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?

KERIM ENGIZEK VS. KRZYSZTOF JOTKO

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.

MOCHAMED MACHAEV VS. GJONI PALOKAJ

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.

PATRIK KINCL VS. HOJAT KHAJEVAND

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.

CIHAD AKIPA VS. MÁTÉ KERTÉSZ

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.

MARC DOUSSIS VS. SASCHA WEINPOLTER

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.

KAMIL ONISZCZUK VS. MICK STANTON

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.

ALTIN ZENUNI VS. PATRIK ŠEBEK

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.

IWAN TAGNER VS. MAIWAND HAMRAS

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.

NICOLAJ WAGNER VS. JACKSON ROSS

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.

AARON ABY VS. ZORAN MILIĆ

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.

FURKAN UGUR VS. JAKUB ZACPAL

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.

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 OKTAGON.TV.

BRITO IS BACK! HERE’S A RECAP OF HIS INCREDIBLE CAREER

You might be interested in

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

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

ROAD TO FRANKFURT GOES THROUGH STVANICE: KOZMA FACES EXPERIENCED ZAWADA

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

COLOGNE THROUGH JUDGES' EYES: 7 FINISHES & A 5-ROUND TITLE WAR