OKTAGON MMA returns to the Czech Republic on November 1st, 2025 as the hometown Andrej Kalasnik takes on Ion Surdu for the welterweight title. Despite Surdu being the reigning champion, he lost his belt on the scale yesterday at weigh ins, missing the limit by 8 lbs. Kalasnik accepted the fight, meaning he is the only one with the opportunity to win the title. The rest of the card is stacked with top European names, and several elite prospects looking to showcase their skills in Brno, Czech Republic. The card can be streamed live at OKTAGON.tv, and all the results from the action can be found here throughout the event.
Prelims
Šimon Bruknar (5-1) vs Harun Kurt (4-0) – Bantamweight Bout
Harun Kurt (5-1) defeats Simon Bruknar (5-2) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
Vašek Klimša (1-0) vs Jessy Joaquim (0-0) – Middleweight Bout
Vasek Klimsa (2-0) defeats Jessy Joaquim (0-1) at 1:23 of the first round by submission (Von Flue Choke)
Liam Pitts (2-0) vs Stephan Guidea (2-2)– Catchweight Bout(139lbs)
Liam Pitts (3-0) defeats Stephan Guidea (2-3) 2:29 into the first round by submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Václav Štěpán (3-0) vs Karol Kutyła (8-8) – Featherweight Bout
Vaclav Stepan (4-0) defeats Karol Kutyla (8-9) at 3:46 of the second round by submission (Kimura)
Nathan Haywood (4-2) defeatsLukas Chotenovsky (7-3) at 2:58 of the first round by knockout (Hook kick and ground and pound)
Main Card
Samuel Bark (13-2) vs Mate Sanikidze (11-4) – Featherweight Bout
Samuel Bark (14-2) defeats Mate Sanikidze (11-5) 4:31 into the third round by submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Daniel Ligocki (5-1) vs Pedro Oliveira (9-4-1) – Catchweight Bout (190lbs)
Pedro Oliveira (10-4-1) defeats Daniel Ligocki (5-2) by unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Radek Roušal (5-2) vs Corey Fry (5-3) – Featherweight Bout*
*Rousal missed weight by 2.2 lbs
Radek Roušal (6-2) defeats Corey Fry (5-4) 1:54 into the first round by knockout (punches)
Jakub Dohnal (13-6) vs Tomáš Mudroch (7-1) – Lightweight Bout*
*Mudroch missed weight by 1 lb
Tomáš Mudroch (8-1) defeats Jakub Dohnal (13-7) 2:01 into the first round by TKO (punches and elbows)
Vladimir Lengal (8-6) vs Ognen Dimić (9-4-1) – Lightweight Bout
Vladimir Lengal (9-6) defeats Ognen Dimic (9-5-1) 4:52 into the second round by TKO (ground and pound)
Ion Surdu (16-7) vs Andrej Kalasnik (13-5) – OKTAGON Welterweight Title*
*Surdu relinquished the title and cannot win the belt as he weigh in 7.9 lbs over the championship limit
Ion Surdu (17-7) defeats Andrej Kalašnik (13-6) 4:27 by TKO (ground and pound). The belt remains vacant as Surdu missed weight.
OKTAGON returns on November 22nd in Stuttgart with OKTAGON 80, as Christian Jungwirth takes on Niklas Stolze in the main event. Stay tuned for card updates and more OKTAGON news.
LFA 220 takes place on October 25th, 2025 at the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix. Arizona. Local fighter Kasey Tanner looks to punch his ticket to the UFC in a matchup with the skilled Michael Cyr across from him. There will be thirteen total bouts taking place, with ten professional and three amateur fighters. Prelims are scheduled to air on YouTube at 4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST, and the main card will air on UFC Fight Pass at 7 PM PST/10 PM EST. All results and news can be found here as the event unfolds. Follow @dskcombatsports on Instagram for highlights and interviews.
Amateur Prelims
1. Brayan Mancila (1-0) vs Emmanuel Hill (0-0) – Amateur Heavyweight Bout
Brayan Mancila (2-0) defeats Emmanuel Hill (0-1) :31 into the first round by TKO(ground and pound)
Quayshan Randelman (3-1) defeats Issouf Doumbia (0-2) :56 into the second round by TKO (ground and pound)
3: Alex Ortiz(1-0) vs Matthew Chenault(1-1) – Amateur Lightweight Bout*
*Ortiz missed weight by 2 lbs
Alex Ortiz (2-0) defeats Matthew Chenault (1-2) 1:30 into the third round by TKO (ground and pound)
Professional Prelims
4. Nolan Linebaugh (0-0) vs Will Hughes (0-0) – Professional Bantamweight Bout
Nolan Linebaugh (1-0) defeats Will Hughes (0-1) by Unanimous Decision
Nolan Linebaugh made a successful return to the cage after 9 years, when he last competed as an amateur for WFF. He showcased his excellent striking as he outlanded Will Hughes over three exciting rounds.
5. Delton Kauffman (0-0) vs Caleb Jensen (1-2) – Professional Middleweight Bout
Delton Kaufmann defeats Caleb Jensen by TKO (ground and pound) 3:08 into the first round
Delton Kaufmann announced himself to the MMA world with a fantastic first round finish over the more experienced Caleb Jensen. Kaufmann is already an IMMAF Champion, high school state champion in wrestling, and a pan-American champion in BJJ. “The Thaiphoon” will be a name to watch moving forward.
6. Jarom Woodbury (7-1) vs David Gladfelter (7-4) – Professional Middleweight Bout
Jarom Woodbury (8-1) defeats David Gladfelter (7-5) by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Jarom Woodbury returned to the MMA cage for the first time in 13 years at LFA 220. Displaying incredible grit, he outstruck Gladfelter over three rounds and secured the unanimous decision win, in front of his hometown fans.
7. Livio Ribeiro (4-0) vs Richard Mahan (3-1) – Professional Flyweight Bout
Livio Ribeiro (5-0) defeats Richard Mahan by submission (rear naked choke) 2:36 into the first round
In a matchup of tremendous grapplers, Livio Ribeiro made quick work of the tough Richard Mahan. Taking the back early in the first round, he was patient until the opportunity presented itself. He sunk in the choke halfway through the first round, and the MMA Lab product moved to 5-0 in his young pro career.
UFC Fight Pass Main Card
8. Leslie Hernandez (4-3) vs Flor Hernandez 4-3) – Professional Strawweight Bout
Leslie Hernandez bounced back from the first losing streak of her career with a fantastic performance vs Flor Hernandez. She utilized her power punches and kicks to overwhelm the Mexican fighter over three rounds. The MMA Lab product will be looking make it back to DWCS, after her loss to Julieta Martinez last year on the show.
9. Chance Ikei (5-0) vs Jordan Burkholder (6-2) – Professional Flyweight Bout
Chance Ikei (6-0) defeats Jordan Burkholder (6-3) by submission (rear naked choke) 4:50 into the first round
Top Arizona prospect Chance Ikei showcased all his skills en route to a first round stoppage against former collegiate wrestler Jordan Burkholder. Using his wrestling, Ikei took the fight to the ground, and utilized his ground and pound to open up the opportunity for the submission. Ikei called for either an LFA title shot or a chance on DWCS in his post fight interview.
10. Kevin Natividad (9-4) vs Ryan Kuse (7-2) – Professional Bantamweight Bout
Ryan Kuse (8-2) defeats Kevin Natividad (9-5) by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Ryan Kuse showcased excellent striking and takedown defense during a grueling fifteen minute war with UFC veteran Kevin Natividad. Despite getting hurt multiple times, Kuse was able to maintain the pressure and earned the decision victory as the out of town fighter.
11. Kyle Estrada (14-8) vs Ernesto Ibarra (10-1) – Professional Flyweight Bout*
*Estrada missed weight by 2 lbs
Ernesto Ibarra (11-1) defeats Kyle Estrada (14-9) by TKO (knee and punches) 4:01 into the first round
Ernesto Ibarra fought through early grappling exchanges against veteran Kyle Estrada, until he was able to land a knee against the fence as Estrada was standing. He kept pouring on the damage with punches until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Ibarra secured his first win in the LFA with this performance.
12. Christian Natividad (7-0) vs Jostin Quilca (9-2) – Flyweight Co-main Event
Christian Natividad defeats Jostin Quilca by TKO (ground and pound) 3:07 into the first round
Christian Natividad made short work of his opponent Jostin Quilca, finally securing the finish he has been looking for in his last few fights. Natividad moved to 8-0 in his career, and at just 29 years old there is no doubt the UFC is in the near future for the Hawaiian Punch.
13. Kasey Tanner (8-1) vs Michael Cyr (8-1) – Bantamweight Main Event (3 Rounds)
Kasey Tanner defeats Michael Cyr by unanimous decision (29-27×3)
In the main event of LFA 220, Kasey Tanner relied on his fundamentals to defeat the skilled and dangerous Michael Cyr by decision. He survived multiple submission attempts and utilized his wresting to move to 9-1 in his professional career.
The Legacy Fighting Alliance returns on Friday, November 7th in Brasilia, Brazil with LFA 221: Clark vs Consuli.
The Legacy Fighting Alliance returns to Phoenix, Arizona for the second time in 2025, bringing a stacked card full of prospects and veterans alike to the valley of the sun. Headlining the card is 8-1 Bantamweight and DWCS veteran Kasey Tanner, taking on the streaking 8-1 Michael Cyr. The co-main event features top Flyweight prospect Christian Natividad taking on El Salvadorian fighter Jostin Quilca, just two fights after Christian’s brother and UFC veteran Kevin Natividad returns vs Ryan Kuse. The action packed main card is rounded out by top flyweight Kyle Estrada taking on Mexican standout Ernesto Ibarra, and 5-0 local prospect Chance Ikei taking on the 6-2 former collegiate wrestler Jordan Burkholder. All of the action can be found on UFC Fight Pass, and we will break down the 5 exciting main card bouts here, as well as the professional and amateur prelims.
Kasey Tanner (8-1) vs Michael “The Mullet” Cyr (8-1) – Bantamweight Main Event
In the headlining bout, Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Kasey Tanner returns to the LFA cage for the third time, his second main eventing for the promotion. Tanner has his work cut out for him in his hometown, as he faces submission ace Michael Cyr, who looks to make a statement in his first LFA main event slot.
Kasey Tanner is a fundamentals fighter. He has a fantastic jab, good footwork, and solid striking. He can wrestle as well, and remains active on the ground, having three wins by submission and another by ground and pound. His only loss came in a closely contested match in which he lost a decision to Jean Matsumoto on DWCS, who has gone on to have a very successful early UFC career. Across from Tanner awaits one of the most dangerous ground fighters in the promotion, as Michael Cyr comes in with two wins by twister submission. Most of his finishing skill is on the ground, but he showcases an excellent Muay Thai style striking game, with kicks, punches, and clinch knees on the feet. He tends to leave his head on the centerline when advancing, leaving him susceptible to counter shots. He has shown an excellent chin and toughness after getting hurt. The twister position is his bread and butter, with two finishes coming by this submission, and set up a rear naked choke with a twister attempt vs Alden Coria.
This is a very competitive matchup, and for both men it will depend on the gameplan and execution more than their skills. If Cyr can out Tanner on the back foot and get the fight to the ground, he has a very good chance of landing one of his signature submissions. On the flip side, if Tanner can use his wrestling and jab, and keep Cyr uncomfortable he will most likely cruise his way to a decision. Look for the winner of this fight to be in the UFC before the year’s end.
Prediction: Kasey Tanner By Decision
Christian “Hawaiian Punch” Natividad (7-0) vs Jostin Quilca (9-2) – Flyweight Co-Main Event
In the co-headliner, top Flyweight prospect Christian Natividad returns, looking for his 8th win in his professional career. He will be fighting in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona when he faces El Salvadorian fighter Jostin Quilca, who is making his US debut.
Christian Natividad is an extremely well rounded fighter with exceptional power in his hands. A former collegiate wrestler at Southern Oregon University, Christian has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career. Despite only having two knockouts on his record, he has knocked down every fighter he has faced, the finishes just seem to slightly evade him. He has recently switched camps from Fight Ready to the MMA Lab. He’ll be looking to end the night early against Jostin Quilca, a veteran of the South American scene. Quilca is primarily a grappler who is more than happy to mix it up on the feet, throwing a variety of wild strikes with the intent of getting to the ground by any means necessary.
Christian Natividad is without a doubt one of the top unsigned flyweights outside the UFC, and he is looking for that statement win that will get him signed. Although Quilca is tough and game, his level of competition is far below anything Natividad has faced. Expect a coming out performance for the Hawaiian Punch in this flyweight feature.
Prediction: Christian Natividad by Second Round KO
Kyle “The Hoosier” Estrada (14-8) vs Ernesto Ibarra (10-1) – Flyweight Bout
Coming off his fantastic 3rd round TKO at UFL 7, LFA veteran Kyle Estrada looks to make it two finishes in a row as he faces Mexican prospect Ernesto Ibarra. Ibarra comes in with an impressive 10-1 record, but has no social media and is a bit of an unknown entering this bout. He has primarily fought across Mexico and most notably with the Combate Global Promotion.
Estrada is a dynamic fighter both on the feet and the ground. He uses an array of kicks and punches, and is very adept in movement around the cage, constantly switching stances. On the ground he’s a fantastic scrambler who is an opportunist when it comes to finishes. His most recent win came by ground and pound after he dominated the bout on the feet, forcing his opponent to grapple which led to his demise. On the other side of this matchup, Ibarra is a traditional southpaw striker, looking to land his rear hand and kick while building off the jab.
This bout will be the most combined fights between two fighters on the card (31 total fights) and both fighters are bound to deliver when they enter the cage. Estrada has mentioned in this past this is his last run at the UFC, so look for the veteran to make a statement in this main card bout.
Prediction: Kyle Estrada by Third Round Submission
Kevin “Quicksand” Natividad (9-4) vs Ryan “Third Street Savage” Kuse (7-2) – Bantamweight Bout
Christian will not be the only Natividad on this card, as his older brother Kevin will make his return to the LFA cage. Coming off a 3 fight run with the UFC, Kevin has had a very difficult time finding fights as many have fallen through, to no fault of his own. He finally has a dance partner as the Florida man Ryan Kuse makes the trip to Arizona, coming off a win at Karate Combat in June.
Kevin Natividad is a well rounded fighter with power in his hands similar to his brother. A brown belt in jiu jitsu, he has tremendous submission ability and his flying knee is a dangerous weapon on the feet. Despite not fighting for nearly 3 years, Kevin has stayed active assisting Henry Cejudo, Alateng Heili, Aoriqileng, and other fighters prepare for their UFC bouts. On the other side of this fight, Ryan Kuse is facing the toughest fighter of his career, and looks to show he’s UFC level with a finish against Natividad. Training out of the Goat Shed in Miami, Florida, Kuse is a hard nosed fighter with power in his hands. He was 5-0 for the now defunct Titan FC promotion, and will be making his LFA debut. Kuse also had a very successful amateur career, racking up 8 wins in 10 bouts.
This fight will be an explosive matchup on the feet, with Natividad looking to prove he is a name to remember for LFA fans, and for Kuse, he is looking to show that he is one of the top level bantamweights in the US. The primary difference in this matchup is the level of competition between both fighters. Kuse has combined opponents record of 41-52-1 while Natividad has a combined opponents record of 70-37.
Prediction: Kevin Natividad by Second Round KO
Chance “The Typhoon” Ikei (5-0) vs Jordan “Butters” Burkholder (6-2) – Flyweight Bout
Chance Ikei has spent virtually his entire amateur and professional career with the LFA. A life long combat sports competitor, Ikei is an elite athlete from a family of fighters. His sister, Rosalani Ikei, recently won her pro debut for Fury FC. Ikei is extremely well rounded and has tremendous cardio to rely on. He takes on his toughest test as a pro as he faces former collegiate wrestler Jordan Burkholder. Burkholder is another exceptional athlete, who will be looking to take Ikei down and impose his will in this fight. Coming off a title win at Front Street Fights, Burkholder looks to stake his claim to a future LFA title shot.
Both fighters come from outstanding wrestling backgrounds, and have both proven ability on the feet. This is a matchup of top camps as well, with Ikei representing the MMA Lab and Burkholder fighting out of Jackson Wink in New Mexico. Ikei will most likely be more fluid in his gameplan, while Burkholder should rely on his strengths and attempt to keep Ikei off his game with constant pressure and takedowns.
Prediction: Chance Ikei by First Round Submission
Prelims
Leslie “Dora The Destroyer” Hernandez (4-3) vs Flor Hernandez (4-3) – Strawweight Bout
Leslie Hernandez makes her return to Arizona and the LFA as she faces off with Mexican fighter Flor Hernandez. The elite striker enters on a two fight losing streak, looking to right the ship after a loss to Julieta Martinez on DWCS and Cara Greenwell at LFA 207. Flor Hernandez is currently riding a three fight losing street in MMA, most recently losing by armbar to GiGi Canuto at LFA 211.
Prediction: Leslie Hernandez by Decision
Livio Ribeiro (4-0) vs Richard Mahan (3-1) – Flyweight Bout
In a matchup of top grapplers, the MMA Lab’s Livio Ribeiro looks to remain unbeaten as he takes on Yuma, Arizona prospect Richard Mahan. Mahan is coming off an electric first round submission over Patrick Cornett at UFL 7, securing the win in his home state. This all Arizona showdown will pit top grapplers against each other, and expect an exciting match primarily contested on the ground.
Prediction: Richard Mahan by Decision
Jarom Woodbury (7-1) vs David Gladfelter (7-4) – Middleweight bout
Jarom Woodbury makes his return to the MMA cage after 13 years to face Nevada prospect David Gladfelter. Woodbury was 7-1 fighting from 2010-2012, but has taken time off from competing to pursue a career in physical therapy. He has been coaching throughout this time, and believes this is potentially his last shot to make the walk at 41 years old. His opponent will be looking to make it four wins in his last five fights, as Gladfelter boasts a dangerous submission game with 6 finishes by tap out in his career.
Prediction: David Gladfelter by First Round Submission
Nolan Linebaugh (0-0) vs Will Hughes (0-0) – Bantamweight Bout
Another fighter who has spent time away from competing, Nolan Linebaugh looks to make it a successful first pro fight as he takes on the fellow debutant Will Hughes. Both fighters come in with plenty of amateur experience, with Linebaugh boasting an 8-1 record and Hughes with a record of 6-3. Linebaugh will be the hometown fighter in this matchup. Most notably, Linebaugh has not fought since 2016 and Hughes last fought on August 2nd.
Prediction:Will Hughes by Decision
Delton Kaufmann (0-0) vs Caleb Jensen (1-2) – Middleweight Bout
Delton Kaufmann will be making his pro debut at just 18 years old, boasting an exceptional amount of combat sports experience. He is a two time Arizona High school wrestling champion, 2 time IMMAF champion, and 4 time Pan American BJJ champion. He looks to show he’s one of the future stars in MMA as he takes on Caleb Jensen, who makes his third appearance for the promotion looking for his second victory.
Prediction: Delton Kaufmann by First round KO
Amateur Prelims
Brayan Mancila (1-0) vs Emmanuel Hill (0-0) – Amateur 215 lb Catchweight Bout
Alex “El Perro” Ortiz (1-0) vs Matthew Chenault (1-1) – Amateur Lightweight Bout
LFA 220: Tanner vs Cyr will take place October 25th, at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. Prelims are scheduled to begin at 4 pm MST, with the main card scheduled for 7 pm MST. Select preliminary bouts will be aired on the LFA YouTube Channel, while the main card can be streamed on UFC Fight Pass. Tickets for this event can be purchased at Live Nation.
On October 18th in Köln, Germany, OKTAGON MMA will host their thirteenth event of the year, but this card may be one of the most pivotal events in the promotions history. For the first time since the Klitschko brothers dominated boxing, a combat sports will be aired live on German cable television. This event is loaded with German stars such as Alina Dalaslan and Christian Eckerlin, with OKTAGON hoping they can reach an entire new demographic through household television.
OKTAGON’s relationship with RTL, the top streaming and television company in Germany has gone exceedingly well over the past year. RTL+ is the German home of OKTAGON, a subscription based service similar to ESPN+ or Hulu in the United States. OKTAGON has already managed to grow their reach extensively through this partnership, evident through the massive German events that continue to sell out. RTL+ serves roughly 6 million subscribers, but the number of German household televisions with cable access is estimated to be upwards of 40 million, meaning this is a fantastic opportunity for OKTAGON to grow even further.
The card itself features multiple top talents hailing from Germany, with many up and coming prospects opening the show. Atop the card, the King of Germany Christian Eckerlin faces the veteran Ivica Trušček. In the co-main event, rising star Alina Dalaslan faces fellow German Katharina Lehner. Also on the card, the rising star Tamerlan Dulatov returns, as well as Arijan Topallaj looks to right the wrongs of his last fight. While the German fans will be cheering for these fighters, there is no doubt that every athlete competing understands just how massive of an opportunity this event is.
With OKTAGON continuing to make smart strategic moves both with media and promotion, it is no surprise that they have earned the right to be the first combat sport aired on RTL+ in over 15 years. For those in Germany, you can watch this groundbreaking event on RTL and RTL+, and global viewers can watch the card via OKTAGON.tv.
In one of the best episodes of DWCS we have ever seen, week 10 on Tuesday, October 14th delivered the action and the contracts. 5 new fighters were added to the UFC roster, and here are some potential opponents they could face along with a recap of the nights action.
Wesley “Party Time” Schultz – 8-2 Middleweight
Wesley Schultz kicked off the evening with a fantastic submission over fellow ground specialist Mario Mingaj. Mingaj pulled guard against the fence early in the first round, which led to a few grappling exchanges. Schultz took this opportunity to jump on the back of Mingaj, but instead of going for the traditional rear naked choke, he hit the extremely rare Suloev Stretch submission, which attacks the groin muscle of the opponent. This was the first Suloev stretch in DWCS history, earning Schultz the contract on his second attempt on the show.
Schultz was defeated by Mansur Abdul Malik in his first contender series appearance in 2024, but has bounced back with two impressive submission wins. ‘Party Time’ is very unorthodox on the feet, yet effective with his strikes. On the ground he clearly had a deep bag of tricks, and it would be interesting to see him tested against fellow high level grapplers at 185 lbs.
Matchup Prediction: Wesley Schultz (8-2) vs Jakob Malkoun (8-3) – February 2026
Michael “PQD” Oliveira – 9-0 Welterweight
The 2023 LFA Fighter of the Year and Brazilian paratrooper Michael Oliveira delivered one of the cleanest performances of this season vs Victor Valenzuela. He showed fantastic striking, particularly with his powerful straight punches. After doing incredible damage with two knockdowns, on the third he put Valenzuela away with ground and pound and secured himself a UFC contract.
Oliveira is extremely polished on the feet, stalking his opponents landing with seemingly effortless power. His grappling is a bit untested, and he tends to lean back and rely on his reach defensively as well. Both of these are very fixable holes of his game, and there is no doubt with the tools he currently has he will have success in the UFC. With a 78.5 inch reach, he has potential to be a true superstar out of Brazil.
Matchup Prediction: Michael Oliveira (9-0) vs Rhys McKee (14-7-1) – February 2026
Marwan Rahiki: 7-0 Featherweight
In perhaps one of the fights of the year, Marwan Rahiki seemingly rose from the dead to deliver a stunning round two KO over Ananias Mulumba. He was seriously hurt on multiple occasions, but showed fantastic heart and resolve, and demonstrated his dangerous striking in the process.
A diverse array of weapons on the feet and a good spinning back kick are the primary features of Rahiki’s game. He fights with his hands extremely low, hence why he was dropped multiple times in his DWCS fight. He showed decent submission defense on the ground, but what truly impressed was his powerful and accuracy even after taking damage. He is a very exciting fighter, but will need to be much more defensively sound if he wants to succeed in the shark pit that is the UFC featherweight division.
Matchup prediction: Marwan Rahiki (7-0) vs Steven Nguyen (10-2) – March 2026
Juan Diaz: 15-1-1 Bantamweight
In a night filled with incredible performances, Peruvian fighter Juan Diaz stole the show with the first spinning elbow KO in DWCS history. He delivered this knockout to ONE Championship veteran Kwon Won Il, in a back and forth fight that could have gone either way. Diaz landed this devastating strike with just seconds remaining in the second round to secure the win and the contract.
Diaz is a steady striker, with the propensity to be explosive as shown in his DWCS win. Also owning a brown belt in jiu jitsu, he is adept in multiple areas of MMA. Peru has been a rising region in terms of mixed martial arts talent, and Diaz is an exciting addition to the UFC roster, and in his post fight interview said he hopes to fight in December.
Matchup prediction:Juan Diaz (15-1-1) vs Cody Haddon (8-1) – February 2026
Levi Rodrigues Jr.: 6-0 Light Heavyweight
In the final fight of the evening, powerful Brazilian Levi Rodrigues Jr. delivered a knockout over the returning Freddy Vidal. Vidal attempted to wrestle early, but Rodrigues broke away and delivered some massive punches. After dropping Vidal, he eventually found the finish with ground and pound.
Rodrigues showed the least of any prospect tonight, simply due to the short nature of his fight. There is not much tape out there available on him, so he remains a relatively question mark despite his impressive power. He will have a chance to find success in a relatively shallow UFC Light Heavyweight division.
Matchup prediction: Levi Rodrigues Jr. (6-0) vs Iwo Baraniewski (6-0) – February 2026
All of these matchups are purely predictions and have not been announced nor scheduled as of the writing of this article.
This writing was 100% human created. Dylan Knostman pledges to never use AI or AI assistance tools to create any writing or other media work. Creativity belongs to humans.
This past weekend in Bangkok, Thailand, Burmese MMA legend Aung La N Sang made his walk to the ring for the final time. Led by Burmese Rock legend Lay Phyu singing a live rendition of N Sang’s legendary walkout song, the entire crowd was behind the ONE championship star. The energy was high, but a certain level of nerves and tension remained. Waiting in the ring was Swedish powerhouse Sebastian Kadestam, riding a three fight win streak which included a knockout of the world renowned Roberto Soldic. Aung La N Sang on the other hand, was coming off two fights with Shamil Ergodan in which he suffered a loss in both.
With the ‘Burmese Python’ announcing his retirement prior to the bout, many worried that with one foot out the door N Sang may lay down his gloves following a third straight loss.
That would not be the case.
After a tentative first round, both N Sang and Kadestam began to turn up the heat. Exchanges in the pocket quickly turned bloody and dirty, with the Swede consistently backing up at the power of N Sang’s strikes. After eating a spinning elbow halfway through the round, Aung marched forward firing a barrage of hooks and uppercuts, sitting Kadestam down in the corner of the ring. The crowd went wild, as Aung La N Sang did what so many fighters fail to do: Retire on a win.
After an up and down start to Aung La N Sang’s career, not many would have guessed he would become one of the greatest fighters in ONE Championship history. Born in Myanmar, he moved to the United States at a young age. He began his professional MMA career in 2005, fighting primarily in promotions on the East Coast. He faced future UFC fighters such as Uriah Hall and Costas Philippou. He found mixed success, racking up a record of 15-9 fighting in the United States fighting for promotions such as Bellator, CFFC, and Ring Of Combat.
ONE Championship began aggressively expanding their MMA roster around 2014, searching for Asian fighters across the globe regardless of their country of residence. Aung La N Sang was one of the fighters signed, along with athletes such as Lowen Tynanes, Martin Nguyen, and the Lee Family. This was where it all changed for the Myanmar native.
Aung La N Sang proceeded to win four fights in a row, earning a title shot against Vitaly Bigdash at ONE: Quest for Power in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2017. Despite a spirited effort, N Sang fell short in his title attempt and lost the unanimous decision to Bigdash. He was given another opportunity to win the title just 6 months later, and this time flipped the script, defeating the champion Bigdash by unanimous decision, securing the first belt of his career and avenging his first loss in the promotion.
Image credit: @aunglansang on Instagram
Following these two fights with Bigdash, Aung La N Sang put together one of the most impressive runs in promotional history. He finished six consecutive opponents, while securing and defending two different belts in the process.
N Sang became the first double champion in ONE history, cementing his status as a legend in Asian MMA. Following this incredible run, he would lose three out of four, including his trilogy bout with Bigdash and two fights to current UFC contender Reinier De Ridder.
Aung La N Sang has been a long term member of Kill Cliff FC in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Beloved amongst the gym and its members, Henry Hooft could be seen in N Sang’s corner at nearly all his fights. The same could be said for N Sang himself, who supports and corners countless fighters including Marc Andre Barriault, Linton Vassell, and even his former opponent Reinier De Ridder.
Aung La N Sang Cornering Reinier De Ridder – image credit @aunglansang on Instagram
Aung La N Sang had a long career prior to ONE, meaning by the time his stretch of dominance ended, he was in his late 30’s with plenty of mileage on the body. The Burmese Python defeated Yushin Okami, Gilberto Galvao, and Rong Fan before getting finished twice by Turkish powerhouse Shamil Erdogan. Following his 28-second loss, N Sang announced his next fight would be his last.
With history not on his side, and an opponent six years younger than him, Aung La N Sang delivered perhaps the moment of his career, finishing Kadestam while his father cheered ringside. He was able to make the trip from Myanmar to Thailand for his son’s final fight and witness this incredible moment.
The pride of a nation, Aung La N Sang will forever be remembered as the first Burmese Mixed Martial Artist to make an impact on the world stage, and can be proud that he rides of into the sunset with a victory in his final bout and a seat in the ONE hall of fame waiting for him.
OKTAGON 77 takes place in Bratislava, Slovakia on October 4th with 11 total bouts. The Tipsport Gamechanger tournament rolls on, with Kerim Engizek taking on Dominik Humburger in the main event with a place in the finals on the line. Hojat Khajevand will face off with UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko for the second spot in the tournament finals. The card is filled with action and the top talent in Europe, and you can find all the live results here as they occur, and the event can be streamed live at OKTAGON.tv
Following his viral loss to Fredric Vosgrone, Jorick Montagnac made a successful return to the cage, facing Polish striker Mateusz Duczmal. Montagnac landed 7 takedowns en route to a dominant decision victory, utilizing strength and control to win the bout.
In an exciting and close stand up war, Monika Chochlikova won the first two rounds with volume and a good kicking game, and secured the decision despite a strong third round from Flores. Flores landed a tremendous sweep and several good punching exchanges, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the first two rounds despite out striking Chochlikova 75-74.
3. Karol Rysavy (14-9) vs Ayton De Paepe (13-6) – Featherweight Bout
Ayton De Paepe (14-6) defeats Karol Rysavy (14-10) by Split Decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Fighting for the second time in just 14 days, Ayton De Paepe put an absolute pace on Karol Rysavy. He dropped the first round, but kept his pace and pressure in both the striking and wrestling, securing the last two rounds on all three judges scorecards to win his second fight in OKTAGON, shortly after his first loss at OKTAGON 76 to James Hendin.
4. #1 Veronika Smolkova (6-3) vs Ana Carolina Araujo (3-2) – Women’s Flyweight Bout
Veronika Smolkova (7-3) defeats Ana Carolina Araujo by Unanimous Decision (30-27×3)
In one of the most action packed fights of the year, Veronika Smolkova displayed all the tools in her arsenal en route to a dominant victory over the OKTAGON debutant Araujo. Smolkova landed over 200 strikes, hurting Araujo on many occasions. Despite the loss, Araujo displayed incredibly toughness and heart, and at just 19 years old will most definitely be back and improved.
5. Tomas Ciganik (6-2) vs Konrad Dyrschka (16-2) – 159 lb Catchweight
Konrad Dyrschka (17-2) defeats Tomas Ciganik (6-3) by Split Decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
In a grueling fight through two rounds, Tomas Ciganik absolutely emptied the tank and did everything he could to finish the fight and get the victory. Dyrschka showed incredible toughness and survived the onslaught, winning the fight by the skin of his teeth. This was Konrad’s first fight since December 2023.
Main Card
6. Marco Novak (6-2) vs Daniel Solaja (3-2) – Featherweight Bout
Marco Novak (7-2) defeats Daniel Solaja (3-3) by TKO :30 seconds into round 3
Daniel Solaja dominated the early going of this fight, showcasing his explosive and quick striking. Novak utilized the clinch to stay safe and add up damage, but was down 2 rounds on the scorecards entering the third. Novak proceeded to knockdown Solaja and finished the fight with ground strikes, securing the first finish of the event.
7. #4 Samuel Kristofic (17-7) vs #8 Jaime Cordero(9-2) – Middleweight Gamechanger Tournament Reserve Bout
Jaime Cordero (10-2) defeats Samuel Kristofic (17-8) by TKO (injury) 2:49 into the first round
In what was shaping up to be an action packed bout, Cordero vs Kristofic ended early in a very unfortunate manner. On a takedown by Cordero, Kristofic went to post with his arm and dislocated his elbow, resulting in a doctor’s stoppage.
8. #1 Ivan Buchinger (45-10) vs #5 Richie Smullen (15-3-1) – Featherweight Bout
Ivan Buchinger (46-10) defeats Richie Smullen (15-4-1) by Submission (Mounted Ninja Choke) 1:40 into the third round
The timeless legend Ivan Buchinger continues to find ways to win. Buchinger struggled early with the grappling pressure of the Irishman Smullen and losing a point via cage grab in the second round. Buchinger turned the tides in round three, dealing damaging ground and pound strikes, and eventually locking up the modified D’arce choke to tap out Smullen. Buchinger secure his 39th finish of his career, and the title shot as well. He also revealed in the post fight interview he entered this fight with a major shoulder injury.
Krzysztof Jotko (28-6) defeats Hojat Khajevand (10-5) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28×3)
UFC veteran Krzystof Jotko remained with his winning ways, as he used a tactical gameplan to outstrike and outwrestle Hojat Khajavand over three rounds. He will face the winner of Humburger vs Engizek for the finals of the TipSport Gamechanger tournament.
Vlasto Cepo (14-3) defeats Daniel Schwindt (8-4) by KO (hook) at 3:38 of round one
Vlasto Cepo, one of the most violent fighters in OKTAGON, maintained his reputation with a devastating knockout of fellow finisher Daniel Schwindt. Cepo withstood the early storm and delivered the explosive right hook, ending the German fighters night early and sending the Slovak crowd into a roar.
In possibly one of the greatest fights we have ever seen in the OKTAGON cage, Kerim Engizek defeated Dominik Humburger in an absolute war. Both men did immense damage, with Humburger breaking Engizek’s nose in the first round. Despite the adversity, the champion rallied back and dropped Humburger on multiple occasions, despite being outstruck for the fight. Engizek moves on to face Jotko in December for a chance at €300,000 euros and the TipSport Gamechanger championship.
**Kerim Engizek is the current OKTAGON middleweight champion, but the belt is not on the line during the TipSport Gamechanger Tournament.
OKTAGON will be back on October 18th in Köln, Germany with OKTAGON 77: Jungwirth vs Trušček.
DWCS rolled on with Episode 8 of Season 9 on Tuesday, September 30th. Five fights took place at the UFC Apex, with four of the winners walking away with UFC contracts. The UFC will officially be adding the following fighters to the UFC roster:
Kurtis “Pink Panther” Campbell – 8-0 Featherweight
Louis “Mad Prince” Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight (brother of current UFC fighter Charles Jourdain)
Chris “The Newborn” Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
Damian “Baba Yaga” Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight
All four of these fighters secured their victory via finish, proving this week’s roster is ready for the big show. Although winning on the contender series is the first step, we will be looking forward and predicting some potential matchups that could fit well for these fighters UFC debuts.
Kurtis “The Pink Panther” Campbell– 8-1 Featherweight
Kurtis “The Pink Panther” Campbell secured perhaps the most viral finish of the evening, annihilating his opponent Demba Seck with massive elbows from top position. Following his performance, Campbell walked out of the cage to The Pink Panther theme, showing that the UFC brass is already getting behind the 23 year old scouser.
Kurtis Campbell is an excellent prospect, very similar to Paddy Pimblett in his size and skill set. The Liverpool native is a former champion of England’s FCC promotion, and has a variety of finishes on his record. Long kicks, powerful punches, and an awkward yet effectively wrestling game make up his primary skillset on the feet, but where he is truly dangerous is in on the ground. When Campbell gets top position, he is brutal with his ground and pound and showcased in his contender series bout.
This fight was quick work, and there is no doubt Campbell will be looking for fast turnaround for his first fight in the big show. He seems to be on UFC matchmakers good side thus far, so I anticipate a favorable matchup for Campbell’s UFC debut.
Prediction: Kurtis Campbell (8-0) vs Francis Marshall (8-3) – December 2025/January 2026
Louis “Mad Prince” Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight
Louis Jourdain had the cleanest and most well rounded performance of the evening. The Canadian bantamweight and younger brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, showcased all of his skills en route to a third round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain utilizing his lead hand, calf kicks, and excellent grappling game to dominate all phases of the fight. A Jiu Jitsu brown belt with four pro boxing matches, Jourdain is about as well rounded as they come. Not only did he secure a contract, but he also made history as Charles and Louis became the first Canadian siblings in UFC history to be on the roster.
Louis Jourdain’s biggest setbacks have not been losses inside the cage, but rather injuries and lost time. Now that he is back in the metaphorical saddle, there is no doubt he knows the time is now for his career. On the broadcast, he could be seen pleading with Dana White to book him for UFC Vancouver (despite the fact Dana White hasn’t booked a single fight for the UFC in years, that’s all Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard). While it would be a quick turnaround in just two weeks, we can certainly hope the UFC honors his wishes and allows him to share a card with his brother.
Prediction: Louis Jourdain (9-3) vs Kris Moutinho (14-7) – UFC Vancouver – October 18th
Christopher “The Newborn” Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
The only betting underdog of the evening to win his fight, Christopher Avidrez showed excellent heart and desire in his fight, knocking out the unorthodox Eliezer Kubanza in the first round. A former football player who turned his life around through MMA, Alvidrez has overcome a lot to make it to this moment. He relocated to Miami after a brutal car accident ended his football career, and fully committed himself to combat sports while training at The GoatShed.
Alvidrez is the least polished of all the winners of this episode. His toughness and strength are no question, and he utilized outstanding elbows in the clinch, he still has questions that need to be answered in terms of his overall game. We could see Alvidrez being thrown into a tough matchup right away, but his mentality won’t stop him from taking a challenge head on. It should also be noted he was seen with a large wrap around his right knee, so it could be some time before we see him make his debut.
Prediction: Christopher Alvidrez (7-1) vs Daniil Donchenko (12-2) – February 2026
Damian “Baba Yaga” Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight
In the main event of the evening, Damian Pinas made quick work of his opponent, flatlining Vitor Costa with a brutal right hand in the first round. This contract was long overdue, as Pinas was scheduled to be on episode one of this season, but due to visa issues was not able to travel for the fight. Luckily he was rebooked, and now can look forward to being booked in the UFC.
Pinas is a fantastic kickboxer with excellent power in his hands and feet. He will become the second Surinamese fighter in UFC history, following Jair Rozenstruik. Similar to Bigi Boy, Baba Yaga has the kickboxing skill and power to dispatch anyone inside the cage. Now that the visa issues are fully cleared, we can hope to see the young fighter pick up another fight soon. At just 23 years old, time is on Pinas’ side, but it would be advantageous to keep his momentum going. Between his performances and the unique national heritage, I expect Pinas to find early success in the middleweight division, similar to Ateba Gautier who fights this weekend.
Prediction: Damian Pinas (8-1) vs Jackson McVey (6-1) – January 2026
While none of these fights are official nor even rumored, they all are potential interesting first matchups for this week’s winners of DWCS. Stay tuned for next week’s edition following episode 9 of DWCS.
Australia’s Isaac Thomson has always been destined to fight. The son of a three-time Australian Muay Thai champion, Thomson recollects training with his mother for her fights at a young age, spending hours in the gym alongside her. It wasn’t long until he began to compete himself, making his MMA debut at just 15 years old, winning by TKO in the second round. With his family fully dedicated to supporting his dream of becoming the youngest UFC champion of all time, Isaac moved to Sacramento, California to train with Team Alpha Male.
Shortly after winning his first two professional fights, Thomson signed with the Legacy Fighting Alliance in 2021 at just 19 years old. He faced Dorian Ramos, in Ramos’ home state of Arizona for his promotional debut at LFA 119. This would be the first setback Thomson would face in his MMA career. Ramos showed relentless heart and pressure, and secured the win in the second round. After all the hype for this young prodigy, was it all too much too soon?
Real fighters are not the ones who score the great knockouts, or have the most followers on social media. Real fighters are the ones who face setbacks in both life and their career, yet are able to battle back, recorrect, and fight for their goals. After suffering his first defeat to Ramos, Thomson showcased all of these qualities.
Thomson with UFC Fighter Darren Elkins
Thomson returned to the LFA cage on January 23rd, 2023, over a year from his last fight. Reinvigorated, Thomson secured a unanimous decision victory against the tough Gary Konkol, who had double the professional experience. This was valuable as it showed Isaac had the heart, cardio, and toughness to win over the distance.
Thomson continued his success, winning by TKO for Idaho’s Front Street Fights promotion, before returning to the LFA cage to take on now UFC fighter, Lerryan Douglas. As of the writing of this piece, Thomson is the last man to defeat Douglas as he has since won five consecutive fights by knockout, securing a UFC contract in the process. In their matchup, Thomson utilizes fantastic kicks, landing a left headkick that knocked down Douglas and led to the finish. This is without a doubt the strongest win on Isaac’s resume, and was the perfect showcase of his sky high potential.
Thomson training with UFC champion and fellow Aussie Alexander Volkanovski
After defeating Colorado scrapper AJ Robb, Thompson faced his second setback as he dropped a split decision to the experienced Shaheen Santana. This time, Isaac shook off the close defeat and got back in the cage just four months later, defeating Israel Delgado by unanimous decision. He followed this by defeating Jeremy Henry at LFA 213, securing the first submission win of his career by rear naked choke in the first round.
Isaac Thomson’s journey leads us here to his first main event on October 3rd at LFA 219. The 8-2 Thomson will be facing 10-1 Uzbekistani Akbarjon Islomboev, potentially his toughest opponent yet. Headlining a card might be considered a career peak for many fighters, this is certainly not a surprise to Thomson, it is more akin to destiny. Born to be a fighter, this is just yet another milestone marker in the Aussies blossoming career. While the opportunity to become the youngest UFC champion may have passed, there is no doubt Isaac Thomson will be a name we hear for years to come.
Watch LFA 219: Thomson vs Islomboev on Friday, October 10th on UFC Fight Pass.
The top regional promotion in the United States will return to the Valley of the Sun for LFA 220 on October 25th, at Arizona Financial Theatre. This card will be stacked with both prospects and talented veterans, and during the LFA 218 broadcast on September 27th the promotion announced the first batch of matchups for their return to Arizona.
Headlining the card will be top local prospect Kasey Tanner (8-1), taking on fellow LFA veteran Michael Cyr (8-1). This will be Tanner’s second main event for the promotion, securing a unanimous decision victory in his last headline feature vs Micais Urena. Tanner is one of the most skilled bantamweights in the southwest, and although he suffered his only loss on Dana White’s Contender Series, there is no doubt with a win here the UFC could come calling.
His opponent Michael Cyr, is a submission ace who also comes in with an 8-1 record. Cyr has finished two fighters by twister, which is nearly unheard of in mixed martial arts. He will no doubt be looking to take Tanner down and drown him with his adept submission skills.
In the currently scheduled co-main event, Christian “Hawaiian Punch” Natividad (7-0) will be taking on El Salvador’s Jostin Quilca (9-2). Natividad is undefeated as a professional, with a collegiate wrestling background and fantastic striking. What makes this even more special, is Christian’s brother Kevin Natividad will also be returning to the cage for the first time in over 2 years, following his stint with the UFC.
Kevin Natividad (9-4) was scheduled to face Ryan Kuse at United Fight League 7 on October 10th, but the event was suddenly cancelled, leaving both men without a fight. Luckily the LFA stepped in and rebooked this matchup, for 2 weeks later in the same city. Natividad had great difficulty finding opponents since his UFC stint, suffering multiple cancellations of bouts on the regional scene. “Quicksand” is looking to remind LFA fans what made him so exciting in his first run with the promotion, a well rounded game with fantastic power and strong wrestling. This will be the first time the Natividad brothers will be on the same card since Iron Boy MMA 7 in 2017. On that night, both won by KO.
LFA veteran Kyle Estrada (14-8) will be taking on streaking Mexican fighter Ernesto Ibarra (10-1). Ibarra is riding a five fight winning streak coming into this matchup, primarily on the Mexican regional scene. Estrada is coming off a fantastic third round TKO victory at UFL 6 over Joao Camilo, and looks to prove his is among the elite flyweights in the world. Estrada trains with both the Natividad brothers at both Fight Ready and Arizona Combat Sports.
Chance Ikei (5-0) returns to the LFA cage after winning a fight for California’s 559 Fights promotion. The MMA Lab product is one of the most talented and highly touted prospects from Arizona, with most of his career taking place in the LFA octagon. Currently riding a 10 fight winning streak including his amateur career, there is no doubt “The Typhoon” has his eyes set on the next level. He will be facing Jordan Burkholder (6-2), a fighter out of Jackson Wink who will be returning for his 4th LFA appearance. Burkholder is the reigning Flyweight Champion for the Idaho based Front Street Fights promotion.
Making his LFA debut will be the Yuma, AZ based grappler Richard Mahan, taking on the Brazilian Livio Ribeiro. The homestate favorite Mahan secured a fantastic submission victory at his last bout at UFL 6, and his only professional loss has come to Yevgeni Shinkarevsky, another highly regarded young fighter. He will have his hands full with the undefeated Brazilian Ribeiro, but with a win here Mahan can secure himself as a name to watch on the national stage.
Rounding off the fight accouterments will be Leslie Hernandez (4-3) taking on Flor Hernandez (4-3). Leslie is another representative of the MMA Lab, but has had some difficulty as of late, losing to Julieta Martinez on the contender series and suffering a submission loss at LFA 207 in her last bout. Despite this, she remains extremely talented and one of the most entertaining female strikers to watch on the regional scene. She looks to get back to her winning ways vs Flor Hernandez, who is currently riding a four fight losing streak across MMA and Muay Thai.
The LFA remains a breeding ground for some of the top MMA prospects, and without a doubt will deliver more action when the promotion touches down in Phoenix, Arizona on October 25th. You can buy tickets at Arizona Financial Theatre’s website, and watch the prelims live on YouTube with the main card airing on UFC Fight Pass.
Oktagon 76 goes down this Saturday, September 20th at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany. This will be the second consecutive week that OKTAGON has hosted a show, and will be the 11th OKTAGON event of the year. In the main event, we will see German MMA legend Daniel Weichel make his return to the cage vs fellow veteran Abou Tounkara. The co-main event features breakout German Star Frederic “Neanderthal BJJ” Vosgrone as he looks to stay undefeated vs Brazilian Fabio Moraes. This event will feature many other top OKTAGON fighters and matchups such as Peter Gabal vs Denis Frimpong, English fighter James “Honey Badger” Hendin, former kickboxer Alina Dalaslan, and much more. Do not miss the action and make sure to tune in on OKTAGON.tv.
PRELIMS
Georg Bilogrevic (7-4) vs David Hosek (12-7-1) – Middleweight bout (185lbs/83.9kg)
David Hosek defeats Georg Bilogrevic by Unanimous Decision (30-27×2, 29-28×3)
In the first fight of the evening, David Hosek utilized his powerful boxing and strong grappling defense to outwork OKTAGON debutant fighter Bilogrevic, securing the unanimous decision win and moving his overall record to 13-7-1, and his OKTAGON record to 7-3-1. Georg Bilogrevic drops to 7-5 with the loss, also missed weight in this fight, his first at middleweight.
Raul Lemberanskij (7-0) vs Jose Zarauz (26-11-1) – Bantamweight Bout (135lbs/61.2kg)
Raul Lemeranskij defeats Jose Zarauz by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Top German prospect Raul Lemeranskij faced off with Peruvian veteran Jose Zarauz in a fantastic war. Raul dominated the first round with his striking, but Zarauz came back strong in round 2 with great boxing and a powerful right hand. After two judges scored the second round for Jose, it all came down to the third. Jose had the advantage counter striking, but Raul secured a late takedown and poured on the ground and pound to secure the decision in his OKTAGON debut, moving to 8-0. Despite the loss, Zarauz showed tremendous skill, yet drops to 26-12-1, and 0-2 in OKTAGON.
James Hendin (9-3) vs Ayton De Paepe (13-5) – Featherweight Bout (145lbs/65.7kg)
James Hendin defeats Ayton De Paepe by Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
In a grappling heavy affair, English standout James Hendin used pressure and control to outlast the Belgian Ayton De Paepe over three rounds. Despite the success of Hendin, De Paepe showed excellent resilience and took the third round on all three judges scorecards, showcasing his ability to always stay in a fight no matter how it’s going. Hendin improves his record to 10-3, and 2-1 under the OKTAGON banner while Ayton De Paepe falls to 13-6 overall, and 1-1 in OKTAGON.
Hafeni Nafuka (10-3) vs Kevin Enz (4-3) – Catchweight Bout (163lbs/73.9kg)
Hafeni Nafuka defeats Kevin Enz by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:28 in the first round
In our first finish of the evening, Hafeni Nafuka returns to the winners circle with a quick finish of Kevin Enz. Enz stepped up on short notice, but his time in the cage was even shorter as Nafuka quickly took him down, worked to the back, and secured the submission just half way through round number one. Nafuka at just 22 years old brings his record up to 11-3, and 4-3 under the OKTAGON promotion, while Kevin Enz falls to 4-4, and 1-3 with OKTAGON.
Fedor Duric (7-1) vs Petru Buzdugan (6-2) – Lightweight Bout (155lbs/70.3kg)
Fedor Duric defeats Petru Buzdugan by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:02 of the first round
Fedor Duric, the hometown star quickly got to work against the fellow prospect Petru Buzdugan, throwing strikes in the clinch and cutting Buzdugan before taking him down. From there Duric worked to the back and secured the submission with just one minute remaining in the round. Duric bounces back after his first loss, and improves his overall record to 8-1, and his promotional record to 1-1. Petru Buzdugan falls to 6-3 overall, and 0-2 in OKTAGON.
MAIN CARD
Alina Dalaslan (2-0) vs Clara Ricignuolo (3-3) – Women’s Catchweight Bout (132lbs/59.8kg)
Alina Dalaslan defeats Clara Ricignulo by TKO (Spinning back fist) at :15 of the second round
Alina Dalaslan establishes herself as a star in the European scene in a back and forth war with veteran striker Clara Ricignuolo. Alina added to her highlight reel with an incredible spinning backfist in the second round, securing her place as the top female European prospect.
Denis Frimpong (6-2) vs Peter Gabal (7-3) – Lightweight Bout (155lbs/70.3kg)
#6 Denis Frimpong defeats Peter Gabal by TKO (ground and pound) at 3:46 of the third round
In the fight of the night, Denis Frimpong and Peter Gabal came into this fight with plenty of beef, and threw down with that intensity. Gabal took the first round with powerful punches, knocking Frimpong down. Denis held old, and came back in the second round with creative striking and in the third, Gabal pulled guard which allowed Frimpong to get on top, and rain down strikes until the ref stepped in. Frimpong has established himself as a star in the lightweight division, improving his record to 7-2 overall, and 7-1 in OKTAGON. Gabal remains a steady presence in the division despite the loss, with his record falling to 7-4 overall, and 3-4 in OKTAGON.
Attila Korkmaz (15-10) vs David Tonatiuh Crol (11-10) – Lightweight Bout (155lbs/70.3kg)
Attila Korkmaz defeats David Tonatiuh Crol by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Both Korkmaz and Crol are considered tough veterans of the European scene, and in this fight both men showcased their chin and striking, but Korkmaz got the better of Crol over three rounds, utilizing a wide variety of attacks while stuffing most of Crol’s grappling attempts. Crol took this fight on less than 2 weeks notice, and despite the valiant performance drops to 11-11 in his OKTAGON debut, while Korkmaz continued his ranked run in OKTAGON. He rises to 16-10 overall, and 2-3 with the promotion. He hopes to face the winner of Richie Smullen and Ivan Buchinger who fight at OKTAGON 77.
Frederic Vosgrone defeats Fabio Moraes via submission (rear naked choke) 4:45 into the first round
Germany’s biggest MMA star entered the cage for the first time since his viral first win, and he did not disappoint against his Brazilian foe. Quickly he shot for a single leg, and got to closed guard. Using ground and pound to soften his often, he worked his way past the guard and eventually into mount, then belly down control, where he found the finish due to choke. Vosgrone moves to 5-0 in his young career and will surely see another massive boost in popularity due to his win. He moves to 5-0 in MMA, and 2-0 under the OKTAGON banner. His opponent Fabio Moraes falls to 7-2 and 0-1 for OKTAGON.
MAIN EVENT
Daniel Weichel (42-15) vs Abou Tounkara (12-6) – Lightweight 3 round Main Event (155lbs/70.3kg)
Daniel Weichel defeats Anou Tounkara by unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Daniel Weichel returned to MMA after several years, following a long run for Bellator. In this fight, Weichel was moving forward, yet timid in the pocket. Tounkara did not choose to engage much at all, as Weichel pursued him and secured the decision win.
OKTAGON returns with OKTAGON 77 on October 4th in Bratislava.
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