A kickboxer robbed of his title shot by injury against a Polish legend with fifteen submission wins. Add to that a fan favourite’s return after more than three and a half years, a clash of two former title challengers, Stand and Bang rules and the debut of Czech MMA’s golden boy. On 17 October, OKTAGON returns to the Mattoni Arena in Karlovy Vary with a card full of home-grown names. Here is the full rundown of what awaits you.

DANIEL ŠKVOR VS. TOMASZ NARKUN

A classic striker versus grappler matchup. Light heavyweight number two, former GLORY kickboxer and OKTAGON Underground winner Daniel Škvor (11-4) was set to fight for the light heavyweight title at Prague’s Štvanice in August. A torn pectoral tendon cost him the rematch with Will Fleury, and Makhmud Muradov took the belt in his place. He arrives in Karlovy Vary on a four-fight win streak, with every one of those wins coming inside two rounds. Across the cage stands number six and Polish legend Tomasz Narkun (21-7), a former six-time KSW champion who has beaten Mamed Khalidov twice. Twenty of his twenty-one wins came by finish, fifteen of them by submission. In his OKTAGON debut, however, he found no answer to Alexander Poppeck. Will Škvor keep the fight standing, or will Narkun drag him into deep waters?

MATÚŠ JURÁČEK VS. JOZEF WITTNER

The return of a fan favourite and a fight with everything on the line. Matúš “Slávista” Juráček (13-6) was one of the most popular faces in the yellow-and-black cage. He won five of his six OKTAGON fights and collected scalps such as Jan Široký and Robert Pukač. After more than three and a half years away from the promotion, he returns to where the fans loved him. Opposite him is grappler Jozef Wittner (16-7), who has won half of his fights by submission. Wittner, however, is going through the toughest spell of his career. After losses to David Kozma and Marek Bartl, he badly needs a win and is trying his luck in a new division, middleweight. Both men have beaten Pukač, and now they meet each other. Will Juráček return in style, or will Wittner finally snap his losing run?

DAVID DVOŘÁK VS. AARON ABY

Two former title challengers, one road back to the belt. UFC veteran and flyweight number two David “Undertaker” Dvořák (22-7) faced champion Zhalgas Zhumagulov at Prague’s O2 arena in December, but the doctor stopped the fight after the third round and Dvořák lost by TKO. Before that, he became the first man to knock out Mohammed Walid, and every one of his OKTAGON wins so far has come by finish. He faces Welsh veteran Aaron Aby (19-11-1), the first flyweight title challenger in OKTAGON history, who has fought for the belt twice. The BJJ black belt has never lost by submission and comes in on a three-fight win streak. Both men wanted this fight. Which of them will rejoin the queue for Zhumagulov?

ZDENĚK POLÍVKA VS. TIMO FEUCHT

Two heavy hitters with something to prove. Zdeněk “Gameover” Polívka (10-8) returns to OKTAGON after a year and a half away. He has come through serious health problems and neck surgery, after which he considered retiring. Yet he has enjoyed big moments in the cage, knocking out UFC veteran Eric Spicely and beating future UFC fighter Robert Bryczek. On the other side stands German finisher Timo Feucht (8-2), a champion in Spanish and German promotions who has finished all eight of his wins. He returned in April in Szczecin after almost seven years away, but was stopped by Michał Piwowarski at heavyweight. Now he moves to light heavyweight. For whom will Karlovy Vary be a career restart, and for whom will it mean game over?

VÁCLAV ŠTĚPÁN VS. ARIA AZARNOOSH

The only unbeaten professional on the card is back in action. Václav Štěpán (5-0), who trains at All Sports Academy in Hradec Králové alongside Kincl and Dvořák, is still undefeated in OKTAGON. Last time out in Liberec, he handed Firas Daud his first loss, and as an amateur he lost just one of fifteen fights. His opponent, however, changed at the last minute. Stepping in as a replacement at a 69-kilogram catchweight is Aria Azarnoosh (3-3), who has won all three of his fights by strikes inside the distance and arrives on a two-fight win streak. Will Štěpán keep his record clean, or will the dangerous replacement spoil his plans?

ROBIN FOŠUM VS. TOMÁŠ KLABÍK

Small gloves, no ground fighting. This light heavyweight bout will be contested under Stand and Bang rules. Robin Fošum (2-1-1) returned to OKTAGON in Brno in September after more than three years away and knocked out BKFC veteran Dustin Rabiega in the second round. Nobody expected his comeback: after a serious illness and two spinal surgeries, he was told he would never fight again. He faces Tomáš Klabík (1-0), the reigning champion of Czech bare-knuckle promotion CSBKB. Klabík won the title as a replacement for Josef Hála, turning the fight around against Jindřich Byrtus. Here, a single punch could decide everything.

MARCO NOVÁK VS. ANATOLIJ BAAL

Featherweight brings a clash of two strikers. Marco Novák (7-3) has 85 Muay Thai fights behind him, along with a WKU world title and a European Muay Thai title, and he made it all the way to the final of OKTAGON’s Underground project. He was the first to knock out Danijel Solaja and has never lost by submission. In June in Bratislava, however, he lost a decision to Ayton De Paepe, and in Karlovy Vary he wants to bounce back. Standing in his way is debuting German puncher Anatolij Baal (10-4-1), who has six wins by KO or TKO and has gained experience in the PFL and other promotions. His fastest win took just 25 seconds. Will Novák get back to winning ways, or will Baal make a big splash in his debut?

VIKTOR ČERVINSKÝ VS. DANIEL HROMEK

A long-awaited debut. Viktor Červinský (5-3) is often called the golden boy of Czech MMA. At just 22, he already has a domestic promotion title and wins over Jixie Molapo and David Hošek to his name, and in Karlovy Vary he will step into the yellow-and-black cage for the first time. Testing him at welterweight is Slovak striker Daniel Hromek (6-5), a European striking champion who started out in Muay Thai at Hanuman Gym in Bratislava. He has already fought in four countries under the OKTAGON banner, came back in the third round to beat Emir-Can Al in Oberhausen and is currently riding a two-fight win streak. Will Červinský show why everyone is talking about him, or will the experienced Slovak spoil his debut?

HUSEIN KADIMAGOMAEV VS. MARCO ELPIDIO

One of the most intriguing signings of recent months makes his debut at a 72-kilogram catchweight. Swiss fighter Husein Kadimagomaev (14-2) trains at the renowned UFD Gym, has competed in promotions such as Brave and FNC, and has finished twelve of his fourteen wins. Early in his career, he won a belt by submitting Jarno Errens with a first-round guillotine. Testing him is OKTAGON’s only Mexican fighter, Marco “La Roca” Elpidio (25-13-2). The two-time champion of Mexican promotions is heading into his 41st professional fight and accepted the bout on short notice. He did lose two decisions in OKTAGON, to Ozan Aslaner and Arijan Topallaj, but neither of them managed to finish him. Will Kadimagomaev’s debut go to plan, or will the Mexican stop him?

PATRIK PIKEŠ VS. RAKHIM ILISKHANOV

The night in Karlovy Vary kicks off with an amateur lightweight bout. Patrik Pikeš (10-5) is a multiple Czech amateur champion who has also competed at the IMMAF Championships, where he earned a KO of the Day award. He has dedicated everything to MMA and is chasing a professional career. He faces Rakhim Iliskhanov (4-1) of Austria’s Gym23, a rising star of the Austrian scene. Which of these hungry talents will get off to the better start?

Karlovy Vary is in for a night full of big names, emotional comebacks and hungry debutants. OKTAGON 95 takes place on Saturday 17 October at the Mattoni Arena. Secure your seat in the stands. Get your tickets via the link below.

SZABOVÁ: PRVNÍ NÁVRAT K MMA PO PORODU

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