Oktagon 80 Preview: Legierski v Korkmaz, Frimpong returns

Oktagon returns to Munich this Saturday for a great night of European MMA. The SAP Arena will host Oktagon 80, with eleven fights on deck, including one for a title.

The OKMMA Lightweight Championship has been vacant since Losene Keita signed with the UFC, which provides others with an opportunity. Mateusz Legierski (12-2) has been in this position before in 2020 when he became the first divisional champion in Oktagon history. The Pole returns for the first time in a year, looking to repeat that feat. The 29-year-old is a very strong grappler who specialises in armbars and triangles. On the feet, he’s a very competent kickboxer with power early on in the fight. Attila Korkmaz (16-10) was last seen winning in September and he’s a fun allrounder. The 34-year-old has no problem getting in your face for the duration of the bout, and likes to push a pace. The Berlin man brings top talents to the edge of their ability, packs some heavy hands and can threaten with submissions.

Christian Jungwirth (15-9) has been one of the biggest success stories of the German expansion, performing frequently in front of massive, noisy crowds. The 38-year-old is a blood and thunder warrior and is coming in here for a battle. “The Kelt” is as tough as they come and he’ll keep swinging his big fists until the clock runs out. Niklas Stoltze (14-8) is a UFC veteran and he’s got good skills wherever the fight goes. The Schönebeck man has been a big threat early on in his Oktagon fights with his heavy strikes. The 32-year-old’s kickboxing is strong in the first round and then he mixes in his grappling midway through the fight. He’s a better finisher than Jungwirth.

Alexander Poppek (18-5) is at the door of title contention after picking up big knockout wins over Pavol Langer and Jeremy Kimball. The Munich man will have the hometown crowd on his side, and he’s someone who absolutely loves smashing people with ground and pound. The 33-year-old can put you on your butt via strikes or with a takedown, and at that stage your card is usually marked. David Hošek (13-17-1) moves up from middleweight here and he is a KSW and RFA veteran. The Czech is a fearless competitor who always takes on the toughest opposition. The 32-year-old is aggressive from off and loves to swing heavy early, looking to knock blocks off. The Prague man can also grapple and stifle an opponent’s offense with his strength.

Rony Paradeiser (22-9) is a former OKMMA Lightweight Champion who has moved up to welterweight, picking up an injury TKO win over Bojan Veličković in June. The Slovak is a fabulous boxer with a lot of pop on his punches. The 28-year-old has a solid wrestling base and is a decent submission player on the rare occasion he goes for it. His thirteen knockout wins shows you where his heart is. Geraldo Neto (18-7) is a veteran of Brave CF and was an LFA champion in the USA. The Brazilian has won six of his last seven, and he combines an aggressive kickboxing game with a snappy submission arsenal in the back pocket. The 34-year-old is a finisher who will take chances to end this within the distance, sometimes to his detriment.

The lightweight division is in flux at the moment following recent departures, and that means opportunities for the remaining fighters. Everybody is a couple of wins away from a title shot. Gökhan Aksu (13-6-1) makes his third promotional appearance and is looking for a hat trick of wins here. The Austrian has won his last five in total, proving to be a finishing threat in each facet of the sport. The 33-year-old is a heavy hitter on the feet, and that’s where he has most of his success. Denis Frimpong (7-2) has won his last five fights for the promotion and has a personality that can sell many PPVs. The Irishman beats many opponents before they ever get to the cage. The 30-year-old is a patient striker under the tutelage of Dublin Combat Academy’s Collie Mahon. He also trains in Manchester Top Team, one of the top gyms in the UK, particularly when it comes to grappling. “The Menace” has a real chance to become the face of this division.

Hafeni Nafuka (11-3) is a man with bags of potential who has been very active in his Oktagon stint. The 22-year-old is impressively strong and is a dominant wrestler who is always looking for a finish. “The Namibian Nightmare” throws heavy ground and pound and is adept at taking the back and sinking in a choke to send you off to sleep. Matouš Kohout (11-9) makes his fifteenth Oktagon walk and is usually a very fun watch. “The Mighty Rooster” has a lot of kickboxing and Muay Thai experience, and he’ll want to keep this standing. The Czech is very dangerous with knees and punches, which will be his main key to victory.

Máté Kertész (15-9) is a Bellator veteran who is making his nineteenth appearance for the promotion. The Hungarian never says no to a fight and has been a reliable name for Oktagon for years. The 33-year-old likes to do his work in stand-up exchanges, pushing the pace and outpointing his foe. His experience means you can’t underestimate his grappling. Felix Klinkhammer (10-0) was a champion in Ares FC and will make his debut here. The German trains out of the London Shootfighters with the likes of Michael Venom Page and Norbert Novenyi Jnr. He is a high level wrestler and submission player, and he has a wide range of attacks from legs to arms to necks.

Michael Deiga-Sheck (11-7) is looking to snap a two-fight skid. The Brazilian trains out of Munich so will have support onsite, and he’s talented wherever the fight goes. The 39-year-old has some pro boxing experience, and his left hand is a tipper. He’s also a high level submission player. Teo Soldana Smith (4-1) is a veteran of WOW in Spain and FNC in the Balkans. The Swiss has a lot of grappling experience and is a good level Jiu Jitsu player. The 31-year-old is improving on the feet, proving his power with two knockouts in a row on the feet.

Ozan Aslaner (9-6-1) has a notable win over Jakub Tichota and is looking to kickstart his Oktahon adventure in this one. The German is a knockout artist with all of his finishes coming via strikes. The Paderbon man is tough and durable, however was caught badly last time out. Marco Antonio Elpidio (22-11-2) is a Combate veteran and is a man born at high altitude and has a massive gas tank. The Mexican can go all day if you let him, he’ll be in your face throwing with power and scrambling like a squirrel on the mats. The 32-year-old was a belt collector in the Americas.

Eriglent Prizreni (3-0) makes his debut and comes in with a bit of hype. The Albanian is explosive on the feet with fight stopping power. He’s also got some grappling acumen, winning his pro debut by rear naked choke. Henrique Madureira (8-7) is an exciting kickboxer who usually puts the pedal to the metal and goes for it. The Brazilian throws heavy and sometimes flashy, flying into attacks early and often. The opponent’s job will be to win the aggression battle.

Eugen Black-Dell (10-8) has taken the hard route in his Oktagon career, losing to the great Max Holzer and exciting Karol Ryšavý so far. The German was a champion in multiple regional organisations. He has a solid base on the feet with a bit of power and is serviceable on the mat. Eemil Kurhela (9-3) has had a similar run in the promotion, losing to Max Holzer and Marco Novák. The Finn is an absolute punisher and does huge damage on the feet with his fists and elbows, and also brutalises with ground and pound. Every movement is aimed to cause pain. This man is a finisher.

Oktagon 80 is live from Munich on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.