Oktagon 68 Preview: Todev v Fleury, Frimpong Returns

Oktagon return to Germany this Saturday night with a jam packed card ready to thrill the local audiences once more. The Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle will host Oktagon 68 in Stuttgart. Eleven fights populate the card, including one for an OKMMA championship.

Lazar Todov (11-6) is the OKMMA Heavyweight Champion, winning the belt via knockout back in October. The Bulgarian had a slow start as a pro, but has won nine of his last ten in the small gloves, and he’s also competed in pro kickboxing along the way. “The Punisher” is durable with good takedown defence, and has very quick hands. He’s a knockout artist and has eight on his record, and he’s entering his prime fighting years now. Stuttgart holds a special place in Irish sporting hearts due to football, and Will Fleury (14-3) is attempting to add his own name to the honour roll in the city. The Tipp man is already the OKMMA Light Heavyweight Champion, and he has been eating his potatoes to make it up a weight here. The 35-year-old is a raw fighter, a rugged grappler who makes things miserable for opponents. The SBG man has good submissions and his striking game is improving all the time, which fans will have seen with his left hook knockout win over Langer in October. Fleury dares to be great and goes up to try and get a second belt.

Alan Omar (24-5) was born in Kurdistan but has called Stuttgart his home for years and years. The UFC and Bellator veteran has won his last six, however this will be his first fight since 2020. The 36-year-old is very well rounded with a solid wrestling game that he uses to work in his submissions. His kickboxing game is also exciting, with knockout power on the feet. With twenty-one finishes, he’s not a man who leaves things to the judges. Łukasz Kopera (11-8) is a Cage Warriors and ACA veteran. The Pole makes the journey west from Łódź, and he usually favours a submission game. Between leg locks and armbars, the 36-year-old will attack any limb you leave hanging out. He does have some tricky hands on him, however it’s been nearly a decade since he finished a fight with his strikes.

Makhmud Muradov (27-8) is another UFC veteran and is undefeated in Oktagon. The Tajikistani is based out of Prague, however trains out of Ankos MMA in Poznań. The 35-year-old was a mainstay on the classic XFN scene in Czechia, making his name with his wicked striking and knockout record. Opponents went down one after the other and he’s looking to continue that in this stint. Yasubey Enomoto (23-15) was born in Japan and calls Switzerland his home now. The 41-year-old has been a pro for over twenty years and is a KSW and M-1 Global veteran. He mostly goes to decisions, getting into brawls along the way and his durability is well known. “The Swiss Samurai” has a warrior’s heart and he’ll not be afraid to go toe to toe here.

Marek Bartl (13-13) makes his thirteenth walk for the promotion and has won his last three under the Oktagon banner. The Czech comes from a Muay Thai and kickboxing background, and he loves to use his strikes to get things done. He’s been at this for over a decade and has serviceable Jiu Jitsu. Daniel Schwindt (6-2) had an impressive debut win in December over Radovan Úškrt via ground and pound. The German has won five of his six wins via strikes, however it usually comes as a result of his grappling. He likes to get things down to the mat where he can rain down the punishment, forcing the referee to step in.

Jessin Ayari (17-6) is an ex-UFC fighter who hasn’t been too active on the scene in the last decade. The 32-year-old returned from four years out to pick up a ground and pound victory last June. The German is a fine wrestler with some nice submissions, as well as an effective kickboxing game. He’s one of few men to have beaten champion Kerim Engizek. “Abacus” is a finisher and is keen to get a run going here in his new promotion. Andreas Stahl (17-5) is also a UFC veteran, as well as competing for Cage Warriors. The Swede has won seven of his last eight, including a close one to Christian Jungwirth. The 36-year-old likes to get it done on the feet by using his knockout power in his hands. He’s tough and durable, and not afraid of a fight.

Robin Frank (5-0) is making his Oktagon debut and comes in from NFC and The Cage on the regional scene. The German went pro in 2020 after a good run at amateur, and has shown an exciting kickboxing game since. The 26-year-old works his levels well, and obliterated his last opponent with a head kick for a fifteen-second knockout in November. Denis Frimpong (4-2) has had a nice five-fight run in the promotion to date, making a name for himself with his mouth and backing it up in the cage. Entertainment is always guaranteed with “The Menace”. The Irishman does his striking with Collie Mahon out of the Dublin Combat Academy, and also trains out of Manchester Top Team. The 30-year-old is a very capable and patient striker who can dominate exchanges over the fifteen minutes. He’s on a three-fight win streak.

Roman Paulus (11-4) makes his fourteenth walk for the company. The Slovak has won his last three by rear naked choke which is his go-to submission. The 24-year-old is gritty and competitive on the feet, and is a durable guy. Elvis Silva (14-8) is a Shooto veteran and makes the trip to Europe once again after beating Czech Filip Macek via knockout last November. The Brazilian is most dangerous on the feet where he packs quite the punch. He’s also tricky in scramble situations. This should be a bit of fun.

Jakub Batfalsky (6-1) is a talented youngster and one of the most promising of the home country talents under contract. The 22-year-old has won his last three and he is from a kickboxing background. The Czech is a quick starter who hits hard, and he can also trouble with submissions. He has a lot of combat experience for his age. Joel Batobo (4-0) is making his debut and comes in from We Love MMA on the regional scene. The German has had most of his success in the grappling game, securing a couple of submissions so far. The Munich man also does damage with ground and pound.

We last saw Daniel Ligocki (3-1) a couple of weeks ago when he defeated Dominic Schober in the first round. The Czech is well rounded and has a lovely submission game, usually attacking the rear naked choke. The 27-year-old also has a Muay Thai background, as evidenced by his knockout power on the feet. Erik Lorenz (1-0) was an amateur for IMMAF and GMC, and will strap on the Oktagon gloves for the first time. The German has a good submission game, and likes to utilise ground and pound. He’s had some kickboxing experience as well, however MMA has been all grappling.

Kamila Šimková (3-3) comes in from GMC and RFA. The Czech is a gritty competitor who gets into close fights, willing to take one to give one and to make things dirty. She’s tough and hard to finish. Alina Dalaslan (debut) was a very promising amateur on the IMMAF scene, winning a national and world gold medal last year. It’s now time to join the pro scene, and she’ll be looking to utilise her stellar striking game to keep her winning reputation intact.

Benny Bajrami (6-3) is back looking for his first Oktagon victory after defeat last December in his debut. The UFD Gym man made a name for himself in GMC with a great kickboxing repertoire, and he carries his power over fifteen minutes. Five of his wins have come via way of strikes. Kevin Enz (3-3) is looking to avoid a hat trick of losses for the promotion. The German is well rounded and has a big box of submission tricks at his disposal. His last win came via knockout, a skill he’s improving at rapidly.

Oktagon 68 is live from Stuttgart on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.