Fight.

THE ART OF FIGHT: OKTAGON AND FOOTSHOP PRESENT A SPECIAL COLLECTION TO MARK A DECADE

Two titles, one night, ten years of history. Štvanice is preparing for a jubilee storm. The card will offer two title fights, returns to the cage, a Czech derby between two young talents, and much more. Get ready for a summer tournament that will rewrite history. Take a look at the complete overview of what awaits us at Štvanice.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/95d85795-10b0-4f14-b314-6cddb1e04946/cs.1785500526490.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/3cbc7ff6-77b6-4276-bede-0b5a9699d5d5/cs.1785500531429.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>LUCIA SZABOVÁ VS. LUCIE PUDILOVÁ</h2>The main event of the evening and the female fight of the century. Undefeated Slovak champion Lucia "Silent Killer" Szabová (11-0), historically the first double champion of OKTAGON, will defend her bantamweight throne against Lucie Pudilová (17-11), historically the first Czech woman in the UFC. The duel was supposed to take place twice already, but was thwarted both times by injury or illness. After more than a year and a half of waiting, they will finally meet at Štvanice. Can Pudilová seize a historic victory and hand the champion her first loss, or will Szabová confirm her absolute dominance and keep her throne?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1445"></oktfightcomponent><h2>WILL FLEURY VS. MAKHMUD MURADOV</h2>The highest-ranked men's fight in the history of OKTAGON according to world rankings. Irish champion Will Fleury (17-3) is currently the reigning ruler of two divisions. Originally, he was supposed to defend his belt at Štvanice in a rematch with Daniel Škvor. However, Škvor got injured twelve days before the tournament, so Makhmud "Mach" Muradov (29-8), the interim middleweight champion, stepped into the cage instead. Muradov is moving to the light heavyweight division, planning to thwart Fleury's plan to become the first triple champion. Will Fleury manage to defend the belt, or will Muradov become the first man to defeat him in OKTAGON?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1467"></oktfightcomponent><h2>DAVID KOZMA VS. DAVID ZAWADA</h2>A clash of two Davids, which could decide the fate of both. Fan favorite and the longest-reigning champion in OKTAGON history David "Pink Panther" Kozma (33-15) returns to Štvanice after eight years with the goal of confirming that his return to the winning track this year was no coincidence. Facing him is UFC, KSW, and PFL veteran David "Sagat" Zawada (20-12), who is returning to the welterweight division where he once reached the UFC, and recently showed in a tough battle with Daniel Ligocký how hard it is to beat him. Will Kozma find his way back to the top, or will the experienced Zawada send him to another defeat?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1470"></oktfightcomponent><h2>HAFENI NAFUKA VS. TOMÁŠ MUDROCH</h2>A clash between a fast finisher and a patient grappler. Tomáš "Ostrava Express" Mudroch (8-2) delivered all eight of his professional wins in the first round and is one of the organization's most dangerous strikers. Against him stands Hafeni "The Namibian Nightmare" Nafuka (12-4), a German fighter with Namibian roots and one of the best grapplers in his division. Will Mudroch deliver another quick finish, or will Nafuka with stand his opponent's pressure and take the fight to where he is most dangerous?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1463"></oktfightcomponent><h2>JAKUB BATFALSKÝ VS. VOJTĚCH KHOL</h2>A Czech derby between two young talents in the featherweight division. Vojtěch "Vichr z hor" Khol (3-1), a three-time Czech amateur champion from Patrik Kincl's stable, questioned Batfalský's place in the top ten on social media. Ostrava-born striker Jakub Batfalský (9-2) accepted the challenge with pleasure. Will Batfalský turn his experience into another triumph, or will Khol snatch the biggest victory of his professional career so far?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1472"></oktfightcomponent>PRELIMS<h2>DAVID HOŠEK VS. DANIEL SCHWINDT</h2>We probably won't need judges for this one! Local powerhouse and feared striker David Hošek (13-8-1) wants to jump back on the winning track after a loss to Poppeck. He plans to use his famous "grenades" for that. The tough German striker Daniel Schwindt (8-5), who has victories over names like Úškrt or Bartl, has the same plan. Both fighters experienced defeats in their last duels and are now playing for everything. We are in for a brutal shootout where only the one with the tougher chin survives.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1471"></oktfightcomponent><h2>MIROSLAV BROŽ VS. RAFAEL ARONOV</h2>A return after twenty-seven months in retirement. Miroslav "The Inquisitor" Brož (17-4-1) hung up his gloves after a loss to Christian Eckerlin, but now he is returning exactly where he made his debut in 2018 at the OKTAGON 7 tournament. He has scalps like Jungwirth, Pukač, or Primeira. Standing in his way is Israeli debutant Rafael "The Cop" Aronov (8-6), who has delivered all eight of his victories so far before the limit. Can Brož jump back into form after a long break, or can the dangerous debutant stop him?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1451"></oktfightcomponent><h2>JAKUB TICHOTA VS. FIRAS DAUD</h2>The anticipated return of one of the greatest Czech talents. Jakub "Chimp" Tichota (6-4), a two-time challenger for the OKTAGON featherweight title, returns to the cage after a serious injury. Facing him is German fighter Firas Daud (5-1), who has delivered all five of his professional wins before the limit and debuted in OKTAGON with a close loss to Václav Štěpán. Will Tichota find his form again, or will the German prospect add another quick finish to his list?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1474"></oktfightcomponent><h2>ROMAN PAULUS VS. HARUN KURT</h2>Winner of the fifth season of OKTAGON Challenge, Roman Paulus (12-6), has passed through the fire of heavy wars and now needs to confirm his qualities in a new weight category, seeking stability in bantamweight after moving from featherweight. Standing in his way is Harun Kurt (6-0), one of the drivers of the German scene, who as a professional has not yet tasted the bitterness of defeat. Will Paulus manage to stop the German machine, or will Kurt record his seventh consecutive victory?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1456"></oktfightcomponent>FREE PRELIMS<h2>IVAN KLEVETS VS. KEVIN ENZ</h2>The beginning of the entire gala evening promises a fantastic spectacle. Ukrainian combat sambo master Ivan Klevets (4-3), training at the Monster Gym in Prague, is riding a wave of four wins and showing that his initial losses were just a hard lesson. Now he will be tested by the youngest holder of a black belt in BJJ in Germany, Kevin Enz (6-4). The top grappler is coming to stop Klevets' rise. Which of the two rising fighters will start the evening at Štvanice better?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1480"></oktfightcomponent>Ten years of the yellow-black colossus will culminate right where its greatest stories were written. The OKTAGON 92 tournament on August 1st will transform Prague's Štvanice into an open-air arena, and together we will celebrate the organization's tenth birthday. Štvanice is already hopelessly sold out, but you won't miss a thing – watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a> and be there with us!<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

Two titles, one night, ten years of history. Štvanice is preparing for a jubilee storm. The card will offer two title fights, returns to the cage, a Czech derby between two young talents, and much more. Get ready for a summer tournament that will rewrite history.

ŠTVANICE FIGHT CARD FIGHT BY FIGHT: TWO TITLE BOUTS FOR THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY

The 10th-anniversary card hides more than you expect. Get ready for the female clash of the century that fell through twice, the highest-ranked male duel in the organization's history, and exactly nine athletes returning to the island. Dive into the greatest stories OKTAGON 92 has to offer!<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/bccdd896-cb2a-453e-a538-8d917d291422/cs.1785331330276.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/ea40821c-125f-460d-9029-fb4703a77f32/cs.1785331336457.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>RETURNS TO THE ISLAND</h2>Nine fighters are returning to Štvanice, a place they know all too well. Kozma and Zawada, along with Lucia Szabová and Vojtěch Khol, are stepping back into this arena following last year’s OKTAGON 74, where Khol made his debut and Szabová claimed her first title. Miroslav Brož and David Hošek made their promotional debuts here back in 2018 at OKTAGON 7, the very first MMA event hosted on this island. Roman Paulus and Ivan Klevets went to battle here in 2023 at OKTAGON 45, which marked Klevets' debut. This elite group also includes Makhmud Muradov, who fought at Štvanice in 2019 at OKTAGON 13.<h2>FEMALE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY, CANCELLED TWICE</h2>The Main Event promises the biggest Czech-Slovak female clash in history. Lucia Szabová (11-0), the double champion of the bantamweight and flyweight divisions, will defend her throne against Lucia Pudilová (17-11), the first Czech woman in the UFC. The road to this super fight was unusually thorny. The warriors were supposed to meet on December 29, 2024, at OKTAGON 65 in Prague’s O2 arena, but a severe flu with high fevers took Szabová out just days before the bout. Cecilie Bolander stepped in on short notice and defeated Pudilová. The second attempt came on June 14, 2025, at OKTAGON 72 in Eden, but this time a torn ligament and meniscus took Pudilová out of the game. Finally, on the third try and after more than a year and a half of waiting, the war will happen at Štvanice.<h2>A RUGBY INJURY THAT FORGED A CHAMPION</h2>Original challenger Daniel Škvor tore his pectoral muscle less than two weeks before the tournament and was forced to withdraw. Stepping up on twelve days' notice is interim middleweight champion Makhmud Muradov. Thanks to this change, we are getting the highest-ranked male fight in the organization's history. Will Fleury is the 31st light heavyweight on the planet, while Muradov is the 34th best fighter in the middleweight division.Fleury found his way to MMA completely by accident. During a rugby match, an opponent landed a knee on his foot, crushing his instep. During recovery, his physiotherapist recommended boxing footwork. He found an MMA gym that was just opening, and Will Fleury never returned to rugby. Today, the double champion holds a 2135-day undefeated streak.<h2>THE BIRTHDAY DUEL OF TWO DAVIDS</h2>David Zawada was born on August 1, 1990. At Štvanice, he will celebrate his 36th birthday directly inside the cage. He earned the nickname "Sagat" during his first clash in 2010. With a shaved head and Muay Thai shorts, he reminded a friend of the character from Street Fighter.His opponent will be the legendary David Kozma, who celebrates his birthday on August 13, just twelve days later. Kozma is the longest-reigning champion in OKTAGON history, holding the welterweight belt for an incredible 1477 days and defending his title five times. He also boasts the record for the most successful takedowns in OKTAGON, delivering 49 in total. He has worn the "Pink Panther" nickname since childhood, always wearing pink and calling himself a "pretty boy." To this day, he dyes his hair pink for his fights and enters the cage in pink shorts.<h2>LEGO LOVER AND A GRAPPLER WHO CAN'T SWIM</h2>Tomáš Mudroch has delivered all eight of his professional wins in the very first round. His average time to victory is 1 minute and 49 seconds, the shortest among all active fighters in the organization. He attacks opponents with kicks every 13 seconds on average, setting the fastest pace among male athletes. He has six TKO/KO finishes as a pro, yet all his amateur wins came via submission. He earned the nickname “Ostravský expres” after his debut win in OKTAGON, mimicking a train sound in the post-fight interview. His guilty pleasure outside the cage? Building Lego.Facing him is Namibian-born Hafeni Nafuka, one of the best grapplers in his division. He has 32 successful takedowns to his name, the third highest in OKTAGON history. Although he regularly drowns his opponents in the deep waters of elite grappling, he hides one paradoxical handicap. He cannot swim at all.<h2>TRASHED EXAMS AND A BEAUTY PAGEANT SILVER</h2>Jakub Batfalský got into MMA as a kid by playing the UFC game on Xbox. Despite being only 23, he has already been tested in the cage by names like Karol Ryšavý and Gjoni Palokaj. Before his bout with Ryšavý, he even skipped his final high school exams to fully focus on his preparation. He also participated in the Mr. Man 2025 competition, taking home silver.Standing in his way is Vojtěch Khol from All Sports Academy, who was inspired to start martial arts at 16 by Conor McGregor. Khol called Batfalský out on social media. Outside the cage, he co-hosts the Fight and Talk podcast with his coach, Patrik Kincl.<h2>THINGS YOU HAVEN'T HEARD YET</h2><ul><li>Roman Paulus is one of only three fighters in OKTAGON history to win in three different weight classes.</li><li>Jakub Tichota fought four full rounds against Losene Keita with a broken collarbone.</li><li>David Hošek is a Mensa member with a measured IQ of 130.</li><li>Miroslav Brož is a former hockey talent who shared a locker room with future NHL star Michal Neuvirth before switching to MMA. He returns to action after 27 months.</li><li>Rafael Aronov is a member of the Israeli special police forces and holds a black belt in Luta Livre.</li></ul>The most beautiful tournament of the year returns! On August 1, OKTAGON 92 transforms Prague's Štvanice into an electrifying open-air arena to celebrate a decade of the yellow-and-black colossus. Štvanice is hopelessly sold out, but you won't miss a thing. Watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a> and be part of the history!<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

The 10th-anniversary card hides more than you expect. Get ready for the female clash of the century that fell through twice, the highest-ranked male duel in the organization's history, and exactly nine athletes returning to the island.

ŠTVANICE FUNFACTS: BIRTHDAY CLASH, MENSA MEMBER & GRAPPLER WHO CAN'T SWIM 

Twelve days. That’s how much time was left before the planned title rematch when a snap occurred, turning the script of OKTAGON 92 upside down. Daniel Škvor tore his pectoral muscle tendon during his final training session, and his fight for the light heavyweight belt ended before it even began. In his place, Makhmud Muradov, the reigning interim middleweight champion, will fly to Prague's Štvanice on August 1st, having accepted the challenge without hesitation. This creates a duel that, according to world rankings, has the highest combined standing in the organization's history.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/8db2768f-9a64-4653-b017-1abe3f67421b/cs.1785161970993.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/a6da998b-b40a-4a95-8e04-df9650072ac1/cs.1785161976643.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" cropcornertl="false" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>A REPLACEMENT THAT SHUFFLED THE DECK</h2>Just a few weeks ago, Fleury was supposed to defend his belt against Daniel Škvor at Štvanice. Their first clash at OKTAGON 56, where Fleury finished Škvor with an arm-triangle, was supposed to get a rematch, which Škvor earned after four consecutive wins. However, just before the tournament, an injury occurred that couldn't be helped – a torn pectoral muscle tendon, which could have ended his career if it got worse. Škvor chose his health and withdrew. "If I tore it completely, it would end my career. I'm sorry," the disappointed fighter messaged his fans. A replacement was needed. And one came. Makhmud Muradov accepted the offer immediately, even though he has to move up a weight class for the title chance. According to world rankings, this is the highest-ranked men's fight in OKTAGON history. Fleury currently ranks 31st in the light heavyweight division, Muradov 34th in the middleweight division.<h2>UNSTOPPABLE IRISH PHENOMENON WILL FLEURY</h2>Double champion Will Fleury (17-3, 1 NC) was brought to combat sports by an injury. The native of the Irish town of Cahir in County Tipperary played rugby in New York, where an opponent's knee crushed his leg during a tackle. The fracture sidelined him from the field for months, and doctors recommended boxing footwork as part of his rehabilitation. Fleury headed to a boxing club, where he stumbled upon a cage. At that moment, he decided to try MMA. It turned out to be fate. Under the banner of the famous SBG Ireland, he built a reputation as a fighter who cannot be stopped by physical pain or foreign territory. His path led him to American Bellator or PFL, where he gathered valuable experience against the world's elite and confirmed that he can stand his ground on the big stage. He then returned to Europe with a clear goal – to conquer OKTAGON.He entered OKTAGON in April 2024 at the OKTAGON 56 tournament in Birmingham, where he took Daniel Škvor to the ground and finished him with an arm-triangle in the second round. It was just a prelude. In October, at the football stadium in Frankfurt, he added a knockout of Pavol Langer in the very first round, and at the end of 2024 at OKTAGON 65 in Prague's O2 arena, he defeated Karlos Vémola on points to win the light heavyweight belt. Three months later at OKTAGON 68 in Stuttgart, he survived a five-round war with Lazar Todev for the vacant heavyweight title and became the organization's double champion. In December 2025, he sent Martin Buday to the floor during the first round, and this June at OKTAGON 90 in Berlin, he finished Kasim Aras with a second-round knockout. Fleury is undefeated in OKTAGON, with a streak of six consecutive wins, and is speaking loudly about how even two belts aren't enough for him. He dreams of the middleweight title, which would make him the historically first triple champion of OKTAGON.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbBrkpmshgi/"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>MAKHMUD MURADOV: UZBEK FIGHTER WITH A CZECH HEART</h2>Makhmud "Mach" Muradov (29-8, 1 NC) was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from where his family had to flee to Uzbekistan in the nineties to escape the civil war. When his father was sidelined from normal life by a serious car accident, fifteen-year-old Muradov quit school and supported his family himself. He also earned money in the Russian Siberia, where he went through a rough environment and his life was literally on the line several times. Combat sports were his only refuge and at the same time his only way out.The breakthrough came in 2011, when he headed to Prague empty-handed. He worked as a construction worker and waiter before Petr "Monster" Kníže discovered him and took him under his wing at the Prague Monster Gym. He debuted in OKTAGON back in 2019 and finished his opponents with a knockout twice. In Bratislava, he defeated Alberto Pereira, and a few weeks later, right at Štvanice, he sent Wendell Marques to the floor. It was this series that catapulted him overseas. He became the first MMA fighter signed to Floyd Mayweather's stable and left to fight in the UFC, where he collected valuable scalps and hard lessons. He returned to OKTAGON last September, where he defeated Scott Askham on points at the OKTAGON 61 tournament in Brno. In March of this year at OKTAGON 68 in Stuttgart, he finished Yasubey Enomoto with a hard TKO in the second round, and in June at the sold-out Eden stadium at OKTAGON 72, he outpointed Patrik Kincl to win the interim middleweight title. Since his return to OKTAGON, Muradov is undefeated with three wins in a row, and now he is attacking the higher division head-on, with a clear goal. He intends to win Fleury's light heavyweight belt.<h2>WHO WILL TAKE HOME THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BELT?</h2>The stakes are high on both sides. Fleury already holds two belts, and another defense would bring him closer to his dream of becoming the organization's first-ever triple champion. Muradov, on the other hand, holds the interim middleweight champion position, but at Štvanice, he is going one weight class up and attacking Fleury's belt in a division where he has never fought before. Fleury's pressure and dominance on the ground belong to the most feared weapons of the entire organization; Muradov, in turn, brings speed and power, which gives him eighteen career KO/TKOs. Who will walk away from this fight of the highest-ranked fighters in the organization as the winner? We will find out on August 1st at Štvanice.The OKTAGON 92 tournament will strike on August 1st at Prague's Štvanice and will become the climax of the organization's tenth-anniversary celebrations. The island in the middle of the Vltava is hopelessly sold out. But you won't miss out on the entertainment! Watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>.<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

Twelve days. That’s how much time was left before the planned title rematch when a snap occurred, turning the script of OKTAGON 92 upside down.

MURADOV STEPS IN AGAINST FLEURY IN THE HIGHEST-RANKED FIGHT IN OKTAGON HISTORY

Twice he was supposed to face a foreign opponent. Twice came injury and an empty spot in the cage. When it looked like one of the biggest talents on the domestic scene would be left without a fight at Štvanice, a voice from the Podkrkonoší region spoke up. Vojtěch Khol stepped up, called out Batfalský on social media, and saved the duel with his own challenge. The celebration of ten years of OKTAGON will break out on August 1st, and Štvanice will witness a clash of two young talents.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/cf322dab-98d3-458b-9524-e2a443288845/cs.1784805711064.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/46aafe72-27c7-40cb-b05c-0a0cce430ce2/cs.1784805715867.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>JAKUB BATFALSKÝ: THE OSTRAVA SNIPER AIMING FOR THE TOP</h2>Jakub Batfalský (9-2) is considered by many fans to be the biggest talent the Czech scene has produced in recent years, and his amateur trophy case only confirms it. In 2021, he collected titles as the champion of the Czech Republic (MMAA) and Slovakia (MAMMAL) and brought home bronze from the European Championship of the GAMMA federation. He jumped into the pro ranks a year later and ended his very first match with an armbar in just forty-three seconds. Since then, the tall Ostrava sniper has been building his career on a hard, precise stand-up game and a hunger for the belt.In the yellow-black cage, he holds a 4-2 record. In his debut, he ran into Sami Zarabi, against whom he lost on points. Subsequently, he ran over Dominik Toporcer by TKO in the first round, was the first to defeat the then-undefeated Joel Batob, and outpointed the legendary Karol Ryšavý at the stadium in Prague's Eden. When he got the main event of the tournament in Hannover, he hit a wall for the first time. Gjoni Palokaj defeated him on points, and Batfalský himself admitted that he "threw the tactics away after five seconds." But he absorbed the lesson and returned this February at home in Ostrava with a win over Eugene Black-Dell. Outside the cage, he even managed to win silver in the Man of the Year contest. Now he holds seventh place in the top ten of the featherweight division and is speaking loudly about the title.<h2>VOJTĚCH KHOL: THE STORM FROM THE MOUNTAINS WHO ASKED FOR A CHANCE&nbsp;</h2>Standing against him is a man who asked for this fight himself. Vojtěch "The Storm from the Mountains" Khol (3-1) comes from Hostinné in the Podkrkonoší region. Before he even looked into the pros, he collected dozens of amateur fights, dominated the national championship three times, and represented the country at world championships under the IMMAF banner. Today, he sharpens his ground game craft at the Hradec All Sports Academy alongside Patrik Kincl and David Dvořák.He started his story in OKTAGON exactly according to plan. He jumped into his debut at Štvanice last year at the last minute, just six days before the tournament, and choked out Italian fighter Raphael Federico with a guillotine in the third round. A sobering reality came at the end of the year when Hugo Vach outpointed him at the O2 arena. However, Khol didn't back down once and left with the reputation of a man with a concrete chin. He doesn't feature in the rankings yet, so he didn't wait for an invitation. On Instagram, he took a shot at Batfalský's position among the elite: "In my life, I've seen a fighter jet reverse, a local Ostrava guy cheer for Opava, but Kuba Batfalský being seventh in our weight class? You boy, how did you get there, where did you pop up from? That's not possible. In my opinion, you have no business there." And he added the date right away. Štvanice, August 1st.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaQCcXzIYI3/"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>A TALL SNIPER AGAINST A GRITTY GROUND FIGHTER</h2>We have a pure Czech derby of two predators here, separated by a chasm of styles. On one side, a lanky Ostrava stand-up fighter with a reach thirteen centimeters longer and a hard punch. On the other, a shorter, tireless ground fighter who will want to drag him to the ground. Batfalský has something to lose, Khol has something to gain. One came to confirm his place among the elite, the other came to deprive him of it.The most beautiful tournament of the year returns! The OKTAGON 92 tournament will turn the Prague Štvanice into an open-air arena on August 1st, and together we will celebrate ten years of the yellow-black colossus. Štvanice is sold out, but you won't miss anything. Watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a> and be there with us!<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

Twice he was supposed to face a foreign opponent. Twice came injury and an empty spot in the cage. When it looked like one of the biggest talents on the domestic scene would be left without a fight at Štvanice, a voice from the Podkrkonoší region spoke up. 

THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ANSWERED! KHOL WILL FACE BATFALSKÝ AT ŠTVANICE

As a young boy, he would sit at the winter stadium on Prague's Štvanice at six in the morning, dreaming of a grand hockey career. More than twenty years later, he enters the very same open-air island as one of the most beloved athletes OKTAGON has ever seen. Miroslav "Inquisitor" Brož (17-4-1) returns from his fighting retirement on August 1st at the OKTAGON 92 tournament, ready to leave his soul in the cage once again. What drives a warrior who already said goodbye to his combat journey? Read the story of a man who hit rock bottom and fought his way back to the top.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/904909ad-a31d-44e0-8cf3-ed45af568cee/cs.1784547985149.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/cfbaa45c-abd6-4695-982d-a7f185b8c7de/cs.1784547987564.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>GOALIE WITH A FATEFUL INJURY</h2>Brož's story didn't start in combat, but on the ice. He was drawn to hockey at the age of ten by the Nagano euphoria, and his relentless work ethic propelled him upward. Within a year he was at Slavia; in three years, he made the national team. He went through the youth selections from fifteen to eighteen, shared a national locker room with future NHL stars, and alongside Michal Neuvirth, was nominated for the Under-18 World Championship—the exact event that opens doors to the overseas draft. The interest was real, and the dream was within reach.Then came the breaking point. After a severe bout of pneumonia, he returned to the ice too soon. During his first explosive movement, he tore a muscle and was forced into a six-month hiatus. "The train just left without me. You constantly hear you're on track for the NHL, and suddenly you realize it's not going to happen. It's devastating when a lifelong dream you sacrificed absolutely everything for collapses," Brož recalls. He tried his luck in lower leagues but found no solid ground. At nineteen, he hung up his skates and cut ties with hockey so deeply that he couldn't even watch it on TV for a long time.<h2>THREE YEARS OF DARKNESS</h2>He filled the void left by his hockey dreams with alcohol, nightclubs, and street fights. "It was very wild, very problematic. I was one step away from doing time. It lasted about three years. Three years of drinking while simultaneously battling anxiety," he says, describing a period he refuses to hide. He would wake up depressed, asking friends who he had assaulted the night before. He walked a razor's edge. "There were times when I was a bad person. A very bad person. A thug. We were very close to meeting in prison," he recounts in the book OKTAGON Bez frází.<h2>THE BIRTH OF THE INQUISITOR</h2>The end of his downward spiral came abruptly. "One beautiful day, I realized this couldn't go on. I quit overnight," Brož states. He stopped drinking, severed ties with his toxic environment, and found two unbreakable anchors: faith and combat sports. As an active Protestant, he still attends church, considering the Bible the cornerstone around which he builds his life. Because of his faith, he even has a unique clause in his contract: he will never step into a fight on Saturday before sunset, as the Bible dictates one should not work on that day.From this exact paradox, his legendary nickname was forged. It was coined by his coach at Renegade Prague Gym, who couldn't fathom how a deeply religious man could be so ruthlessly vicious during sparring. Outside the cage, he is a humble, smiling believer; inside the fence, he transforms into the "Inquisitor" who preaches and punishes with his fists. He laughs about it himself: "As a Protestant, it's the worst nickname I could possibly have."<h2>A WARRIOR WHO ASKS FOR THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES</h2>Brož didn't bring the textbook technique of a pure standup fighter into the cage, but he brought something that cannot be taught: a bottomless will and an iron resilience that has become legendary. "I have no talent, I didn't have it in hockey either. With me, everything is grind, will, heart, and diligence,” describes the man who has collected dozens of broken noses, tore biceps tendons on both arms, and yet refused surgery just to rush back to training. He has stepped into battles with a torn thigh muscle and on antibiotics. And through it all, in his entire professional career, no one has managed to finish him via submission.His debut in OKTAGON took place precisely at Štvanice, when he defeated Gabriel Török under the open sky in 2018. A year later, he returned, but this time tasted the bitterness of defeat, losing to Jakub Běle via TKO in the first round. Over time, he earned the reputation of an athlete who actively demands the most dangerous opponents. One of the most famous clashes unfolded at OKTAGON 24 in May 2021, when he requested the indestructible Christian Jungwirth. He knew exactly what he was getting into, yet he engaged in an all-out, fifteen-minute war. OKTAGON still honors this duel as one of the most beautiful in its history, a night where Brož ultimately raised his hand in victory.<h2>A BLOODY FAREWELL AND A FATHER IN THE CROWD</h2>Jungwirth was far from the only big name on Brož's hit list. He forced Frenchman Emmanuel Dawa to tap out in the first round and choked out Igor Daniš in the third. Most of his victories share a distinct signature: three grueling rounds decided by the judges, just like his razor-thin win over Adam Šindelář. He collected eight wins in the organization. Ne always it however happened according to his imagination. All four of his career defeats took place inside the OKTAGON. In Ostrava at OKTAGON 11, Slovak Milan Ďatelinka stopped him; a year later came the loss to Jakub Běle. The narrowest defeat was handed to him by Jan Malach in a split-decision war at OKTAGON 20.He wrote his own final chapter. At OKTAGON 57, inside a sold-out Frankfurt arena, he challenged local king Christian Eckerlin and once again pushed through agonizing pain. "I'll leave my heart in there," he promised before the battle. Though he lost via TKO, he stunned the home crowd's star multiple times, leaving the battlefield covered in blood and deeply moved. A mountain of injuries and a desire to be with his family led to the decision to end. His strongest bond is with his father, who is over eighty and attends his matches in person. "My dad and I don't need to say anything. We just see each other and start laughing," he says. Outside the sport, he trains young hockey goalies, some of whom are reaching the national level. That was supposed to be the end. But after twenty-seven months, the adrenaline called him back.<h2>A COP WHO FORGIVES NO MISTAKES</h2>The Inquisitor returns exactly where his OKTAGON story began, and a brutal test awaits him. Standing in his way is Israeli specialist Rafael "The Cop" Aronov, a member of the elite Israeli police forces. He holds a black belt in Luta Livre, masters Krav Maga, and has secured all eight of his victories before the time limit. The question is absolute: Can the Inquisitor's boundless heart and insane pressure break the cold, calculated precision of the Israeli officer, or will Aronov prove that after a two-year hiatus, a comeback is nothing but a shattered dream?OKTAGON 92 will transform Prague's Štvanice into an open-air colosseum on August 1st, and Miroslav Brož returns to the very spot where his combat legacy began. Don't miss the spectacular return of a true local hero! Watch the tournament live and secure your PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>.<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

As a young boy, he would sit at the winter stadium on Prague's Štvanice at six in the morning, dreaming of a grand hockey career. More than twenty years later, he enters the very same open-air island as one of the most beloved athletes OKTAGON has ever seen.

A WARRIOR'S TALE: INQUISITOR BROŽ RETURNS HOME TO ŠTVANICE

Not long ago, they sweated on the same mat, fed lions together in "Vémoland," and parted as friends. Now they will clash in the cage. Karlos "The Terminator" Vémola snatched the fight of the century trilogy last June, claimed the unique "Infinity" belt, and immediately announced his retirement right in the cage. His retirement lasted fifteen months. He was lured back into action by a challenge from Frederic "The Neanderthal" Vosgröne, a German phenomenon and currently one of the most followed faces in local MMA. The celebrations of the yellow-and-black colossus's ten-year anniversary will culminate on September 26 at Deutsche Bank Park arena in Frankfurt. Will the Czech legend defend his legacy, or will a new global star be born before the eyes of sixty thousand spectators?<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/037f8edf-d081-4d50-81b5-80240a0bb466/cs.1784546779327.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/8aa41d2e-0f7d-46c5-9d4e-9eba5284ac6d/cs.1784546784341.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" cropcornertl="false" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>KARLOS VEMOLA: THE TERMINATOR RETURNS TO DEFEND HIS LEGACY</h2>Karlos Vémola (38-9) is an icon without whom Central European MMA would not be where it is today. His father introduced him to combat sports when he enrolled him in Greco-Roman wrestling at Sokol Olomouc at the age of six. As a young man, however, he was more drawn to bodybuilding, which eventually brought him to England. He worked as a bouncer in Tottenham, which led him to MMA. He won his first seven professional fights in the first round and in 2010 became the very first Czech to sign a UFC contract.Seventeen fights, thirteen wins, and two belts. That is his record in OKTAGON, which he opened in March 2019 at the OKTAGON 11 tournament, where he choked out Paweł Brandys in the first round. In July, he added a points victory over the Brazilian Henrique da Silva, and in November, the "Fight of the Century" awaited him at the O2 arena. Attila Végh dropped him with a knockout in the first round and Vémola experienced for the first time in his career what it was like to fall to the ground of the cage. He responded in the best possible way. In the autumn of 2020, he returned and managed three fights in seventy-four days. He forced both Thomas Robertsen and Václav Mikulášek to tap out, and when he outpointed Alex Lohoré at the end of December in Brno, he left the cage with the middleweight belt. In 2021, he fought only once. Milan Ďatelinka lasted two minutes and twelve seconds with him.In June 2022, he won in Frankfurt, where he finished Michal Pasternak with an arm triangle in the first round. Seven weeks later, he applied the same technique in the same round to Aleksandar Ilić at Štvanice and left the cage with the light heavyweight belt. The following year was a rollercoaster ride. In April, he choked out Al Matavao in Liberec; in May, he fell short on points against Patrik Kincl in the battle for the middleweight throne; in July, he outpointed Lucas Alsina; and in October in Bratislava, he sent Pavol Langer to the ground in seven seconds. To this day, it is the fastest finish in OKTAGON history. But three days before the end of the year, he was stopped by a knockout from Samuel Krištofič. Then came Eden and with it the rematch of the century. He forced Végh to tap out with an arm triangle in the second round in June 2024. At the end of the same year, he lost his light heavyweight belt, when he fell short against the Irishman Will Fleury, but he had the last word last June. At Fortuna Arena, he snatched a five-round war with Véghen on points, closed the trilogy 2:1, and walked away with the unique "Infinity" belt. He then announced his retirement straight from the cage.It was the perfect ending. But it didn't last. At the OKTAGON 91 tournament in Cologne, he accepted the challenge of the undefeated German. "I am sorry that I will have to beat up the darling of the German audience, but I never back down," he sent a message from the cage. He returns to Frankfurt, where he has already won once, after a fifteen-month break. Out of his thirteen wins in OKTAGON, he finished nine before the time limit and delivered eight by submission.<h2>FREDERIC VOSGRÖNE: THE GERMAN STAR HUNTING THE CZECH LEGEND</h2>On the other side stands a man who skipped the entire line in a year and a half. Frederic Vosgröne (5-0) was born in Düsseldorf and lives in Mettmann, just a few kilometers from the Neanderthal valley. That's where his nickname comes from, and you only need to look at the thirty-year-old athlete to see that it makes perfect sense. He has been training at the elite UFD Gym in Düsseldorf since 2014. However, before he even entered the world of MMA, he made a huge name for himself on the mat. He holds a black belt in BJJ, brought home bronze from the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, and won medals from the European championships. In 2020, he also dominated the Polaris UK Grand Prix, where he managed to defeat UFC veteran Tom Breese.In the cage, he changed absolutely nothing. Five fights, five wins, five submissions. No opponent has yet survived into the third round with him, and he relentlessly took down three of them right in the first. He jumped into OKTAGON in April 2025 in Dortmund, where he fearlessly went for Jorick Montagnac's legs, ignored hard strikes, and locked him in an arm triangle in the second round. He took home the Performance of the Night bonus and literally blew up the internet. His fan base on social media grew from less than ten thousand to more than 650,000 followers.He last appeared last September right in Frankfurt, where he choked out Fabio Moraes at the end of the first round at the OKTAGON 76 tournament. But then he stalled. He had to withdraw from the card three times in a row due to injury and people began to ask loudly when he would finally step in. The answer comes right now. The popular "Neanderthal" will finally present himself in the cage, and straight against the biggest legend of Czechoslovak MMA. "Karlos won't be ready for the new school. Now is my time," he declared.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DasthV-sXAW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=ArDSX4hSgxoQrewhq5CIzCV"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>TWO GROUND FIGHTERS, ONE CAGE, AND SIXTY THOUSAND PEOPLE</h2>Two men who have spent their lives winning on the ground step into the cage. Both boast a black belt in BJJ. Vémola has twenty submission wins and eighteen years in the business. Vosgröne has five fights and five tapped-out opponents. Vosgröne entered his first professional fight in 2021. At that time, Vémola already had seven battles behind him in OKTAGON alone and had already managed to win and lose one belt. And then there is one more number. Vémola's last fight lasted twenty-five minutes, which is four minutes longer than Vosgröne has spent in the cage his entire career. Will the Neanderthal from Eintracht crush another victim in front of his home crowd, or will Karlos end the German ride and rewrite the entire script?Ten years of the yellow-and-black colossus will culminate where OKTAGON broke the world attendance record. The OKTAGON 94 tournament will light up Frankfurt's Deutsche Bank Park on September 26, and you can be there! Don't miss this spectacular show and secure your spot. You can buy tickets at the link below.<okteventcomponent eventid="125"></okteventcomponent>

Not long ago, they sweated on the same mat, fed lions together in "Vémoland," and parted as friends. Now they will clash in the cage. Karlos "The Terminator" Vémola snatched the fight of the century trilogy last June, claimed the unique "Infinity" belt.

FED LIONS TOGETHER, NOW THEY CLASH IN THE CAGE: VEMOLA FACES THE NEANDERTHAL

OKTAGON has officially concluded its internal disciplinary proceedings regarding the incident that followed the main event of the OKTAGON 91 tournament at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. The organization has imposed sanctions on four individuals. The verdict is based on the findings of an investigation that verified the identities of the participants and the extent of their involvement. Kerim Engizek's protest regarding the sporting outcome of the match is the subject of separate proceedings conducted by the independent governing body GEMMAF, which will communicate its decision independently.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/9c2fc430-e9ee-4d62-bcf5-8bca93727fcb/cs.1784394558509.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/a4357a40-5afe-40d4-87af-83b8d4d98190/cs.1784394571616.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent>Shortly after the official decision announcement, heightened emotions escalated into a physical confrontation between members of both camps. OKTAGON immediately launched a detailed investigation into the entire incident, which has now been definitively concluded. Based on these findings, the organization has decided to issue the appropriate sanctions.<h2>DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS DECISIONS</h2><ul><li>Kerim Engizek has been fined €20,000 and handed a six-month suspension from competing for his participation in the incident. In determining the sanction, OKTAGON took into account that Engizek demonstrated genuine self-reflection and fully cooperated throughout the proceedings. Furthermore, the organization took into consideration the fact that this was his first disciplinary offense within the promotion.</li><li>Pouya Rahmani has been fined €7,500 and given a nine-month ban from participating in OKTAGON tournaments. This is due to his assault on Krzysztof Jotko's coach and his role in further escalating the situation following the conclusion of the main event.</li><li>Metin Engizek has been fined €2,500 and suspended for nine months. The review found him guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opponent, which included spitting water at Krzysztof Jotko after the main event concluded.</li><li>Additionally, the OKTAGON organization has decided to impose a two-year ban from all promotional events on an individual who grossly violated organization rules after the main event by initiating the physical altercation, directly contributing to the subsequent escalation of the entire incident.</li></ul><h2>ZERO TOLERANCE</h2>Based on the findings of the internal review, OKTAGON concluded that the described conduct constituted a serious violation of the organization's rules, disrupted the orderly flow of the tournament, jeopardized the safety of athletes, referees, corner teams, and other event participants, and damaged the integrity of the competition.OKTAGON enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward such behavior, which has no place in professional sports. The imposed disciplinary sanctions reflect the severity of each individual offense, the specific circumstances of each case, and OKTAGON's responsibility to provide a safe and professional environment for athletes, referees, staff, partners, and fans alike.

OKTAGON has officially concluded its internal disciplinary proceedings regarding the incident that followed the main event of the OKTAGON 91 tournament at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. The organization has imposed sanctions on four individuals.

OKTAGON CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION INTO OKTAGON 91 INCIDENT AND ANNOUNCES SANCTIONS

Three losses in a row. Then a single win to finally breathe again. And now, an island in the middle of the Vltava river, where it will be decided whether this was the start of a comeback or just a last stand. This story doesn't just belong to one fighter, but to both. The fan favorite and the longest-reigning champion in welterweight history, David Kozma, returns to Štvanice after eight years. Standing across from him is UFC, KSW, and PFL veteran David Zawada, who celebrates his 36th birthday on fight day, missing only one thing for a perfect celebration – a triumph over the local legend. The OKTAGON 10-year anniversary celebrations kick off on August 1st, and Štvanice will only let one of the Davids move forward.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/d623a692-51e3-473b-ad4f-2c97cdbc8b12/cs.1784118469028.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/6bd938e0-fdff-4aa9-bdf5-829cc2e8a6d1/cs.1784118475614.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>DAVID KOZMA: HEART OF THE LOCAL SCENE AND FIRST WELTERWEIGHT KING</h2>For OKTAGON fans, this isn't just another name on the card. David Kozma (33-15) is a pure matter of the heart. But his path to the championship throne wasn't easy at all. As a quiet kid from a Karviná housing estate, he feared bullying, so his parents enrolled him in judo at age seven so he could learn to defend himself. He stuck with it for ten years and built a foundation he relies on to this day. Since childhood, he loved wearing pink and described himself as a "pretty boy". He started fighting professionally in 2010. For years, he fought for pocket change, worked as a night watchman, and his mom didn't want to hear a word about his fighting, so he hid his first trophies in the basement.He stepped into the yellow-and-black cage in March 2018 at OKTAGON 5, where he dropped Rafał Lewoń via TKO at home in Ostrava. Four months later, he stood on Štvanice for the very first time. Under the summer sky at OKTAGON 7, he dismantled Poland's Michal Wiencek, on the exact same card where OKTAGON crowned its first-ever champion, Michal Martínek. He only had to wait until November for his own coronation. At OKTAGON 10, he defeated Gábor Boráros via TKO in the second round, becoming the organization's first-ever welterweight champion. He then sat on the throne for an incredible 1,477 days and defended the belt five times. To this day, he remains the longest-reigning champion in OKTAGON history. He systematically fended off Samuel "Pirát" Krištofič, Máté Kertész, Bojan Veličković, and the legendary Petr "Monster" Kníže. But people talk the most about the five-round war with Leandro "Apollo" Silva, which he won with a torn tongue and practically swollen-shut eyes. That's exactly how he built the reputation of a man who cannot be broken.But everything ends eventually. In December 2022, Kaik Brito took his belt with a brutal TKO, and after surviving Siwiec's choke, outpointing Lohoré, and running into Veličković in the Gamechanger semifinals, came the first of three first-round knockouts. The next two were handed to him by Surdu and Pukač, and suddenly, whispers of a glass chin began. Kozma responded radically. After thirteen years, he left PriMMAt Gym and moved under André Reinders at Reinders MMA. He had his head examined, started working with a mental coach, and discovered the issue wasn't physical, but psychological. The answer came this February in Ostrava, where he returned from a one-year layoff against Jozef Wittner, leaned on his judo, delivered a takedown in every round, defended a dangerous kimura, and walked away with a unanimous victory. The freefall was stopped.And he immediately asked for more. Even before Štvanice, he publicly called out Christian Eckerlin, the biggest star in German MMA, who claimed the "King of Germany" title before 60,000 fans at the Frankfurt stadium in 2024 and currently has no opponent for his September return to the same venue. Kozma sent a message that as the longest-reigning and six-time OKTAGON champion, he has the right to this challenge and is coming for a seventh belt, which he plans to take from Eckerlin in his own backyard. "Legend of Germany vs. Legend of Czechia, let's do it," he said on social media. But between him and Frankfurt stands Štvanice. And David Zawada, whom Kozma himself called a tougher test than Eckerlin.<h2>DAVID ZAWADA: BIRTHDAY THREAT WITH GRENADES IN HIS HANDS</h2>Standing on the other side of the cage is a man brought to the sport by family. David Zawada (20-12) was born in Düsseldorf and was introduced to combat sports at 19 by his older brother Martin, a seasoned fighter himself and his lifelong role model. He got his nickname from his very first fight in 2010. His shaved head, Muay Thai shorts, and KO power immediately reminded his friend of the character Sagat from the cult game Street Fighter. Before dedicating himself fully to the cage, he worked as an automotive expert. In Europe, he collected welterweight belts in Respect FC and Shooto, an ISKA title, and a NAGA grappling championship, he made a name for himself in Poland's KSW with five appearances, and a 16-3 record earned him an invitation to the UFC. He spent nearly four years there and claimed the scalp of Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib's cousin. After leaving the UFC, he also passed through the American PFL.He entered OKTAGON in June 2022 at OKTAGON 33, where he destroyed Erhan Kartal in the first round. At the same time, he coached fighters in the reality show OKTAGON Challenge. Coaching opposite him was Christian Eckerlin, his good friend. The exact man Kozma has targeted as his next goal. Zawada then moved up a division from welterweight, where he turned around a losing fight against Hojat Khajevand with a heel hook at the end of the third round at OKTAGON 53. But middleweight took its toll. Marek Mazúch sent him to the ground in a minute and a quarter at the Eden football stadium, Matěj Peňáz stopped him in the first round, and Kamil Oniszczuk outpointed him right here at Štvanice. Three consecutive losses and a 2-3 record in the organization.When many were already writing him off, a battle with Daniel Ligocki came this January in his native Düsseldorf, a fight Zawada entered as the underdog. After fifteen minutes of war, the German secured a tight decision victory and a Performance of the Night bonus and asked for a new contract straight from the cage. He got it. And now he returns with it to the division that once propelled him to the UFC.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaA1wcGMRj3/"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>WHO WILL IMPOSE THEIR GAME AT STVANICE?</h2>The stakes are sky-high on both sides. They step into the cage after three consecutive losses and a single comeback win; both have been in the business since 2010 and they know that another slip-up would be very hard to forgive. Kozma has explicitly stated his goal. He wants to push Zawada aside and then claim Eckerlin's crown in Frankfurt. But Zawada is the one who can put that entire plan on ice and gift himself a scalp for his 36th birthday that will put him right back in the mix. One returns to the island where he once built his path to the belt, the other to the site of his last defeat.The most beautiful tournament of the year is back! OKTAGON 92 will turn Prague's Štvanice into an open-air arena on August 1st as we celebrate ten years of the yellow-and-black colossus together. Štvanice is hopelessly sold out, but you won't miss a thing. Watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a> and be there with us!<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

Three losses in a row. Then a single win to finally breathe again. And now, an island in the middle of the Vltava river, where it will be decided whether this was the start of a comeback or just a last stand. This story doesn't just belong to one fighter, but to both.

ROAD TO FRANKFURT GOES THROUGH STVANICE: KOZMA FACES EXPERIENCED ZAWADA

Seven finishes, four decisions, and one five-round title thriller. That sums up what the sold-out Lanxess Arena in Cologne served up on July 11. OKTAGON 91 offered the packed stands lightning-fast KOs, crushing TKOs, and textbook submissions that got fans out of their seats. How did this unforgettable gala look from the perspective of the judges who also decided the new middleweight king?<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/b632ecaf-b1a9-4fa3-82b8-447c9636867f/cs.1783948488663.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/2ce44ebf-aed1-4210-9708-8255280898ef/cs.1783948494317.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>KERIM ENGIZEK VS. KRZYSZTOF JOTKO</h2>The heated title rematch for the middleweight throne gave the judges a hard time. Krzysztof Jotko took the first two rounds with his ground control and gained a lead on the scorecards. But Kerim Engizek pushed hard and claimed the third and fourth acts with his activity. However, holding the cage in the third round cost him a point, turning his otherwise won round into a draw on the cards. The final five minutes were entered with a tight score, but Jotko decided the last round in his favor, and all three judges scored it 46:48. The middleweight division has a new king after a unanimous decision.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1405" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>MOCHAMED MACHAEV VS. GJONI PALOKAJ</h2>The first title battle of the Cologne night didn't keep the judges busy at all. Mago Machaev was more accurate from the opening seconds and unleashed a devastating rear hand halfway through the first round, putting Gjoni Palokaj to sleep while still standing. A KO at 2:34 of the first round, the cards stayed clean. However, due to missing the weight limit, Machaev lost the featherweight belt.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1458" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>PATRIK KINCL VS. HOJAT KHAJEVAND</h2>The anticipated duel started tactically. Patrik Kincl clearly took the opening round with precise calf kicks and strikes. In the second act, the Czech experienced fighter delivered a takedown, smoothly established a dominant position, and locked in a textbook arm triangle. Khajevand tapped out at 2:08 of the second round, leaving the cards untouched.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1452" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>CIHAD AKIPA VS. MÁTÉ KERTÉSZ</h2>The dramatic clash had a clear leader on the scorecards. Máté Kertész dominated the first two rounds with his experience and ground work, aided by a point deducted from Cihad Akipa in the second act for an illegal eye poke. But the final round brought a twist. The German powerful striker rocked his opponent with a hard shot, and after a knee on the cage, the Hungarian veteran fell. A KO at 2:06 of the third round closed the fight that Kertész had been leading on the cards. After his jubilee twentieth start in OKTAGON, Máté left his gloves in the center of the cage and announced his retirement.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1438" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>MARC DOUSSIS VS. SASCHA WEINPOLTER</h2>The heavyweight face off turned into a one-sided affair. Marc Doussis took his opponent to the ground right at the start, unleashed devastating ground and pound, and swiftly applied an arm triangle. A submission at 3:22 of the first round, the scorecards remained blank. After three consecutive losses, Doussis celebrates a return to the winning wave.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1475" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>KAMIL ONISZCZUK VS. MICK STANTON</h2>A three-round battle that had to be decided by the judges. Kamil Oniszczuk dominated the opening two rounds with his ground control and built a comfortable lead. In the final act, Mick Stanton pushed forward more and won the round on the judges' cards, but it wasn't enough for a complete turnaround. The unanimous 29:28 decision belongs to Kamil Oniszczuk.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1465" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>ALTIN ZENUNI VS. PATRIK ŠEBEK</h2>The clash of two previously undefeated lightweight talents went all the way to the scorecards. Altin Zenuni took the first two rounds with his takedowns and ground work, dictating the pace. In the final five minutes, Patrik Šebek showed immense determination, fought his way to his opponent's back, and claimed the round on the cards, but it was too late for a reversal. The unanimous 29:28 decision keeps Altin Zenuni on his winning streak, while Šebek tasted the bitterness of defeat in the cage for the first time.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1454" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>IWAN TAGNER VS. MAIWAND HAMRAS</h2>Local talent Iwan Tagner proved his qualities. After barely a minute, he moved the fight to the ground with a takedown, established absolute control, and fought his way to his opponent's back a minute before the end of the first round. A textbook rear naked choke (RNC) followed, forcing Maiwand Hamras to tap. A submission at 4:07 of the first round, and the cards remained clean.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1443" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>NICOLAJ WAGNER VS. JACKSON ROSS</h2>A heavyweight face off and a classic clash of styles. Nicolaj Wagner started actively in the standup, defended a takedown attempt, and rocked Jackson Ross with a hard shot a minute before the end of the opening round. The dazed opponent was just looking for a desperate takedown, but Wagner sent him to the ground and closed the TKO with a final barrage of strikes at 4:30 of the first round.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1453" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>AARON ABY VS. ZORAN MILIĆ</h2>Welsh experienced fighter Aaron Aby had a clear game plan and stuck to it the entire fight. In each of the three rounds, he took the face off to the ground, put Zoran Milić on his back, and comfortably controlled the pace. Although Milić always started actively in the standup, he found no answer to Aby's takedowns. All three judges agreed, and the unequivocal victory belongs to Aaron Aby.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1468" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent><h2>FURKAN UGUR VS. JAKUB ZACPAL</h2>The Cologne night was opened by an attractive amateur duel in the lightweight division. Furkan Ugur dictated the tempo with his more precise strikes, perfectly defended Zacpal's takedowns, and managed to secure a dominant position himself, unequivocally taking the first two rounds. Halfway through the third act, the local fighter locked in a D'Arce choke with both hands and recorded a technical submission at 1:25. The scorecards thus remained unfinished.<oktscorecardfightcomponent fightid="1469" smallerversion="true"></oktscorecardfightcomponent>The middleweight division has a new champion, and the yellow-and-black colossus rolls on. The next chapter will be written on August 1, when OKTAGON heads to the cult Prague Štvanice and kicks off the peak of the summer season under the open sky. Although the tickets are completely sold out, you don't have to miss this ride. Tune in to the broadcast and watch every battle live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>.<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

Seven finishes, four decisions, and one five-round title thriller. That sums up what the sold-out Lanxess Arena in Cologne served up on July 11.

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