Oktagon 83 Preview: Samsonidse v Machaev, Manning debuts, Pudilová Returns

Oktagon will cap off their January with a second German show of the month. Oktagon 83 is back in Stuttgart’s Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle, with the usual eleven fights on deck, including one for an OKMMA title.

The vacant OKMMA Featherweight Championship is on the line in the main event of the evening. Niko Samsonidse (12-3) has been in this position before, falling short to the great Losene Keita in December 2023. The Georgian has won his two contests since, both within the distance. Fighting out of Berlin, he’s a very good wrestler and a fantastic submission player. The 31-year-old is a whizz at taking the back, but can also hurt you from any angle. He’s also serviceable on the feet with a fair bit of pop behind his punches. Mochamed Machaev (16-2) is a legend of the Czech MMA scene, performing in front of the huge XFN crowds in the O2 Arena in Prague and is also a Brave CF and UAE Warriors veteran. The Austrian has a low centre of gravity and is as tough as a Glaswegian shipyard worker. The 26-year-old has a fun striking style, throwing with volume and power, bloodying up noses and faces. Cardio is not an issue for him, he’s as dangerous in the last minute as in the first. He’s a man that likes to stay active and will fight any time, any where. This will be his first shot at the gold.

Alina Dalaslan (4-0) has flown out of the blocks under the Oktagon banner since debuting last March. The German won four fights last year, following winning world amateur gold at the 2024 IMMAFs. The 25-year-old is one of the most vicious practitioners on the scene, and her kickboxing style is very easy on the eye. Fighting out of Stuttgart, she’s absolutely devastating on the inside where she can pulverise you with elbows and knees. One to watch for sure. Karolina Sobek (5-3) is definitely a tough style match up and will offer a challenge she hasn’t faced yet. The Pole is a PFL and LFL veteran, and the main training partner of established striker Emilia Czerwińska. The 26-year-old is a very talented submission player, with a particular talent for arm locks. She performed for XFN as an amateur, an event Muradov also main evented, and is generally very experienced as a martial artist.

Lazar Todev (12-7) has been one of the organisation’s premier heavyweights over the last few years. The Bulgarian is a big bruiser who loves to use his striking to upend his opponents. He recently passed the ex-UFC test by beating Luis Henrique, and he has knocked out eight of his foes to date. Josh Parisian (16-8) is another UFC alumnus, bagging seven fights in the promotion, plus another two wins on the Contender Series. The American is also a fan of the stand-up arts. The 36-year-old loves to use his massive fists to damage those on the end of them, picking up twelve wins via strikes. If he doesn’t catch you standing, he loves landing ground and pound.

Emilio Quissua (7-0) is back for his sophomore Oktagon appearance and puts his undefeated record on the line once again. Back in September, he defeated the tough Pole Mateusz Strzelczyk. The German was a UAE Warriors champion and he trains out of nearby Balingen. The 28-year-old is a heavy hitting striker who doesn’t necessarily finish you with the first shot, but will obliterate you with the second, third or fourth. So far he’s been inevitable. Jorick Montagnac (7-3) is a statue by day, mixed martial artist by night. The Frenchman is a powerful striker who is still looking for the off button regularly as a pro. The 32-year-old has no problem winning a decision, an impressive feat with all those muscles. He’s a big obstacle to pass and not many people can hurt him.

Alexander Poppek (19-5) is a very popular fighter around these parts, and he steps in on short notice to replace the injured Neanderthal Frederic Vosgröne. The 33-year-old is undefeated in his last four, with three of them being knockout wins. The German is a Contender Series veteran and is a big bruiser. The Munich native loves to land a big shot on the feet, putting his opponent on their back and following down with all the fury of ground and pound. Samuel Chavarría (7-0) has an Oktagon victory via injury last October and will have trained for a wrestler, not a striker. The 24-year-old has a lot of promise and most of his experience is in the UCC promotion in Central America. The Honduran prefers his striking game, and he has heavy, one shot stopping power and his power lasts easily for fifteen minutes.

Arijan Topallaj (8-2-1) makes his sixth walk for the promotion on Saturday and he’s one of the brightest prospects in Central Europe. The Albanian was born in Germany and is another that trains in Balingen. The 27-year-old is a jack-of-all-trades with a very strong submission game. He’s got a mean anaconda and guillotine, and also has a nasty left hook. Marco Elpidio (23-12-2) makes his sophomore promotional appearance. The Mexican is a Combate Global veteran and he’s a man that personifies his nation’s fighting spirit. The 32-year-old is a scrapper, a born brawler, and tough as all hell. The CDMX man is going to show up, get in your face and be an absolute nuisance. He had a highlight reel suplex knockout win.

Daniel Schwindt (8-4) won his first two Oktagon bouts before becoming a victim to the master of destruction Vlasto Čepo in October. The German is training out of Stuttgart so will have a big following behind him, and he’s got a big reputation in his own right of sending opponents to the land of wind and ghosts. Seven wins have come via knockout, and it’s usually the first or second shot that knocks you down, and then a crescendo of ground and pound fists that finish it. Brian Manning (5-0) finally makes his promotional debut after an injury scuppered a November bout. The MMA Cork man has long been hailed a talent on these shores since his amateur days and the former Cage Conflict champion is here to do damage at a top European level. The 30-year-old is at his best in striking exchanges and he’s on a nine-fight win streak across amateur and pro. The Irishman is a very quick starter, upending opponents on the regular in the first round.

Lucie Pudilová (16-11) is a hard nosed competitor who had two UFC stints and will stand and strike with anyone. The Příbram native can make your life hell over fifteen minutes and while lacking the one shot stopping power, her attritional damage is a nightmare to deal with. Since her last MMA win back in April, she’s won two pro boxing bouts. The 31-year-old has been through a lot and she’s got a strong heart. Katherine Lehner (9-8) is a trailblazer in female MMA and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, as well as being a Bellator, Invicta and LFA veteran. The 35-year-old also has a lot of experience in boxing and in slap fighting. She’s another one that doesn’t have huge power in her hands and usually goes to a decision.

Wanderley Junior (18-11) makes his fourth appearance for the promotion and has taken the toughest fight available each time. The 31-year-old known as “Mexicano” is very well rounded and isn’t afraid of brawling it out on the feet. The Brazilian has a great choke game and has a mean right hand. Dastan Amangeldy (9-1) is a newcomer and he was a champion in Naizon in his homeland. The Kazakh has a long IMMAF history before turning pro, and it shows in his well rounded game. The Aqtobe man is a training partner of Oktagon champion Zhalgas Zhumagulov and he has six finishes on his record.

Jan Malach (18-16) was a national kickboxing champion in his younger years with over eighty bouts under his belt. The Prague man takes as good as he gives, and he’s always looking for a knockout, of which he’s earned eleven knockouts in MMA competition. The Czech has won three of his last five, and he’s always game for a scrap. Ahmad Halimson (6-4-1) lost a close split decision in his Oktagon debut last June. The Berlin Spitfire man is a very accomplished grappler and loves to snatch necks and submit you. The 29-year-old has a nice guillotine and loves a rear naked choke. In the striking realms, he’s isn’t afraid to be flashy and launch himself across the cage at his opponent.

Harun Kurt (5-0) won his Oktagon debut in November and is itching to keep the momentum going in his undefeated career. The LFL veteran is a good kickboxer with nice kicks attacking every level, aiming to get you to drop your guard and land the head kick. The German’s power lasts throughout the bout. Nathan Haywood (4-2) made a big impression on his debut with a knockout win over prospect Lukáš Chotěnovký. The Team Fish Tank man is an IMMAF veteran and in the submission game has a lethal guillotine threat. The 28-year-old’s Plan A is to use his powerful kickboxing to score a knockout, and his threat also remains for the full fifteen. 

Oktagon 83 is live from Stuttgart on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.