Team Ireland Revealed for Oktagon Challenge Reality Series

Severe MMA can reveal the Irish representatives for Oktagon MMA’s latest installment of their MMA reality TV series “Oktagon Challenge.”

Multiple sources confirmed the Team Ireland lineup to Severe MMA for the MMA competition that is being billed as “England vs Ireland.”

Coach: Paddy Holohan

Irish MMA pioneer and former UFC flyweight Paddy “The Hooligan” Holohan is set to take charge of Team Ireland. The Holohan Martial Arts head coach and gym owner will serve as one of two MMA legends, where he will compete in a coaching capacity against fellow MMA veteran, Brad “One Punch” Pickett.

Coach: Shem Rock

Surging prospect Shem Rock (7-1-1) will serve alongside Paddy Holohan on the Team Ireland coaching staff. Though Rock is a native of Liverpool, he routinely trains under Collie Mahon at Dublin Combat Academy. Severe MMA understands that Rock will be paired against a rival coach on Team England, with the pair to square off in the cage later in the year. Rock made his Oktagon debut last month, fighting to a draw against Arthur Lima (10-2).

Fighter: Matthew “BDE” Elliott

Matthew “BDE” Elliott enters the competition with a 2-1 record as a professional. The Fight Academy Ireland prospect completed an undefeated amateur MMA run, before turning pro in 2021. Elliott has fought twice under the Cage Warriors promotional banner, most recently dropping a controversial decision against fellow Irishman Ryan Shelley.

Elliott boasts an impressive grappling career prior to MMA that saw him represent Team Great Britain in both wrestling and judo, earning a plethora of accolades including 5 x British wrestling champion, former British judo champion, and bronze and gold medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games and the Commonwealth Judo Championship, respectively.

Fighter: Denis “The Menace” Frimpong

Denis “The Menace” Frimpong broke onto the amateur MMA scene in 2021, amassing a 6-2 record over the course of 14 months. Frimpong notched victories on the Irish circuit over tenured amateur Solomon Simon and fellow Team Ireland teammate Aaron McDonald. Training out of Manchester Top Team, the Irishman turned pro in 2023, losing his pro debut via Decision at UAE Warriors 35. Most recently, Frimpong increased his record to 1-1 with a Banana Split submission over UK journeyman Liam Delsol.

Fighter: Aaron “Macavelli” McDonald

Aaron “Macavelli” McDonald is set for his professional debut as he joins the Team Ireland ranks. The Team Torres fighter went 8-3 as an amateur, collecting the Iúr Fighting Championships and Clan Wars lightweight titles.

Fighter: Armand “The Crane” Herczeg

Fighting out of Sanda MMA in Dundalk, Armand “The Crane” Herczeg is another member of Team Ireland primed for their professional MMA debut. The Hungarian-born Irishman completed a 15-fight amateur career, taking on all comers on the Irish amateur circuit. Herczeg had an active 2022, competing 6 times. Most recently, Herczeg submitted Kevin Kehoe with a first-round guillotine choke in his amateur swansong.

The 7th season of “Oktagon Challenge” will feature 8 fighters (4 on Team Ireland, and 4 on Team England) competing in the lightweight division. The fighters will compete twice in the reality series, culminating in a finale event on 4th November at AO Arena in Manchester.

Filming of the reality show began yesterday in Slovakia.

Seventh season of the reality TV show #OKTAGONCHALLENGE just begun! 8 fighters, 4 coaches, 1 gym, 1 villa and film crew of 22 people – all set and ready!
First day of filming 🎥 started today! 🤩@OktagonOfficial pic.twitter.com/2oSyRwjrwq

— Pavol Neruda (@PavolNeruda) May 24, 2023