Oktagon 86 Preview: Materla v Jungwirth

Oktagon will make their Polish debut this Saturday. Szczecin’s Enea Arena will host Oktagon 86, with eleven fights on deck in the Pomeranian city.

In the main event, we are operating under special “Stand and Bang” rules. It will basically be caged kickboxing in small gloves with five three-minute rules, and elbows are allowed. Michał Materla (33-11 MMA) is a legend of European MMA, offering his blood, sweat and tears to build the sport in the region. The Szczecin fan favourite is a multi-time KSW champion, and also winning gold in the EFM Show. The 42-year-old has the heart of a lion and is always game to throw down. Thirteen of his victories have come via knockout and he won’t stop coming forward. His grappling career came to an end after an horrific shin infection that would have retired mere mortal men. Christian Jungwirth (16-9) crosses the western border to play the role as spoiler. The German is another tough brawler without the word quit in his vocabulary. The 39-year-old has big heavy hands that have earned him six knockout wins. The “Kelt” has had the better chin of the two of late, so he will be backing himself to be the more durable in this contest.

Tomasz Narkun (21-6) makes his return to top level European MMA for the first time since 2022. The Szczecin hometown boy was a longtime KSW Light Heavyweight champion, a title he held for nearly seven years. The 36-year-old is a high level BJJ black belt and has secured fifteen submission wins in MMA competition. The Berserker loves to play with arm and leg locks, and has a wicked triangle choke in his locker. On the feet, he uses vicious elbows and powerful punches. Alexander Poppek (20-5) travels in from Munich on a five-fight undefeated streak. The German is one of the best utilisers of ground and pound in the sport, and if he secures a takedown or knocks you down, he’s going to bash you like Donkey Kong. The 34-year-old also has a massive right hook and loves an elbow, racking up thirteen knockouts so far. He hasn’t been submitted since 2017, and both his tap out losses were to UFC level fighters.

Ion Surdu (17-7) is a former OKMMA Welterweight champion, losing the strap to the scales. The Moldovan is always a pleasure, never a chore, putting on tantalating fights every time. “Dracula” possesses a lethal kickboxing game with mean intent in every shot. The 30-year-old has a very notable big right hand that if it lands, you’re going out. His head kick is also a thing of beauty and he disguises it well. Thirteen wins have come via knockout. Amiran Gogoladze (17-3) is a Contender Series veteran and has picked up a hat-trick of wins so far in Oktagon. The Georgian is an exciting striker in his own right, with eight of his victories coming via his hands and feet. In addition, he’s a solid wrestler. The 28-year-old is a very durable competitor and the only time he’s been finished was due to an unfortunate injury. He’s very comfortable over the fifteen minutes.

Mateusz Janur (11-6) is a former FEN champion and is a KSW and BRAVE CF veteran. The 34-year-old is a very well rounded martial artist and is comfortable wherever the fight might go. The Pole’s striking style is pleasing on the eye, and when he switches the accelerator he really comes to life. The Lubin man is a powerful striker with big punches and a devastating head kick. In the submission realm, his main threat is a wicked guillotine choke. Robin Roos (8-6) takes this fight on short notice. The Swede is a Cage Warriors, FNC and LFA veteran and is always game. The 31-year-old has one setting, he’s going to try and knock your block off. The IMMAF veteran will try and incapacitate you with leg kicks, and also use his heavy hands to knock you out. All his wins were from strikes.

Michał Piwowarski (7-4) performs for a premier European promotion for the first time, having previously appeared in FEN and Babilon MMA on the regional scene. Another Szczecin native from the Berserker team, he is a submission specialist. The 37-year-old is proficient in a wide range of chokes, pulling off an Ezekiel to add to his guillotine and rear naked wins. He’s tapped out six opponents. Timo Feucht (8-1) makes the short two hour drive from Berlin into enemy territory. The Spitfire Gym standout is a really well rounded competitor who has four knockout wins and four submissions. The German has never passed the second round, liking to get to work early. When the bodies are dry, he loves to go for a rear naked choke.

Jonatan Kujawa (5-2) is a former KSW fighter and commentator. The 31-year-old likes to employ a striking heavy offence with plenty of volume. The Wrocław man has won and finished his last four bouts. He’s been flying out of the gates in recent bouts and he’ll be throwing to finish things quickly. Three of his wins were knockouts. Henrique Madureira (9-7) is on a three-fight win streak with two first round finishes in Oktagon. The Brazilian has a high octane kickboxing game with explosive power and an eye for flashing flying attacks. He’s got a nice triangle and guillotine choke.

Łukasz Rajewski (13-10) is a well known fighter in this neck of the woods and he trains out of Czerwony Smok in Poznań. The 36-year-old is a KSW veteran and known for his Sanda foundational style. The Płock man has great footwork and has a bit of pop in his strikes, scoring six knockouts wins. His wrestling is getting stronger all the time. Jan Stanovský (7-2) is another late replacement. The Czech is an IMMAF veteran and tipped to be one of his nation’s best talents in the near future. The 26-year-old mixes the skills well, possessing an eclectic submission threat, with a particularly slick armbar. His kickboxing is dangerous as well, and is lethal in close exchanges with his elbow.

Kacper Frątczak (2-0) recently transitioned from a successful kickboxing career into MMA. The 30-year-old picked up a split decision win on his debut in May, and followed it up with a massive right hook knockout in the first round last September. The Pole hits hard and is a massive threat for a quick knockout. Zoran Solaja (3-4) trains out of UFD Gym in Düsseldorf and sometimes in Allstars in Stockholm. The German is a knockout artist with three striking wins to his name, one in the first and two in the second. He is a risk taker and will leave himself open as he’s trying to send opponents to the land of wind and ghosts.

Natan Niewiadomski (2-0) had a strong eight-fight amateur career and has been perfect as a pro so far. The Pole trains out of the Berserker team in Kołobrzeg, not far north of Szczecin. The 26-year-old has a solid kickboxing game with dangerous power early. He comes from a gym that insists on good Jiu Jitsu, and his submission threat comes from his rear naked choke. Patrick Spirk (5-3) makes his Oktagon debut and he’s recently dabbled in pro boxing. The Austrian has a very slick armbar in his locker and he’s got a heavy hitting striking style. All of his wins were in the first round and he’s never gone to a decision.

Michał Hawro (7-2) makes his promotional debut, coming in from Hybrid MMA on the regional scene. The 24-year-old trains out of Shark Top Team in Bytom and is known for a great boxing game. Between his devastating body shots and his massive hooks upstairs, he’s accustomed to stopping opponents and he’s earned six knockouts already. Lukáš Chotěnovský (7-3) has been around since the XFN days and he’s competed for FEN in Poland on multiple occasions. In grappling exchanges he’s good at taking the back and sinking in a choke. On the feet, he’s very good at reading an opponent and coming alive in the second round and beginning to dominate the striking. He has four finish wins.

Emilia Czerwińska (3-1) is a KSW veteran and a two-time K-1 world champion. The 35-year-old has had pro boxing experience and is very adept at point fighting in striking exchanges. The Pole has fought some good competition already, picking up a victory against PFL’s Paulina Wiśniewska at amateur level, and Sara Luzar Smajić as a pro. She’s only had one defeat total in MMA, amateur or pro. This will be her first appearance in two and half years. Niamh Kinehan (1-0) is from the kickboxing and Muay Thai world, winning world titles with various sanctioning bodies. The Britain beat her former footboxing foe Michaela Hlaváčiková in her Oktagon debut last August, a unanimous decision. She has a good head kick and isn’t afraid to try spinning attacks.

Oktagon 86 is live from Szczecin on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.