A huge challenge awaits him soon – Prague’s O2 Arena and a showdown with local legend Karlos Vémola, who’s taken up his dangerous challenge. How is he feeling right now? We got all the answers from the fiery Will Fleury.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/cabf396c-fdf1-4cc3-ab53-dd29e1505f98/cs.1734626986351.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/6146175a-6981-4fc0-800a-f3e464a6a625/cs.1734626991326.png"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent>What does it mean to you personally to close out the year with a fight against someone like Vemola in front of a sold-out O2 arena? Have you thought about how a victory might impact your career and life outside the cage?Yeah, obviously it would be life-changing for me. When I signed with OKTAGON, this is exactly how I set things out in my head – take out some of the top guys in the division and then go to the Karlos fight. And I've made this happen.How do you approach a fight of this magnitude mentally? Does the size of the event or the crowd’s reaction affect your focus?I don't really care to be honest. If I'm the bad guy, great. If I'm the good guy, who cares. All I want to do is go in and create something that's like, wow, sh*t, this guy's a really good fighter. And afterwards, whether you love me or hate me, you'll be like, f*ck, he is a good fighter.What kind of reaction are you expecting from Czech fans? To be honest, what I noticed in Slovakia was that Karlos wasn't very popular. A lot of people were coming over to me telling me they hope I whoop his a**, even Czech people. Karlos has a reputation for trying to get inside his opponents’ heads. How do you handle his psychological tactics?Every fight is a mental battle as well, but I feel if your technique is good enough, it's very easy to be confident. For me, the mental preparation is also the physical preparation. If I know how you're about to move and I can predict this and I can hit you, it's pretty easy to be confident now. I can hit you and you can't hit me. This is a lot of power and I feel like with Karlos, I'm going to create that situation. That's why when we're starting to talk sh*t to each other, I can look him in the eyes and smile and say, I'm going to f*ck you up.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1076"></oktfightcomponent>Your fighting style is known for being direct and uncompromising. When you're in the cage, how much of your strategy is pre-planned versus relying on instincts and improvisation?Yeah, I think watching your opponent is huge. I think it's very important to do a lot of video work on the guy to understand how he's going to move and to understand how you're going to sequence what he does. If I give you this, how will you react? And now it's possible that on the night his reaction will be different. So it's like, okay, you're giving him two options. Is he going for A or B? And now I've learned techniques worked out from this. I think this is your job. If you're going to be a professional fighter, be professional. Do your homework beforehand. Watch the guy.Do you ever avoid over-analyzing your opponent to stay adaptable during the fight?There'll be situations like sometimes I like to enter a spar where I don't know the guy at all. And you just have to read it on the day because there will be situations in a fight where people are going to do unpredictable things. Get used to the chaos in one way, but also you can predict chaos a lot of the time. And if I know how you're going to move, I can exploit this very easily.Looking back to the very beginning, what first attracted you to MMA? What made you decide to commit to it as a career?I think the fact that I knew I would get a reward for the effort that I put into it. A fight is obviously a very tough situation mentally to enter into. I was always like, that won't bother me. I know that if I prepare properly, I can beat anybody. I always believed that. My parents were very good at instilling the belief that if you work hard enough, you can go and achieve anything.Did you fight even as a kid? I got the cr*p beaten out of me by my brothers as a kid a lot, and I felt like, well, if I'm able to stand up to them, I can stand up to anyone because they were so much bigger and older than me. I had that thing of, no, I can keep standing up to these challenges. That belief made me want to pursue MMA.Do you remember your very first MMA training session? What was it like, and how did it influence your decision to keep pursuing the sport?I actually do remember my first training. It's a long time since I thought about this, but it was me and an Algerian guy beating the sh*t out of each other. I loved it. I was really nervous before we started fighting. It wasn't hard sparring or anything; it was just wrestling, but we were so emotional about winning this wrestling thing. He was a really tough guy, obviously, and I was a rugby player, so I was a big, strong guy.How did it turn out?The coach got the two of us to do a couple of rounds at the end of the session. Technique-wise, it was terrible. But from a competition point of view, it was like, right, I want to be the guy. I want to be the man here, and he wanted to be the man really badly. We went for about 15 minutes, just killing each other. Eventually, he got tired, and I won.Your background includes rugby. Do you think the skills or mentality you developed in rugby helped you transition into MMA?It helped in a lot of ways. A double-leg takedown is very similar to a rugby tackle, and the timing and physicality came naturally to me. In rugby, you’re used to collisions with people running toward you, so I wasn’t afraid of hard hits. That mindset carried over to MMA.Do you feel rugby gave you any mental edge when it comes to handling pressure and competition in MMA?Rugby taught me about competition and failure. You try, you fail, and you learn. That mindset carried over to MMA. In rugby, failures aren’t as personal because it’s a team sport, but in MMA, it’s all on you. That’s challenging, but also satisfying because it means you’re in control.What have been the toughest moments of your career so far, and how have they shaped you as a fighter and a person?I’ve had a lot of tough times in this career. Early on, after my pro debut, a Portuguese fighter was killed in Ireland, and MMA was effectively banned. It was very difficult to get my second fight. I had a lot of opponents lined up, and they would pull out, or the shows would be canceled because of insurance purposes. It was very difficult during that period, and I wasn’t making much money. I questioned a lot if I could make this a sustainable career. Was it worth the investment of my time and energy? But I kept going. I was undefeated as an amateur and a pro at the time, and getting signed to Bellator was a big moment for me.What lessons did you learn from your first professional loss, and how did it impact your approach?In my first loss, I overlooked my opponent. He was 6-0 with six knockouts, but because he was a last-minute replacement, I dismissed him. I thought I’d smash him, and that cocky attitude hurt me. I got knocked out in the first round. It was a huge lesson in humility and preparation. That loss, and the ones that followed, taught me to respect every opponent. Without those tough moments, I wouldn’t be as good a fighter today.How do you mentally recover from a tough loss, and what keeps you motivated to improve and move forward?Losses expose you to reality. The more you try to protect yourself from failure, the less you’ll grow. It still bothers me when I think about those moments, but that pain drives me to improve. I’m grateful for those challenges because they shaped who I am as a fighter.What goes through your mind in the final moments before walking out to the cage? Are you nervous, calm, or something else entirely?At that point, I’m actually quite calm. Everything feels mellow and blank because all the work has been done. It’s time to let go and enjoy the moment.How do you mentally prepare for the intensity of the walkout and the fight itself? I love my walkouts. The energy from the crowd, the buzz—it’s amazing. In the warm-up, I get pumped up and feel that nervous energy. But when it’s time to walk out, I find a sense of peace. I've seen it so many times in my own head, and I've visualised the whole thing. It feels like I’m watching myself from the outside. Let your brain take the backseat for a second, just go and be primal Will, and let that guy take over. Will f*cking Fleury, the fighter, he's gonna go in and do his work now. So it's a funny feeling, but I really, really enjoy the intensity of those moments.Do you have any role models, either in sports or outside of it, who inspire you in your approach to life and fighting?Growing up, I admired Irish rugby players like Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara. They were stoic and embraced challenges. As I got older, my focus shifted to becoming my own role model. I hold myself accountable to the person I want to be.If young Will Fleury could meet you now, what do you think he’d say? And if you could give him advice, what would you tell him?I think young Will would be proud overall, though he might disagree with some of my choices. If I could give him advice, I’d tell him not to fear failure. Embrace challenges and take risks because that’s how you grow.Finally, if someone who’s never seen you fight asks, "Why should I watch Will Fleury in the cage?"—what would you say?Because I give everything I have. I fight with intensity and heart, always looking to finish. Love me or hate me, you won’t forget me.<okteventcomponent eventid="98"></okteventcomponent>

Will Fleury opens up about his beginnings and his journey as a fighter in this exclusive interview.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FLEURY: LOVE ME OR HATE ME, YOU WON’T FORGET ME! 

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.

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

The sold-out Lanxess Arena in Cologne shook to its foundations in front of twenty thousand fans and delivered a gala evening that made an indelible mark on history. An exhausting title war for the middleweight throne crowned a new king, Krzysztof Jotko, while Mago Machaev delivered a lightning-fast KO right in the first round. Patrik Kincl also showcased a dominant performance, and the spectators witnessed an emotional farewell from Máté Kertész. Who else claimed victory on German soil and left an indelible mark in the cage?<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/60752260-43b9-480c-9104-2fbe2c2941c2/cs.1783811171777.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/36bbf36e-543f-4d38-a5db-17cbd59c4e3a/cs.1783811179338.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>KERIM ENGIZEK VS. KRZYSZTOF JOTKO</h2>The highly anticipated rematch and middleweight title fight knows its winner! Krzysztof Jotko went for a takedown in the very first second, but Engizek defended himself and hit his opponent with a hard knee. However, the Polish champion survived the critical situation, turned the tide in his favor, and took Engizek to the ground. Here he ruled in his kingdom, controlled the position, and landed several hard shots, clearly claiming the first round. A similar scenario repeated in the next two rounds. Jotko constantly pushed his opponent against the fence and successfully delivered takedowns, while the Turkish champion even had a point deducted for grabbing the fence. In the fourth round, Engizek started to find a recipe and landed unpleasant body shots. The fight went into the final five minutes with a very close score. Both fighters dug deep in the final seconds, but Engizek's effort was not enough for a complete turnaround. After an exhausting twenty-five-minute war, Krzysztof Jotko celebrates a victory on points, and the OKTAGON middleweight division has a new king!<oktfightcomponent fightid="1405"></oktfightcomponent><h2>MOCHAMED MACHAEV VS. GJONI PALOKAJ</h2>The first title battle of the Cologne gala brought a brutal finish in the first round! The clash started with sharp exchanges in the stand-up, where both fighters gave each other nothing for free in the cage. However, Mago Machaev showed greater accuracy from the opening seconds, and his punches precisely found their mark. Halfway through the first round, the Austrian fighter unleashed a devastating straight punch that literally put Gjoni Palokaj to sleep on his feet before he collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Machaev thus delivered a phenomenal KO, handed his opponent his very first defeat in the organization, and recorded his second lightning-fast first-round finish in two championship duels. Despite this dominant performance and a valuable scalp, he leaves with a bitter taste, as he was stripped of the featherweight title due to missing the weight limit.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1458"></oktfightcomponent><h2>PATRIK KINCL VS. HOJAT KHAJEVAND</h2>The anticipated duel started rather cautiously and tactically from both sides. However, Patrik Kincl quickly found the right rhythm, started landing precise calf kicks supplemented by punches, and thanks to his overall accuracy, he took the opening act for himself. About a minute into the second round, the Czech matador delivered a successful takedown and moved the battle to the ground. Here he put on a professorial performance, calmly worked his way into a dominant position, and locked in a textbook arm triangle. There was simply no escape from this trap, and Khajevand found no effective defense. With another dominant stoppage triumph, Patrik Kincl takes a huge step closer to a title shot and announces a clear return to the top.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1452"></oktfightcomponent><h2>CIHAD AKIPA VS. MÁTÉ KERTÉSZ</h2>The clash started at a breathtaking pace, and dangerous strikes flew through the air from the first seconds. However, Máté Kertész soon applied his rich experience, took the duel to the ground, and safely secured the opening round after absolute control. The Hungarian matador also put on a dominant performance in the second round, where after precise shots in the stand-up, he ruled on the ground again, while the German Cihad Akipa lost a point for an illegal eye poke. But the final five minutes brought a complete turnaround. Right at the beginning, Akipa landed a hard shot that visibly rocked Kertész. He gathered the rest of his strength and managed to deliver a desperation takedown, but the fight then moved to the fence, where he took an unexpected knee from the German striker. Although the strike landed on the shoulder area, the Hungarian fighter went down, and the referee immediately stopped the battle. Cihad Akipa thus takes a valuable TKO scalp from this dramatic match and extends his winning streak. Immediately after his jubilee twentieth appearance in OKTAGON, the Hungarian veteran symbolically placed his gloves in the center of the cage and announced the definitive end of his professional career. A true staple who left an indelible mark on the history of the yellow-and-black organization is leaving.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1438"></oktfightcomponent><h2>MARC DOUSSIS VS. SASCHA WEINPOLTER</h2>This face-off picked up a lightning pace and turned into absolute dominance by one man. Right at the beginning of the first round, Marc Doussis successfully took Sascha Weinpolter down and immediately demonstrated his elite control on the ground. He quickly worked his way to a dominant position, from which he unleashed a devastating ground and pound. He literally showered his opponent with hard elbows and punches and then promptly applied a textbook arm triangle. After three consecutive losses, Doussis celebrates a return to the winning wave and claims a valuable submission triumph right in the first round.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1475"></oktfightcomponent><h2>KAMIL ONISZCZUK VS. MICK STANTON</h2>The opening minutes brought a tense tactical battle in which Mick Stanton quickly tried to get Kamil Oniszczuk underneath him, but the Polish warrior showed precise defense and great control. Just before the end of the first act, the Polish fighter landed a hard body shot, after which he took his opponent to the ground and rained down punches. The opening round safely went to his side. In the second five minutes, Oniszczuk again managed to move the duel to the ground, where he comfortably held a dominant position and expertly secured this part of the fight as well. In the final round, the British fighter managed to press onto his rival but simply couldn't find an effective recipe for his game. After his dominant performance, Kamil Oniszczuk safely secures a well-deserved victory on points.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1465"></oktfightcomponent><h2>ALTIN ZENUNI VS. PATRIK ŠEBEK</h2>The clash of two previously undefeated lightweight talents started at a very high pace. Although Patrik Šebek showed greater accuracy in the opening striking exchanges, the Albanian fighter Altin Zenuni soon delivered a successful takedown. The Slovak representative managed to get back on his feet in a flash, but his opponent promptly moved the battle back to the ground, where he developed a dominant position and confidently dominated the opening round. An almost identical scenario was offered by the second five minutes, in which Zenuni imposed his game again after a minute, took the duel to the ground, and safely maintained control. In the final phase of the match, Šebek showed tremendous determination when he managed to fight his way to his opponent's back and threatened with strong pressure, but it was not enough for a complete reversal. Patrik Šebek thus fell in the cage for the very first time in his career and lost his zero, while Zenuni continues his spectacular ride after a well-deserved victory on points.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1454"></oktfightcomponent><h2>IWAN TAGNER VS. MAIWAND HAMRAS</h2>From the very beginning of the round, Iwan Tagner put on a dominant performance and began to fulfill the role of a massive favorite to the fullest. After less than a minute, he took the match to the ground following a successful takedown, where he expertly developed absolute control. Maiwand Hamras tried in vain to find a way out of the disadvantageous position, which the fierce talent promptly exploited. A minute before the end of the opening act, Tagner fought his way to his opponent's back and quickly locked in a textbook rear naked choke (RNC), which his opponent had to tap out to. The domestic fighter thus confirmed his undeniable qualities and adds his third professional victory to his record.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1443"></oktfightcomponent><h2>NICOLAJ WAGNER VS. JACKSON ROSS</h2>A heavyweight battle and a classic clash of styles. Nicolaj Wagner started very actively in the stand-up, but Jackson Ross initially managed to take the duel to the ground. Wagner, however, showed good defense and safely fought his way back to his feet from a disadvantageous position. A minute before the end of the opening act, Wagner hit his opponent with a hard shot, after which the shaken Ross attempted a desperation takedown. However, this takedown missed its mark, Wagner sent his opponent to the ground, and with a final barrage of punches, he clearly secured a great TKO victory right in the first round.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1453"></oktfightcomponent><h2>AARON ABY VS. ZORAN MILIĆ</h2>The opening seconds of the match belonged to Zoran Milic, who was more accurate in the stand-up, but Aaron Aby had a clear game plan from the start. The experienced British fighter soon moved the fight to the ground, where he put his opponent on his back, calmly maintained control, and secured the first round for himself. The second act offered exactly the same scenario. Milic started very actively again and managed to land shots, but Aby soon delivered another successful takedown and dictated the pace of the fight. Not even the final five minutes brought a reversal. The Welsh matador again took the duel to the ground, gave his opponent no space for major action, and after three rounds of dominance, he records a clear victory on points.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1468"></oktfightcomponent><h2>FURKAN UGUR VS. JAKUB ZACPAL</h2>The opening clash of the evening under amateur rules offered an attractive lightweight battle between two fierce talents. The German fighter Furkan Ugur dictated the pace with his more accurate punches in the stand-up right in the first act. Jakub Zacpal constantly tried to deliver a takedown, but the domestic puncher showed fantastic defense and managed to develop a dominant position on the ground himself. The relentless pressure of the German representative continued in the second three-minute round, when he confidently put his Czech opponent on his back, controlled the course, and gave him no room for any major action. The German fighter thus claimed the first two rounds for himself. Halfway through the third round, Ugur completely and confidently crowned his precise tactical performance. He successfully locked in a choke with both hands, submitted Zacpal, and claims a submission victory on home soil in Cologne.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1469"></oktfightcomponent>The Cologne night is behind us, but the yellow-and-black colossus does not stop! On August 1st, we are returning to an iconic place that is traditionally the absolute peak of the summer for fans. Although Prague's Štvanice is already hopelessly sold out, you definitely won't miss this spectacular open-air event. Experience the thrilling atmosphere, tough battles in the cage, and unforgettable moments from the comfort of your home. Secure your broadcast and watch the entire gala evening live. Buy PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>.<okteventcomponent eventid="132"></okteventcomponent>

The sold-out Lanxess Arena in Cologne shook to its foundations in front of twenty thousand fans and delivered a gala evening that made an indelible mark on history. An exhausting title war for the middleweight throne crowned a new king, Krzysztof Jotko.

OKTAGON 91 RESULTS: THE MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION HAS A NEW CHAMPION AND MACHAEV DELIVERED A LIGHTNING-FAST KO

OKTAGON is heading to Cologne, bringing a card like no other. On July 11, the iconic Lanxess Arena will become the stage for two title battles and a spectacular event packed with local stars and international elite. From a title rematch to the return of a former king and clashes of undefeated beasts, this night will offer absolutely everything. Go through the complete fight-by-fight overview and get ready for the coming storm.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/7efebea9-3ad0-4086-8d66-0fc422429bcd/cs.1783688976097.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/69bd7eb9-6353-4e0f-89a9-5abf918c1cec/cs.1783688982577.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>KERIM ENGIZEK VS. KRZYSZTOF JOTKO</h2>The main event of the evening and a title rematch where everything is on the line. German middleweight champion Kerim Engizek (24-5), a heavy hitter with fourteen TKO wins, enters the cage with a single thought: to avenge the man who ended his eleven-year undefeated streak. In January, Polish veteran Krzysztof Jotko (29-6) caught him in a rear naked choke in the very first round. Back then, the belt wasn't on the line. Now, the American Top Team representative wants to add the championship title to his Gamechanger triumph. Can Engizek avenge the brutal loss in front of his home crowd and keep his belt, or will Jotko confirm his dominance once again and become the new middleweight king?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1405"></oktfightcomponent><h2>MOCHAMED MACHAEV VS. GJONI PALOKAJ</h2>A featherweight title fight where pure dynamite in the hands meets an elite ground school. Austrian featherweight champion Mochamed "Beast" Machaev (17-2) is an explosive finisher heading into his first title defense. Standing in his way is Hanover grappler Gjoni Palokaj (13-3), who has yet to find a conqueror in the yellow-black cage. Palokaj crushes opponents with ground control, while Machaev holds a phenomenal takedown defense rate and has never tapped out. However, weight intervened right before the start of this highly anticipated duel. Machaev missed the prescribed limit, meaning only the challenger can fight for the vacant title in Cologne. Will Palokaj take advantage of this chance and become the new king, or will the Austrian striker show that despite losing the belt, he is still the most dangerous man in the cage?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1458"></oktfightcomponent><h2>PATRIK KINCL VS. HOJAT KHAJEVAND</h2>The former middleweight king wants to prove he is dead serious about his return to the top. Czech phenomenon Patrik "Inspektor" Kincl (29-12) managed to get back on the winning track after a tough belt loss by defeating Rob Pukač in his last fight. Now he wants to send a clear message to the entire division. The extremely experienced fighter and master tactician faces a dangerous destroyer of favorites and the huge discovery of the latest Tipsport Gamechanger series. Iranian-German gladiator Hojat Khajevand (10-5) has built a reputation as an unpredictable powerhouse on the ground who can break a fight with crushing pressure. Will the experienced matador be caught off guard by a fast start, or will Kincl use his massive experience to claim another valuable scalp?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1452"></oktfightcomponent><h2>CIHAD AKIPA VS. MÁTÉ KERTÉSZ</h2>The welterweight division will offer a fateful crossroads of two careers. Hungarian legend Máté "The Cold Blooded" Kertész (15-10) enters his 20th fight under the organization knowing that after a series of losses, he is fighting to stay among the elite. Riding a fantastic wave against him is dynamic German standup fighter Cihad "The Punisher" Akipa (11-2), who has won five consecutive duels and is in the shape of his life. Will the veteran stop his fall, or will the fierce German celebrate another triumph?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1438"></oktfightcomponent><h2>MARC DOUSSIS VS. SASCHA WEINPOLTER</h2>The royal heavyweight division promises a heart-stopping spectacle. The short-notice rescue mission was accepted by Austrian bare-knuckle boxing champion Sascha "The Destroyer" Weinpolter (14-6-1), who has delivered thirteen of his fourteen wins before the limit and is used to the hardest possible exchanges. Facing him is German brawler Marc Doussis (9-5). He is moving up to the heaviest division with a 100% finish rate, but also carrying a massive amount of pressure, as he currently has three straight losses behind him. Raw power and Spartan durability guarantee a firefight where a single punch can decide everything.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1475"></oktfightcomponent><h2>TAMERLAN DULATOV VS. NIKOLA JANKOVIĆ</h2>A clash with the potential to steal the whole show. Local star Tamerlan "Most Wanted" Dulatov (5-0) steps in front of an army of fans to confirm his status as a huge talent with offensive pressure. Standing against him is twenty-one-year-old Croatian phantom Nikola Janković (9-2). He has never heard the judges' decision in his entire career and delivered most of his wins by KO. Can the favored German withstand the massive power of this fierce finisher?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1420"></oktfightcomponent><h2>KAMIL ONISZCZUK VS. MICK STANTON</h2>Hard tactical chess in an 88-kilogram catchweight. Polish defensive magician Kamil Oniszczuk (12-5) has defended every takedown attempt in the cage so far and represents a literal wall of steel. Now he will be tested by the English bulldog Mick "The Huyton Hammer" Stanton (14-9), a former Cage Warriors champion and battle-hardened veteran of five-round wars. Will the British veteran find a recipe for the Pole's perfect defense in a tough fight, or will Oniszczuk confirm his absolute world-class status once again?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1465"></oktfightcomponent><h2>ALTIN ZENUNI VS. PATRIK ŠEBEK</h2>A duel of undefeated lightweight prospects, where one will lose their zero. Lightning-fast Altin Zenuni (4-0) represents the feared UFD Gym and wants to secure another quick triumph in front of his home fans. The role of the intruder is confidently embraced by Slovak talent Patrik Šebek (4-0), the only Slovak on the card, who claims that the position of the arena's public enemy suits him perfectly. Will Šebek handle the immense pressure of the roaring arena, or will the Albanian fighter celebrate another success?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1454"></oktfightcomponent><h2>IWAN TAGNER VS. MAIWAND HAMRAS</h2>A pure German showdown of ambitious prospects. Iwan Tagner (2-0) enters the fight as an amateur IMMAF world champion, which is practically the greatest achievement one can reach among amateurs. On the other side stands Maiwand Hamras (2-1), a kickboxing champion who relies on terrifying punching speed and lightning-fast starts. Will the elite kickboxer stop the complex threat, or will the amateur world champion enforce his game and celebrate another victory?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1443"></oktfightcomponent><h2>NICOLAJ WAGNER VS. JACKSON ROSS</h2>A heavyweight clash of giants where we most likely won't need the judges. Local hero Nicolaj "Zangief" Wagner (4-4) won the fans' hearts with his OKTAGON debut, jumping in on short notice just three hours before the event started. This dangerous heavy hitter secured all his professional wins by finishing opponents with hard KOs or TKOs. Standing in his way is undefeated American predator Jackson Ross (3-0), an elite wrestler and champion of the amateur GAMMA organization. Will Wagner's devastating grenade destroy the ambitious overseas athlete's plans, or will Ross fully showcase his technical maturity and deliver another quick finish?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1453"></oktfightcomponent><h2>AARON ABY VS. ZORAN MILIĆ</h2>The flyweight division will deliver a thrilling technical battle where elite ground game meets an aggressive standup style. Two-time title challenger and BJJ black belt Aaron Aby (18-11-1) is a massive threat on the floor and has never been forced to tap out in the cage. This Welsh warrior will now face a fierce debutant. Zoran Milić (6-2) is a champion of a Danish organization, loves hard brawls, and has never lost before the limit in his career. Will the Welsh grappler enforce his mastery, or will the Croatian striker snatch a valuable scalp?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1468"></oktfightcomponent><h2>FURKAN UGUR VS. JAKUB ZACPAL</h2>The entire evening will kick off with a clash of beasts under amateur rules. Twenty-year-old local talent Furkan Ugur (4-4-1) proudly represents the elite German UFD Gym and sees fighting in front of the roaring fans in the giant Lanxess Arena as a huge dream come true. His opponent will be the sharp prospect Jakub Zacpal (5-1), a representative of the traditional Czech standup school from Muay Thai Olomouc. He is coming for a win that could open the doors to the professional elite. Who will fully dominate the first duel of this historic night?<oktfightcomponent fightid="1469"></oktfightcomponent>Cologne is gearing up for a spectacular MMA show, and on July 11, the Lanxess Arena will host two title battles, a whole army of local stars, and much more. Do you want to be there when the yellow-black colossus unleashes the Cologne storm? Don't miss this night and watch the entire event live on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>

OKTAGON is heading to Cologne, bringing a card like no other. On July 11, the iconic Lanxess Arena will become the stage for two title battles and a spectacular event packed with local stars and international elite.

COLOGNE CARD FIGHT BY FIGHT: TWO TITLE BATTLES AND AN ARMY OF LOCAL STARS

A card packed with thrilling stories. This Saturday, Cologne, Germany, will host OKTAGON 91. The Lanxess Arena awaits not just two spectacular title fights, but above all, fighters with incredible life stories. Read the biggest highlights from Saturday’s lineup.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/35176781-2a2c-4230-9d62-18652fe95f52/cs.1783516026379.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/5ff8cc4d-fbfa-44d1-ae14-b84bbbfa0727/cs.1783516038491.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>FROM AN ORPHANAGE TO A TITLE AND A DANCER IN THE CAGE</h2>The main event features the most anticipated middleweight rematch. Kerim Engizek has not had an easy life. From the age of seven, he grew up with his brother in an orphanage in Düsseldorf, where he learned the necessary toughness very early on. Today, he is a reigning champion with a devastating cadence of kicks that he delivers to his opponents on average every 16 seconds. Outside the cage, however, he has a big heart, supports orphaned children, and his faithful companion is his Pomeranian, Dexter.On the other side stands the Polish gladiator Krzysztof Jotko. The former UFC fighter did not originally plan a career in MMA at all, because he was fully dedicated to breakdance. Moreover, he performed his dance moves right inside the cage after defeating Engizek in their first encounter. In OKTAGON, Jotko has a literally bulletproof defense. In all his bouts under the yellow-black flag, he spent a total of only 23 seconds on the ground in the bottom position.<h2>VICTORY OVER DESTINY</h2>A story that gives you chills. Aaron Aby is the embodiment of immense human will. As early as two weeks into his life, doctors diagnosed him with cystic fibrosis, which he fights every day. To make matters worse, in 2017, aggressive testicular cancer gave him a prognosis of only three to six months of life. However, the Welsh warrior triumphed over his cruel fate and returned to professional sports.Few also realize that this BJJ black belt holder was once a huge football talent. In the Wales youth national team, he kicked the ball alongside world superstars like Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey. In the cage, he will now be tested by the dangerous Zoran Milic, who in his career has never lost before the limit.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dacb_caMiG_/?hl=cs"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>FACILITY MANAGER AGAINST A FORMER KING</h2>The former ruler Patrik Kincl will perform in only his second non-title fight since 2021. He built his rich experience over a very long time. When his current opponent, Hojat Khajevand, was starting his professional career, the Czech matador already had 26 bouts behind him.The Iranian-German Khajevand, however, showed his toughness in the million-dollar Tipsport Gamechanger project, where he was the very first in the project's history to manage to fight from the position of an alternate all the way to the semi-finals. While most of his opponents focus solely on sports, Khajevand works hard 40 hours a week as a facility manager. In the past, he has publicly admitted that his ultimate goal is to quit his regular job and become a full-time professional. A valuable scalp of Patrik Kincl could definitively bring him closer to this desired freedom. Today, his teammates jokingly call him "Helmut" – a nod to the fact that with his discipline and work ethic, he surpasses even the Germans themselves.<h2>THINGS YOU HAVEN'T HEARD YET</h2><ul><li>Kamil Oniszczuk demonstrated a literally perfect defense against takedowns – he successfully defended all 17 takedown attempts that his opponents tried on the yellow-black ground, which could be a decisive skill in the fight against Mick Stanton.</li><li>Máté Kertész is the longest-serving foreign fighter in the organization. During his career, he has attempted over 110 takedowns, which represents an absolute organization record.</li><li>Gjoni Palokaj will attack the featherweight throne. In OKTAGON, he has already faced twelve submission attempts. He managed to masterfully escape from all these situations.</li><li>Heavyweight Nikolaj Wagner became a hero when he jumped into his last fight on short notice just three hours before the start. Even so, he managed to deliver one of the best battles of the evening with a completely epic entrance. In his career, he also went through a six-year break.</li><li>One historical milestone is in the air. If there are at least eight decision victories in Cologne, the tournament will go down in history as an event with the organization's 400th historical points decision.</li><li>The Croatian miracle Nikola Janković will also appear on the card. He has 11 professional fights behind him and is only 21 years old. He never leaves his fights to the judges – he delivered all 9 victories before the limit (mostly by TKO, although he originally comes from the world of BJJ and wrestling).</li></ul>The German metropolis will experience a night that will be indelibly etched in memory! The OKTAGON 91 tournament will erupt at the Cologne Lanxess Arena on July 11th, and you must not miss it. Secure your spot directly in the arena, or watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>. You can buy tickets at the link below.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>

A card packed with thrilling stories. This Saturday, Cologne, Germany, will host OKTAGON 91. The Lanxess Arena awaits not just two spectacular title fights, but above all, fighters with incredible life stories. Read the biggest highlights from Saturday’s lineup.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COLOGNE FIGHT CARD: A DANCER IN A TITLE FIGHT AND A VICTORY OVER DESTINY

One night, two thrones. The OKTAGON 91 tournament brings two title fights to Cologne, and in one of them, the explosive champion Mochamed Machaev (17-2) will face the dangerous challenger Gjoni Palokaj (13-3). The reigning king of the featherweight division destroys whatever gets in his way and is going for the first successful defense of his belt. However, he faces a man who has never lost in the yellow-and-black cage. Will the champion defend his throne, or will the challenger ruin his spectacular plans?<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/2d01f51e-0ab9-42f7-8aeb-25b327620a7c/cs.1783426467403.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/db5d6e95-189b-4a04-bfa2-bbe2db73670f/cs.1783426474531.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>MAGO "THE BEAST" MACHAEV: THE RULER WITH DYNAMITE IN HIS HANDS</h2>For the twenty-six-year-old champion, the cage is a natural hunting ground where he gives his opponents no room to breathe. Machaev's story began in Chechnya, from where his family moved to Austria when he was just a child. In his new country, combat sports became a way for him to fight for his own place, and he grew into one of the most feared finishing machines on the continent. Today, he represents Vienna's Soma Fight Club and brings to the cage elite striking built on karate and kickboxing.Before heading to OKTAGON, he went through the international scene and collected a streak of ten consecutive victories across various organizations. In the Brave CF organization, he was named Breakout Fighter of the Year in 2020. He jumped into the yellow-and-black cage in 2024 as part of the second season of the million-euro Tipsport Gamechanger, where he shot down the experienced Makwan Amirkhani in the third round. His only hesitation came when he fell short against Acoidan Duque at the OKTAGON 58 tournament. Machaev then returned to his natural featherweight division and started his ride for the belt: he defeated James Hendin on points at the Frankfurt stadium, took apart Wanderley Junior with a technical KO in the second round, and in January, he claimed the vacant throne with a hard KO in the first round over Samsonidse. He is currently riding a three-fight win streak.Machaev but isn't just a puncher. Of his seventeen victories, nine came by KO or TKO, yet he is just as dangerous on the ground, where he has never lost by submission. In the yellow-and-black cage, he has defended an incredible 85 percent of all takedown attempts (28 out of 33) and currently holds the fifth place among the highest-ranked fighters in the entire organization. Moreover, he remains undefeated in his natural division. He arrives in Cologne as a confident ruler who does not intend to let go of his newly acquired belt.<h2>GJONI PALOKAJ: A CARDIO MACHINE THAT DOES NOT KNOW THE TASTE OF KO</h2>On the other side of the cage stands a man who has no intention of just being a backdrop for a title defense. Thirty-one-year-old Gjoni Palokaj was born in Hannover, but his roots go back to Prizren in Kosovo. He found solid ground in combat sports when he started training in 2013 on the recommendation of his uncle David Palokaj, founder and head coach of the renowned Fightschool Hannover gym. Palokaj is unique outside the cage as well, having managed to combine his tough career with a university degree in electrical engineering.The best proof of his qualities is a record from 2019. Palokaj is the only man in the world who managed to defeat the feared Islam Dulatov, today's UFC star. He entered OKTAGON in 2024 and has not found a conqueror since. In his debut, he defeated Jaroslav Pokorný on points, ran over Jakub Batfalský in the main event in Hannover, and most recently handed a decision loss to James Hendin in Düsseldorf in January, dropping him twice and defending all his takedown attempts. Six fights, six wins, and all by decision. Overall, he hasn't tasted defeat in over three and a half years and eight consecutive fights.Palokaj's style is a nightmare for his opponents. He is a tireless grappler and strategist who has never been dropped by strikes. He doesn't rely on a single shot, but on systematic pressure and endless cardio: he has already delivered twenty-four takedowns in OKTAGON, the fourth highest number in the entire organization, and has spent over thirty-one minutes in control on the ground. He was originally supposed to fight for the belt at home in Hannover, but a nasty infection ruled him out of the fight. Now he gets a second chance in Cologne, where he plans to dethrone Machaev.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZPdZovEtee/"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>THE CLASH OF TWO WORLDS: EXPLOSION VERSUS ENDLESS PRESSURE</h2>This title duel offers a thrilling clash of two different styles. On one side, the devastating striking power and explosiveness of the champion, who destroys in the early rounds; on the other, the steel cardio and constant grappling pressure of the challenger, who hasn't finished anyone in OKTAGON yet, but hasn't let anyone escape his control either. Machaev has never lost by submission, while Palokaj has never tasted a KO.It will be decided over every centimeter of space. Will Machaev keep the fight in the center of the cage, where he can fully unleash his explosive game and send the challenger to the ground with one precise shot? Or will Palokaj survive the opening storm, push the champion to the fence, drag him to the ground, and drown him in his relentless control in the championship rounds? Will the explosive king defend his throne, or will the tough engineer from Hannover make history?Don't miss the next spectacular MMA show! The OKTAGON 91 tournament kicks off on July 11 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne and promises an evening full of battles that won't let you breathe. Secure your spot in the stands and experience the electrifying atmosphere and the crowning of champions right in the center of the action! Secure your place directly in the stands, or watch the entire tournament live via PPV on<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://oktagon.tv"> </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>. Click the link below to buy tickets.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>

One night, two thrones. The OKTAGON 91 tournament brings two title fights to Cologne, and in one of them, the explosive champion Mochamed Machaev (17-2) will face the dangerous challenger Gjoni Palokaj (13-3).

HARD TEST FOR THE CHAMPION: WILL MACHAEV HAND PALOKAJ HIS FIRST LOSS IN THE ORGANIZATION?

One is riding a wave of peak form, the other is perhaps fighting for bare survival. On-fire Cihad Akipa has won five in a row and is heading to Cologne for a scalp that could catapult him into the welterweight elite. Standing against him is Máté Kertész, a living legend of OKTAGON and the longest-serving foreign fighter in the history of the organization, who, however, has been driven to the edge of the abyss by three consecutive defeats. The duel promises a great spectacle, but for both actors, it could be a life-defining crossroads. Where it leads them will be decided on July 11, 2026, at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. Will the experienced matador stop the on-fire German, or will Akipa write another chapter of his rise?<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/bbf559dd-f5e1-4b98-8e40-e78e311dfd7d/cs.1783423595223.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/c2e5999a-2ccc-4f2b-b02a-ad333c10ae9a/cs.1783423600425.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>CIHAD „PUNISHER" AKIPA: A STRIKER WHO TURNED DEFEATS INTO FUEL</h2>The home predator Cihad Akipa (11-2) heads into battle with a clear goal: to snatch victory from a respected veteran. He brought an arsenal from professional kickboxing into MMA, where he fought under the GLORY and Enfusion banners, for example. However, his entry into OKTAGON was rough. First, he was defeated on points by Matthew Bonner at OKTAGON 49, and a few months later, he was caught in a guillotine at tournament 53 by the Croatian „Terror" Ivica Trušček. These were the only two defeats of Akipa's entire career, and both came right here. But the German striker turned them into fuel instead of bitterness.The result is a streak of five wins in a row, three of them under the yellow-black flag. After two losses, he first defeated Dominic Schober on points, then outplayed the Czech fighter Matouš Kohout, and last October, he won by TKO against David Piechaczek right in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, where he is now returning. He confirmed his form with two wins outside the organization, the most resonant of which was the February victory over the Brazilian grappler Alexander Goncalves at the Smesh MMA 2 tournament, a performance after which it was called the most complete fight of his career. His long reach and hard kicks make him a nightmare in the stand-up. He has never lost by KO or TKO and has secured nearly two-thirds of his wins before the limit. To prepare as well as possible for Kertész, he went to a camp in Croatia, directly to Trušček, the only man who managed to finish him in the cage.<h2>MÁTÉ „COLD BLOODED" KERTÉSZ: A LEGEND AT A CAREER CROSSROADS</h2>On the other side of the cage stands a man who intends to stop the on-fire German. Máté Kertész (15-10) is walking history of OKTAGON. He entered the yellow-black cage already at OKTAGON 6, where he knocked out Lukáš Pajtina in his debut. Since then, he has become the longest-active foreign fighter in the history of the organization. In Cologne, his jubilee twentieth start under the yellow-black flag awaits him. In nineteen fights in OKTAGON, he has managed to win ten. He stood at the birth of the million-euro Tipsport Gamechanger project, participating in its first series. He waged a memorable war with long-time champion David „Pink Panther" Kozma twice, the second time directly for the welterweight throne in the five-round main event of OKTAGON 17. On his journey, he collected a number of valuable scalps, twice defeating the German Celt Christian Jungwirth, he also handled, for example, Róbert Pukač, and last left the cage victoriously at OKTAGON 55 in Stuttgart, where he finished Niklas Stolze by submission.His style is pressure and ground fighting, in which he belongs to the historically most active fighters of the organization. Besides a record of 110 takedown attempts, which is the most of all fighters in OKTAGON history. He is second in the number of successful takedowns (43) and third in the number of defended ones (50). He has spent over fifty minutes on the ground and nearly twenty in the clinch by the fence, both ranking him at the absolute top of the organization's statistics. When he ties up his opponent at the fence and gets him underneath, he knows how to torture him for a whole round. For years, he was considered a man whom no one could finish before the limit.But right now, he is going through the most difficult period of his career. He has three lost fights in a row, and in two of them, his opponent managed to finish him. First, the Brazilian Leandro Silva defeated him on points, then the Czech banger Andrej Kalašnik knocked him out in the first round, and in Munich, the undefeated Felix Klinkhammer caught him in a leg lock. From a former title contender, he is suddenly a man whose future in the yellow-black colors hangs by a thread. For the thirty-four-year-old veteran, Cologne could be the last chance to remind everyone why no one could break him for so long.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKf7faoSff/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=AbUjmx8q6w9v6mA83JaWsRa"></oktinstagramcomponent><h2>WHO WILL IMPOSE THEIR GAME IN COLOGNE?</h2>The on-fire Akipa is in life-best form and knows that the scalp of one of the most respected names in the organization can catapult him among the welterweight elite, while for Kertész, a fourth consecutive defeat could mean the end in the organization after twenty fights. Furthermore, it is a classic clash of styles. The long German striker builds his game on stand-up, while the Hungarian grappler builds his on takedowns and ground fighting. One is aiming for entry among the stars and turned his last defeat into the fuel of his rise, the other is defending everything he has built over long years in the yellow-black cage. Will the on-fire German send the Hungarian legend to his knees, or will the veteran remind the division that he is far from ready to leave?The yellow-black colossus returns to Germany. The OKTAGON 91 tournament will strike in full force on July 11 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, and headed by the title rematch Engizek vs. Jotko, it promises a stunning evening full of hard battles. You simply cannot miss this crossroads of destiny! Secure your seat directly in the stands or watch the entire tournament live via PPV on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://OKTAGON.TV">OKTAGON.TV</a>. You can buy tickets at the link below.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>

One is riding a wave of peak form, the other is perhaps fighting for bare survival. On-fire Cihad Akipa has won five in a row and is heading to Cologne for a scalp that could catapult him into the welterweight elite.

AT THE CROSSROADS: SURGING AKIPA TAKES ON HUNGARIAN LEGEND IN COLOGNE

At the OKTAGON 91 tournament in Cologne, a clash of two undefeated fighters will take place. Twenty-three-year-old Slovak talent Patrik Šebek (4–0) will be the only Slovak on the entire card to face the undefeated German fighter Altin Zenuni (4–0). Patrik has a victorious debut in OKTAGON behind him, during which he silenced the audience in Düsseldorf in January by defeating home favorite Emir-Can Al on points. Now he is heading into enemy territory once again. Moreover, he is entering Cologne in a new, lightweight division and in the role of an underdog on paper. What does he have to say about his toughest opponent yet, why does he enjoy the role of the biggest enemy, and what are his plans for the rest of the year? You will find out in our interview.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/c91b2ea8-982b-4734-afe8-cda1f5061420/cs.1782911687470.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/01cca2a6-93e5-4d2c-850f-cb49746b1b73/cs.1782911693440.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent>Patrik, OKTAGON 91 in Cologne is just around the corner. The last time you stood in the OKTAGON cage was in January for your debut in Düsseldorf. What is your state of mind going into your second fight under the yellow-and-black flag?Well, I take every fight in OKTAGON as a chance of a lifetime, so I am in the same state of mind. The only difference from the first fight will be that I basically already know what I am getting into, what the atmosphere will be like, what will be happening, and the things around it.How did you actually get into MMA, and who or what shaped you the most on this journey?I got into it by watching the female OKTAGON Výzva, after which I wanted to try training. And by coincidence, a friend of mine went to training sessions in Martin, so he took me along, and since then I've been doing it at Colosseum in Martin.Is there anyone in this sport, whether at home or in the world, whom you consider your role model, and what appealed to you about them?No, I don't really have a role model. For me, it's more like there are some fighters I like and some I don't, but I don't have a specific role model.Your opponent is another undefeated fighter, Altin Zenuni, a product of Düsseldorf's UFD Gym, an IMMAF veteran, and a multiple-time German champion. What do you see as his biggest strengths, and do you consider him your toughest opponent so far?Well, this will definitely be my toughest opponent so far. His biggest strength will probably be wrestling.It is a clash of two undefeated fighters. How big is the motivation for you to hand Zenuni his first defeat and at the same time protect your own zero?Well, it's always great when I can be the first one to beat someone, it adds a little bit to the motivation. But I don't focus entirely on that, I focus on my own performance, to make it 1000%.On paper, Zenuni is ranked higher, and bookmakers are casting you in the role of the underdog, just like before your debut in Düsseldorf, which you ultimately won. Does the underdog role drive you forward, or do you not look at the numbers at all?I will be glad when they see the level I am at. Let them think I'm an underdog for now, everything will show in the cage.You are entering Cologne in the lightweight division, whereas until now you have fought in welterweight. Why did you decide to drop down a weight class, how demanding is the weight cut for you, and do you consider this change your advantage?My coach and I decided on the weight change, we'll see how it suits me. It will probably be a slight advantage because I've had fights with heavier opponents, but I am curious myself how it will suit me. The weight cut won't come for free.<oktinstagramcomponent url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFv_B1gel5/"></oktinstagramcomponent>You fought your OKTAGON debut in a hostile atmosphere against home favorite Emir-Can Al and silenced the arena with a clear points victory. In Cologne, a crowd that will most likely be on your opponent's side again awaits you at the Lanxess Arena. Does the role of someone who arrives to spoil the home crowd's joy suit you?I actually enjoy this role. Arriving as the biggest enemy and on enemy ground, that is exactly for me, I am looking forward to it.You are called the "Octopus" mainly due to your top-tier ground game. How do you feel in the stand-up, and is it something you are actively working on in your preparation right now?Well, I work on all aspects of the fight, I would already say that I feel just as good in the stand-up as I do on the ground.Where exactly do you prepare for your fights, and what does your regular training week look like when you have to combine it with work?I prepare at Colosseum MMA Martin and Performance Martin, occasionally we go out for sparring somewhere outside of Martin. As for work, I am not working at the moment. I have a great job where I can agree with my boss that I won't work before a fight and can return after the fight. So currently I am living my dream: morning training, evening training, rest in between, and maybe running some errands at most, otherwise full focus on MMA.You yourself said that four fights a year is the maximum for you. How many more do you want to manage this year after Cologne, and where would you like to head next?We will see how the fight turns out, but if I am healthy, I would very much like to fit in two more fights this year.What would you like to say to everyone who will be rooting for you, whether they come to Cologne or watch you at home on their screens?Keep your fingers crossed, I am heading into enemy territory as the only Slovak on the card. I will represent proudly, you have something to look forward to.Will the Slovak talent survive enemy ground, or will the home fighter defend his invincibility in front of his own crowd? The OKTAGON 91 tournament will storm the Cologne Lanxess Arena on July 11th and promises an evening full of heart-stopping battles. Do not miss the next milestone of Europe's best MMA league and support your favorite! You can buy tickets or PPV at the link below.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>

At the OKTAGON 91 tournament in Cologne, a clash of two undefeated fighters will take place. Twenty-three-year-old Slovak talent Patrik Šebek (4–0) will be the only Slovak on the entire card to face the undefeated German fighter Altin Zenuni (4–0).

INTERVIEW WITH PATRIK ŠEBEK: "ARRIVING AS THE BIGGEST ENEMY, THAT IS EXACTLY FOR ME"

It took just 217 seconds. That's how quickly the Polish veteran locked in a choke with no escape last January and plunged the entire Düsseldorf arena into stunned silence. In under four minutes, Krzysztof Jotko (29-6) took the million-euro Gamechanger trophy away from home king Kerim Engizek (24-5) and ended his eleven-year unbeaten run. But there was one thing he couldn't take, because it wasn't on the line back then: the middleweight championship belt. And that is exactly what changes now! On 11 July, Cologne's Lanxess Arena becomes the stage for a rematch in which everything is at stake.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/4ab19ea2-df34-46b8-ba5b-29f353ab3ef6/cs.1782734871715.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/99bb8bea-7396-4e94-b612-a2048f4457cc/cs.1782734877002.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>KERIM ENGIZEK: THE HOME KING WITH DYNAMITE IN HIS HANDS</h2>Kerim Engizek is the reigning king of the middleweight division, arriving in Cologne with one clear mission: to settle his January debt. He fought his way to the top of European MMA despite a harsh upbringing on the streets of Düsseldorf. He carved out his path with his fists, first in the boxing ring and later in his second family, the renowned UFD Gym in Düsseldorf, where a gifted brawler grew into one of the most feared fighters on the continent. Fourteen of his twenty-four wins came by KO or TKO, and he stopped half of all his opponents in the very first round. He has also never once lost by KO or TKO.Before Jotko stopped him in January, Engizek had gone eleven years and seventeen fights unbeaten! The peak of that ride came in October 2024, when he outpointed Patrik Kincl by unanimous decision at a football stadium in Frankfurt and became the very first man to defeat him inside the yellow-and-black cage. With that, he ascended to the middleweight throne. No wonder OKTAGON fans voted him the surprise of 2024. Engizek doesn't apply pressure with his fists alone; his low kicks land on average once every sixteen seconds, chipping away at his opponents piece by piece until that one shot arrives that ends it all.The road through the million-euro Gamechanger cost him dearly, though. In the opening round, at home in Düsseldorf, he handled the tough Kamil Oniszczuk, then wiped out the seasoned Mick Stanton by TKO. In the semifinal he fought Dominik Humburger in one of the wildest wars of the whole season, but walked away from it with a broken hand. Surgery and a disrupted preparation robbed him of a large part of his camp, and he entered the final against Jotko far from his ideal form. That is where his long run came to an end. Now, fully prepared, he wants to erase that defeat on home soil. This time it's not just about revenge, but also about keeping his belt.<h2>KRZYSZTOF JOTKO: THE STRATEGIST HUNTING FOR A TITLE</h2>Krzysztof Jotko already holds the million-euro Tipsport Gamechanger trophy. Now he arrives in Cologne for the one thing still missing. The Polish veteran spent nearly nine years in the UFC, where he piled up eleven wins across seventeen fights, earned a Performance of the Night award, and matched up with the world's elite. His weapon isn't a single punch, but the ability to methodically take an opponent apart. Nineteen of his twenty-nine wins came by the judges' decision. He found his way to combat sports by a detour, too. As a youngster he did breakdance and discovered the beauty of MMA by chance on television. Today he lives and trains in Florida at the renowned American Top Team, alongside world champions.He has yet to find a conqueror inside the yellow-and-black cage and holds a spotless 4-0 record. Outside the UFC, he has never tasted the bitterness of defeat. His ground control borders on perfection; across all his OKTAGON fights he has spent a total of just twenty-three seconds on his back. On his way to the Gamechanger final he beat Ion Surdu, stopped Marek Mazúch by TKO, and in the semifinal also handled the tournament's sensation, Hojat Khajevand.The climax came in Düsseldorf. He locked a choke onto Engizek in the very first round, ended the seventeen-fight unbeaten run of the home king, and collected a cheque for 300,000 euros. But the belt wasn't on the line back then, and that is exactly what drives Jotko to Cologne. He arrives on enemy territory as a man who has already proven he can silence an entire arena in a matter of minutes.<oktyoutubecomponent url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPLqvCoX0Lg"></oktyoutubecomponent><h2>THIS TIME EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE</h2>Some stories demand a second chapter. Engizek arrives in Cologne driven by the desire to wash away the defeat that broke his long streak, right in front of his own fans. Jotko, for his part, knows that on the other side of the cage stands the only man who can take away everything he won last January. Neither of them can afford to lose. And that is exactly why everything is at stake in the Lanxess Arena.When the curtain fell in Düsseldorf last January, it left behind a host of unanswered questions. Was it merely a mix of circumstances and injury, or pure dominance by the Polish fighter? Engizek swears it was the former. Jotko is determined to prove the latter. In Cologne, both will get their chance to write that answer once and for all. Will Engizek erase the most painful defeat of his career in front of his home crowd and keep his belt, or will the Polish strategist go and claim the championship belt and bring the middleweight division under his rule?OKTAGON heads to Cologne and brings a title storm with it. OKTAGON 91 strikes in full force on 11 July and promises a thrilling night packed with hard-hitting battles. You simply can't miss this rematch! Secure your seat in the stands and be there, or watch the whole event live via PPV. Get your tickets at the link below.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>

It took just 217 seconds. That's how quickly the Polish veteran locked in a choke with no escape last January and plunged the entire Düsseldorf arena into stunned silence. In under four minutes, Krzysztof Jotko took the million-euro Gamechanger trophy away from Kerim Engizek.

REMATCH FOR EVERYTHING: ENGIZEK DEFENDS HIS THRONE AGAINST THE MAN WHO ONCE BROKE HIM

Almost two years after losing his throne, Patrik Kincl has his sights set back on the top. On July 11th, Cologne’s Lanxess Arena turns into a battlefield for the future of OKTAGON’s middleweight division. The night’s main event belongs to the title rematch between Kerim Engizek and Krzysztof Jotko, but the main card also serves up a clash that could decide who even gets within sight of a title shot. Former champion Patrik Kincl (29-12) marches into hostile German territory, where home favorite Hojat Khajevand (10-5) awaits him. Will the Czech strategist prove he still has a chance to claim the middleweight throne, or will Khajevand write the biggest story of his career right here in Cologne?<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/bc693806-ebd3-46b6-9063-6c759737423c/cs.1782391725278.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/bd287611-cf80-440a-b782-7b6b52f8f658/cs.1782391730589.png" link="" croppedcorners="true" enablecornersmobile="false" smallercorners="false"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>PATRIK “THE INSPECTOR” KINCL: A LEGEND WHO REFUSES TO GIVE UP</h2>To Czech fans, he’s a living legend. His parents steered him toward combat sports at the age of five, when he started out in judo. He later turned to skateboarding and snowboarding, returning to the mats only as a teenager, this time through boxing. And that’s when he lost his way. A bout of youthful recklessness landed him behind bars, where he spent two years. It was there, by his own account, that he decided to climb back up from rock bottom, and MMA became his way out. To this day he doesn’t hesitate to say it saved his life. In OKTAGON, he went on to author one of the longest reigns in the organization’s history, and for a long stretch he sat atop the pound-for-pound rankings as the best fighter in the promotion, regardless of weight.He captured the middleweight belt in February 2022 at OKTAGON 31, outpointing Samuel “Pirát” Krištofič, and held it for nearly three years. His most prized defense remains the showdown with Karlos Vémola at OKTAGON 43, one of the most-watched fights in the history of the Czech-Slovak scene, in which Kincl became the first Czech ever to beat “The Terminator” on points. He lost the throne only in October 2024 at OKTAGON 62, when Kerim Engizek took the belt from him at a German football stadium in front of a record crowd. Six months later, in June 2025 at OKTAGON 72, he also came up short against Makhmud Muradov in a bid for the vacant interim title. Two straight defeats raised questions about whether “The Inspector” still had anything left to offer. He delivered his answer in December 2025 at OKTAGON 81, closing out his long-standing rivalry with Robert Pukač via a clear decision. Now he wants to prove that falling from the throne was just a stop along the way, not the end of the line.<h2>HOJAT KHAJEVAND: THE GERMAN GIANT-SLAYER</h2>On the other side of the cage stands a man with no intention of playing the backdrop to Kincl’s comeback. Khajevand’s story began far from the spotlight, with an escape from his native Tehran and a life in an asylum shelter in Freiburg. It was in Germany that he found solid ground beneath his feet, and today he runs his own gym there, Astra Sports Academy, raising the next generation of fighters. His weapons were forged by wrestling, which he took up at the age of ten. That school built the foundation of his game, but Khajevand didn’t stop at wrestling. He can break an opponent down with pressure and takedowns just as easily as he can drop him with a hard shot on the feet.He earned major attention as a reserve fighter in last year’s Tipsport Gamechanger. First, stepping in as a reserve, he stopped Kennedy Rayomba and Łukasz Siwiec in the opening round, and when one of the top names dropped out of the tournament, he stepped straight into the quarterfinals. There he shocked former interim champion Piotr Wawrzyniak, taking the decision, and battled his way to the semifinals. His run was halted only by the eventual tournament winner, Krzysztof Jotko. With an 80% finishing rate, Khajevand is exactly the kind of opponent you’d rather not underestimate. Now he gets his chance to share the cage with one of the organization’s biggest names, and on German soil to boot.<oktfightcomponent fightid="1452"></oktfightcomponent><h2>WHO WILL RULE THE COLOGNE CAGE?</h2>This is for everything. The division’s number two, Kincl, is defending his standing above number four Khajevand, knowing that a slip against a man ranked beneath him would knock him out of the title picture. Khajevand, on the other hand, is hunting a scalp that could turn him into a star. On paper, “The Inspector” walks in as the man expected to win, and that’s exactly the role he has to confirm on hostile ground. Kincl himself admitted that, had he not watched Khajevand’s recent fights, he’d have been tempted to underestimate him. And that’s the unknown hanging over this entire bout. The Czech strategist is at his most dangerous the moment he reads his opponent, yet Khajevand is precisely the type who’s hardest to figure out. Will Khajevand claim the scalp of a former champion, or will “The Inspector” prove he still has a claim to a title shot?The yellow-and-black colossus returns to Germany. OKTAGON 91 erupts on July 11th at Cologne’s Lanxess Arena, bringing a title rematch and a battle for the future of the middleweight division. So don’t wait, secure your spot right there in the stands! Tickets are available at the link below.<okteventcomponent eventid="134"></okteventcomponent>