Oktagon 59 Preview; Rony v Torres, Keita v Bogdanović

Oktagon returns to action this Sunday evening with their traditional open-air summer party. The new location for this annual celebration is the Peugeot Arena in the Slovakian capital Bratislava. Oktagon 59 will go down in a tennis arena with a retractable roof and has ten fights to keep the fans entertained, including two bouts in the Tipsort Gamechanger Lightweight Tournament quarter finals.

The main event was originally set for a bantamweight title fight between Felipe Lima and Jonas Mågård, however the former received a call-up to the UFC. The latter got a replacement opponent and the card will now be topped by local hero, OKMMA Lightweight Champion Ronald Paradeiser (19-8), who is vying for a place in the tournament semi final. The Slovakian advanced via a tight split decision win against Attilia Korkmaz. The tall 27-year-old is in a rich vein of form, winning six-on-the-trot. The Karate specialist spends some of his time training out of Ankos MMA in Poland, sharpening his grappling skills. Rony is a big power striker with eleven knockouts to his name and he isn’t afraid to throw flashy moves. He’s patient with a good fight IQ, and his title is not on the line. Daniel Torres (15-5) is a former KSW champion, a belt he won off Salahdine Parnasse with a rare inside bicep strike knockout. The Brazilian born PFL veteran booked his place in the last eight with a decision win over Vladimir Lengál. The 30-year-old has numerous great wins over top European opponents and has a good, technical striking style that’s competitive with the best. Now fighting out of Austria, he comes from a Shotokan Karate background. He hits hard, has seven knockouts on his résumé and is very durable over the fifteen minutes. This main event should be a treat and I’d slightly edge towards Rony due to the extra height opening more options in the battle of ranges.

Oktagon’s crown jewel will also be on show in western Slovakia. When people ask who the best prospects in Europe are, Losene Keita (13-1) will be one of the first names on their lips. The Guinean puts on striking clinics whenever stepping into the cage, and he can brutalise opponents with his enormous power. Based out of Belgium, whilst also touring some of Europe’s most prestigious gyms, the OKMMA Featherweight Champion can upend you early or dance around you for the duration. His only defeat was via injury. He advanced via decision against former Cage Warriors champion Agy Sardari, a very tough contest. Predrag Bogdanović (16-1) is a man whose only loss came in the fifth round in a Titan FC title fight against UFC veteran “Ill” Will Brooks. The Serbian clinched his spot with an impressive performance against Über prospect Hafeni Nafuka. The Novi Sad man is mostly a decision striker with a good wrestling game, a talent of taking the back and sinking in a rear naked choke. He’ll be a tough puzzle for Keita to solve, however I think he can keep it standing and use his sharpest limbs to cause a stoppage.

Central European royalty and a legitimate legend of the scene steps in on short notice to entertain his native crowd. Ivan Buchinger (42-9) has been there, done that and bought the t-shirt. The 38-year-old has won gold in Oktagon, Cage Warriors, XFN, M-1 Global amongst many other promotions. Whilst he might be most remembered as the man on the wrong end of a spectacular Conor McGregor knockout, that moment was just a blip on his legacy. The Slovakian is a submission expert, a particular wizard in the choke game, attacking the neck from an array of positions. His kickboxing game is not to be sniffed at, packing stiff power into his strikes, especially in the middle rounds. Łukasz Rajewski (13-9) has been a fierce competitor on the Polish and Czech scene for the last decade, even longer as a kickboxer. The 35-year-old is a Sanda specialist, a mix of boxing and kickboxing with some grappling elements thrown in. The Płock man has exquisite footwork and movement, and can glide around the cage. The Pole has power, as evidenced by his six knockout wins. He trains out of Czerwony Smok and works hard on his wrestling defence. This will be a nice nod to more old school styles, where I expect Buchinger to show why he’s such a hero around these parts.

Lucia Szabová (7-0) is one of the shining stars of women’s martial arts in this part of the world. The Bratislava native comes from a Muay Thai background and has a very fan friendly style. This is a bantamweight that goes out to finish fights. Whilst her striking is her greatest threat, using knees and elbows to great effect, she has a wicked submission game. The undefeated 26-year-old has shown herself to be the Slovakian Ronda Rousey with her ability to snatch armbars left right and centre. Aitana Álvarez (6-5) is a young lady who has taken the most difficult tests along her journey, taking underdog fights in KSW and Combate Global which did her record no favours. The 24-year-old is absolutely fierce and has bounced back to win four-in-a-row, displaying her toughness in the striking and her bravery to throw back shots of her own. “Pitbull” will give you hell, taking one to give one and smile when you crack her. Szabová should be too polished in the striking arts, enough to get a decision.

Radovan Úškrt (8-4) is a man that if he hits you, you stay hit. All eight of his victories have been knockouts, a 100% finishing rate. The Slovakian has thunder fists and is looking to land early and often. The Muay Thai specialist is willing to get into a brawl and very few emerge from the first round able to answer the bell. Not afraid of a challenge, his debut was against a then 3-0 Marvin Vettori. Petr Kníže (13-3) is a man more affectionately known as “Monster” on the Czechia/Slovakia scene. The 46-year-old helped build early XFN, a groundbreaking promotion who regularly sold out big arenas. Starting out as a judoka, submissions have always been a strength, scoring 38% of his victories by tap out. The Chech has felled the likes of David Koźma and Kaik Brito along the way, amongst others. This larger than life character is competing for maybe one last time and he’s never been knocked out in MMA competition, can Úškrt display his party trick in the open air celebration?

Piotr Wawrzyniak (12-6) up until recently was the reigning champion and interim champion over Babilon MMA and Oktagon. Now he tries to bounce back after losing the unification bout to Patrik Kincl in a spirited submission defeat. Prior to that, he’d gone 5-0 in the last three years. The Pole trains out of Czerwony Smok in Posznań with the likes of UFC contender Mateusz Gamrot, Borys Mańkowski and the Rajewski brothers. The 33-year-old is right in his peak and has a judoka background. The Pole uses that as a solid base to use his powerful punches to cause his opponents more than a few issues. Eight knockout victories proves where he’s dangerous and why he’s won gold. Andreas Michailidis (16-7) is a UFC and Bellator veteran and the runner-up to last season’s Tipsport Gamechanger Welterweight tournament. The Greek is a very good all-rounder who can hit you for a knockout or a submission. He wastes no time in the stand-up, looking for a finish from the off. The 36-year-old likes to let his fists do the talking nowadays. Tough matchup for Wawrzyniak, however I could see his grappling giving him opportunities once his cardio holds. Any other scenario would favour Michailidis.

Radek Roušal (2-0) is a relatively new character to Central European MMA. Also holding a pro boxing record of 4-1, he will march down to the cage in a straightjacket in a grandiose walkout. The Czech comes from a kickboxing and Muay Thai background and will aim to use all his various striking repertoire on his opponent. The 29-year-old has yet to find that knockout blow in mixed martial arts as a professional. Marco Novak (4-1) is a slightly more well rounded athlete, possessing good wrestling and submissions, as well as a background in kickboxing. The Slovakian has some exhibition bouts not on his pro record from the Oktagon Underground COVID era shows. I’m edging towards Roušal.

Jonas Mågård (16-6) gets a late notice replacement to remain on the card, however the title is no longer on the line. The Dane trains out of Manchester Top Team and is the former Oktagon and FEN champion, who’s also appeared for Cage Warriors and ACB. The 32-year-old is the master of the Japanese necktie in MMA competition, remarkably having five subs of that nature on his record. Also watch out for his guillotine. He’s got a bit of power in his hands and if he catches you clean he can get you out of there. Josh Hill (22-6) fought Paddy Holohan on the Ultimate Fighter and also fought for Bellator and WSOF, the predecessor to PFL. The Canadian will fight in Europe for the first time since 2015, and he’s known for a decision heavy game. The 37-year-old has a solid rear naked choke and a big right hand. Durability is one of his biggest assists. We’re likely heading for three full rounds here and I’d expect Mågård to outwork his opponent as he was training for a twenty-five minute fight.

Ondřej Raška (10-8) is a combative light heavyweight who has won three of his last four, some of the best form of his career. The Czech has mainly gone to the judge’s cards in that run, with much of his success as a pro coming in the submission game. Like all big men, he has the ability to knock you out with one club, however it is a rarity. Surviving the first round is key for him, with seven of his losses coming before the end of the opening five minutes. Milan Ďatelinka (9-7) is another man here for a fun time and not a long time. Risk is the name of his game. The Slovakian has a good kickboxing game, and he’s very good at working his kicks, knees and elbows. Never one to turn down an opponent, he’s fought some top names on the Czech scene already. Ďatelinka with a first round win in my book.

The free YouTube prelim will feature Veronika Smolkova (3-3). The Slovakian came from the GAMMA amateur scene, a competitor to IMMAF. She’s solid wherever the fight goes, can hit heavy and threaten with submissions. Toughness is a big asset for her. Jovana Ðukić (1-1) hails from Serbia and comes in with less experience. Her offensive wrestling has been her most impressive skill so far, shown in her second round ground and pound win last time out. Smolkova’s greater experience and grappling should see her get a finish here.

Oktagon 59 is live from Bratislava on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv and DAZN.