Oktagon 97: Severino v Holzer, Frimpong returns

It’s a quick one-week turnaround and they’re back on our screens this Saturday. Hannover will host Oktagon 97, with a packed out ZAG Arena ready to open its doors with twelve bouts on deck, including one title fight.

The main event features one of the highest level fights Europe has put on this year. Igor Severino (10-1) is a UFC veteran who became OKMMA Bantamweight Champion by beating Khurshed Kakhorov in March, and then his first defence ending up in a No Contest against Zhalgas Zhumagulov. The Brazilian is a former Jungle Fight title holder, and his UFC career ended in his debut after he bit an opponent. The 23-year-old is a high level operator and he mixes a high submission acumen with a slick striking repertoire, with a mean finishing streak. Nine wins have been within the distance, with a real threat with his chokes and heavy punches. Max Holzer (12-0) has been one of the biggest sensations of the German expansion, becoming one of the company’s biggest stars. The 24-year-old is an entertaining character with a much-watch entrance, and also has the magnetism to keep the eyes on him in the cage. The Hannover man will be in his element with the hometown crowd cheering him on, and he’s one of the strongest grapplers on the scene. The German is great at taking the fight down, using ground and pound to soften you up and then locking in a choke. Last time out, he picked up a first round knockout over Khalid Tafa in May.

Gjoni Palokaj (13-4) competed for the OKMMA Featherweight championship in July but came up short to Mochamed Machaev, having won seven on-the-bounce before that. The Hannover man is another local hero who will sell a lot of tickets, and he was a champion on the regional scene with WE LOVE MMA and Respect FC. The 31-year-old is built for going the full duration, developing a hard-to-read point scoring striking style. The German has six finish wins. Zafar Mohsen (15-4) is a PFL veteran who was given very tough fights to begin with in Oktagon, and he’s really impressed so far. The Afghan beat Samuel Bark by decision in January and followed it up with a big body shot TKO on Richie Smullen. The 31-year-old now trains in Germany and he’s got a vicious striking style where he uses every weapon to bludgeon his foes, from punches and kicks to elbows and knees. Seven wins have been via knockout, supplemented by five submissions, with the armbar being his favourite technique.

Ozan Aslaner (11-6-1) has won three of his last four bouts, including wins by decision over Marco Elpidio and Vladimír Lengál in his last two. The 29-year-old was a Respect FC champion on the regional scene, and early in his career won a lot with his fists. The Paderborn man has lost the finishing touch in recent years, but he has the cardio and fight IQ to manage decisions. Denis Frimpong (8-4) debuted as a pro in 2023 and has been one of the most active MMA fighters since then, often performing four times a year, and this will be his third appearance of the year. The Irishman is an elegant striker with patience and good footwork, and will pounce upon any mistakes with ruthless aggression. The 31-year-old will either knock you straight out, or he’ll put you down and follow up with the ground and pound. The Dubliner also has a decent submission game, however he prefers to keep it standing.

Justin Detzel (3-0) was an amateur champion on the regional scene with GMC, and he had a good win in his Oktagon debut by third round submission last May. The Hannover man had a lot of success with his striking in his early days with some quick knockouts. As a pro, he’s dominated with his submission game with some ground and pound. He is a quick starter. Kacper Frączak (3-0) won his first promotional bout in April by third round knockout, and that’s where he’ll want to keep this fight. The Pole comes from a competitive Muay Thai and kickboxing background, and he possesses mega power in his hands. The 30-year-old will separate you from your consciousness if you make the slightest mistake.

If you were to describe Karol Ryšavý (15-10-1) in one word, it would be fun. The Slovakian is set to make his twenty-third promotional appearance and is a man who would bring his gumshield to the supermarket in case a fight broke out. The 33-year-old is known as “Bomby” which refers to the power in his hands, and when he lands clean you stay hit, with seven knockout wins. In the submission game, he loves to use a guillotine more than the French. Samuel Bark (13-4) is an extremely exciting fighter who was a champion in UAE Warriors and is a Cage Warriors and FCR veteran. The Swede comes from a kickboxing and Muay Thai background, and he loves savaging opponents with his knees. The 34-year-old performs at a high pace and has a warrior mindset, and he won’t let a little blood deter him from a battle. Six wins have come via knockout.

Daniel Makin (10-17) is one of the biggest examples of “records are for DJs”, with a clear change in his trajectory from 2022, winning seven from nine. The German was a two-weight champion in WE LOVE MMA on the regional scene, and he prefers to operate on the ground. The Langenhagen man enjoys to utilise ground and pound, and he’s adept at the rear naked choke and triangle. Petr Bartonék (8-7) has won four of his last five bouts, coming up short to Endrit Brajshori in his promotional debut in February. The Czech is also a fan of the rear naked choke, winning four with the technique. The Olomouc man has been developing a striking game, with a particular danger in the second round. He’s finished seven of eight of his fights before the last bell.

Haci Akseker (3-1) was last seen in May where he lost his first pro fight in a decision to Raphael Federico. The German had earned his spot in the big leagues with a hat trick of first round knockouts wins, and his loss was a close decision. The 24-year-old trains out of the same gym as Holzer and Palokaj, so has a lot of high level training experience. Jonatan Kuwaja (5-3) is a KSW veteran who was defeated in Oktagon’s Polish debut in Szczecin last April, and he has been a commentator for both promotions. The 32-year-old has won four of his last five, and he’s aggressive from the start and he throws big shots, scoring three first round knockouts to date.

Jan Holzer (debut) will complete one of the sets of brothers on this card, with older sibling Max in the main event. The Hannover man had an amateur appearance with Oktagon back in May where he won by first round knockout. The 20-year-old had another bout in GMC where he won a decision. Expect to see a well rounded, high quality attacking style from the “Milfhunter”. Jan Švagerko (debut) represented his country at the 2025 European IMMAF championships. The Slovakian was known for his triangle choke, tapping out three opponents with the move. The Bratislava man has a singular knockout win, and has also been victorious via Von Flue.

Islam Djabrailov (11-6) is a KSW veteran and a three-time WE LOVE MMA champion. The 26-year-old trains out of the Fightschool Hannover gym that has produced half the talent on this card, and he’s had most of his success with his grappling game. The German has Chechen heritage and he has the Caucus wrestling style with plenty of ground and pound, and a knack of grabbing arm or a leg for the tap. He has six finishes. Kenji Bortoluzzi (12-7-1) has appeared for PFL and KSW, and he won the SMMAC title in May via first round rear naked choke, a belt he’s won multiple times, also winning gold with Respect FC. The Swiss is a good grappler who likes to inflict pain with his ground and pound, and lock in a choke. On the feet, he likes to look for a guillotine, and he has one victory with a stand-up knockout.

Josefine Knutsson (8-2) is a three-fight UFC veteran with further appearances on the Contender Series and Road to UFC. The Swede comes from a kickboxing background, performing in multiple K-1 World Grands Prix. The 30-year-old is tough as an old boot and will march forward from the get go and throw her kicks and punches for every second of the fight. She has one knockout. Yasmin Guimarães (10-4) is a KSW and LFA veteran, and she comes in from Jungle Fights to make her promotional debut. The Brazilian has had a lot of success against European strikers, using her strength and physically to nullify their attacking threat. The 30-year-old has powerful fists and earns her opponents respect, and can also close the distance against the cage or take it down and attempt a submission.

Matheus Severino (15-5) is the older brother of the main event’s Igor. The 29-year-old beat the tough Shawn Da Silva by decision back in March and he’s won multiple regional titles in his homeland. The Brazilian is a good boxer who likes to target the body as well as the head, and he’s got the power to end. His submission threat is almost exclusively from the guillotine choke. Mohammed Walid (8-6) has faced a murderer’s row of opponents in his career, with losses to many big names on the scene. The 31-year-old has a 2025 win over Aaron Aby, and he loves to use a submission to end the fight quickly. The Kurd has one of the best guillotine chokes in the division, and he’s got a lovely back take into a rear naked. He has a pair of knockout wins.

Kathrin Haberle (1-0) is a hot prospect who won the 2025 European IMMAF gold medal. The German was also a champion in Glacier Fight Night, and she has a heavy hitting striking style. She made her debut in GMC against Deborah Melhourn, getting a buzzer beater knockout at the end of the first. The 28-year-old had obvious power in the eight ounce gloves, the smaller version should prove to be more deadly. Thais Vasconcelos (1-0) didn’t have an amateur career to speak of, and she emigrated from Brazil to Portugal. The 33-year-old has a singular MMA bout, winning a decision in April 2024 for Rise 2.0. She will come in as an unknown quantity so can surprise, but will have to battle the ring rust.

Oktagon 97 is live from Hannover on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.