The debut of OKTAGON 73 in Hamburg brought world-class MMA. The event at Barclays Arena ended with a shock for all the home fans when Robert Pukač defeated Christian Eckerlin in the main event. But that wasn’t the only surprise of the night. Let's look back at the Hamburg card and highlight the most significant moments.<oktresponsiveimagecomponent url="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/ec8ae2e1-856c-4172-9631-da5f66540761/cs.1751486630106.png" mobileurl="https://assets.oktagonmma.com/COMMON_IMAGE/6e079ab6-d331-46ec-baa8-3ac7d506cc1b/cs.1751486644551.png" croppedcorners="true"></oktresponsiveimagecomponent><h2>STORM IN THE WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION – WHO WILL REMAIN STANDING?</h2>In recent months, the welterweight division in OKTAGON has seen several shocks. First, the current champion Ion Surdu decided to compete in the million-dollar pyramid Tipsport Gamechanger in the middleweight division. However, he didn’t succeed, and now the question arises whether he will defend his welterweight title or move up a weight class.The next big moment came in Karlovy Vary, where Andrej Kalašnik knocked out OKTAGON veteran Máté Kertész in devastating fashion. This not only placed him at #5 in the rankings but also put him in the discussion as a potential title challenger.Then came OKTAGON 72 in Eden, and a fight at the very top of the division – Rony Paradeiser vs. Bojan Veličković. Until then, the number one in the division, Veličković, fell to the rising Slovak talent Rony, who became the new #1 in the weight class. He essentially earned a title shot, but there’s a complication – Ion Surdu is his training partner and friend. It’s unclear whether they would be willing to face each other.In Hamburg, two new names significantly impacted the welterweight scene – Robert Pukač and Kaik Brito. Pukač is experiencing an incredible career restart, and his recent victory at OKTAGON 73 will likely move him to #3 in the welterweight rankings, where Eckerlin used to be. After the fight, Pukač called out former champion Patrik Kincl. Brito faced the extremely experienced and dangerous Joilton Lutterbach in Barclays Arena. But for Brito, it looked like a walk in the park – he finished his opponent swiftly in the first round and set his sights on a rematch against champion Ion Surdu. And let's not forget UFC veteran Jessin Ayari, who defied all expectations by scoring a big win over Niklas Stolze, who had been ranked #6.One title and many hungry challengers. The welterweight division is now in turmoil, and this means only one thing – more exciting battles are ahead, and a lot is at stake!<h2>MOVES IN THE WORLD RANKINGS</h2>As usual, we bring you an overview of the most interesting moves in the world rankings according to Fightmatrix after OKTAGON 73. Currently, the second-highest ranked male fighter in OKTAGON is Zhalgas Zhumagulov, who moved up to #36 in the flyweight world rankings after his victory over Beno Adamia. Just outside the top 50 in the world is Danish "Shark" Jonas Magard, who now holds the #53 spot in the bantamweight rankings. Richie Smullen (#69 in featherweight) and Kaik Brito (#93 in welterweight) are also in the world top 100.An incredible progression has been made recently by Robo Pukač – his victory over David Kozma moved him up an incredible 250 spots to #158 in the rankings. His spectacular win in Hamburg helped him climb almost 40 more spots, bringing him close to the world top 100 at an impressive #116. Heavyweight Kasim Aras also improved his position by 25 spots, now ranking #111 in the world.<h2>ONE MONTH OF WAITING AND THEN A RETURN TO ŠTVANICE!</h2>Now we face a longer pause. The entire month of July will be without an OKTAGON event, but don’t worry, we’re preparing such bombs for you in August that you can start getting excited right now. OKTAGON 74 will return to the legendary Štvanice Island! A place that has already seen so many epic moments deserves at least one more stop. And OKTAGON 74 will be a stop you won’t forget! Four fights in the million-dollar Tipsport Gamechanger pyramid. All eight quarterfinalists will be introduced, including the beloved Matěj Peňáz, Mick Stanton, and Kerim Engizek. The main event will feature a women’s title fight between the undefeated Lucie Szabová and the current champion Cecilie Bolander – who will be crowned the queen of OKTAGON? After a long absence, the popular "CHIMP" Jakub Tichota and the "bad boy" from Brno, Radek Roušal, will also return. You definitely don’t want to miss this one!OKTAGON 73 celebrated great success in Hamburg’s Barclays Arena, despite the disappointment of the home fans after Christian Eckerlin’s loss. But now we’re heading back to the Czech Republic, for the most beautiful event of the year! Prague’s Štvanice Island will come alive again and shake under the grand show that OKTAGON 74 will offer. You still have a chance to be there live! There are only a few tickets left, so don’t miss it. August 9, 2025, at 18:00 at the Štvanice Stadium.<okteventcomponent eventid="119"></okteventcomponent>

The debut of OKTAGON 73 in Hamburg brought world-class MMA. The event at Barclays Arena ended with a shock for all the home fans when Robert Pukač defeated Christian Eckerlin in the main event. But that wasn’t the only surprise of the night.

REFLECTION ON OKTAGON 73: DRAMA IN THE WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OKTAGON CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION INTO OKTAGON 91 INCIDENT AND ANNOUNCES SANCTIONS

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

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

ROAD TO FRANKFURT GOES THROUGH STVANICE: KOZMA FACES EXPERIENCED ZAWADA

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

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

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.

REFLECTION ON OKTAGON 73: DRAMA IN THE WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION

You might be interested in

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

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

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

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

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