Oktagon 91 Preview: Engizek v Jotko

Oktagon returns to Germany on Friday night with an action packed card. Cologne’s Lanxess Arena will once again host a hot sold-out crowd. Oktagon 91 features twelve bouts, including two for OKMMA championships.

Revenge is the order of business for OKMMA Middleweight champion Karim Engizek (24-5), looking to avenge a loss last time out in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament. The 35-year-old was undefeated for a decade before that, including winning his belt against the legend Patrik Kincl in October 2024. The UFD Düsseldorf man has a beautiful boxing game with a mean body shot and heavy hands, scoring fourteen knockouts. The German of Turkish descent has decent wrestling as a backup, and likes to smash the ground and pound. Krzysztof Jotko (29-6-0) is a 17-fight UFC veteran and beat Engizek by first round rear naked choke in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament final last January. The Pole has won his last five bouts, with his last loss to Oktagon double champ Will Fleury in a PFL fight in 2023. The 36-year-old is known for his grappling, usually using wrestling against the fence to nullify an opponent’s offence. He has seven wins by knockout and three by submission. Will lightning strike twice?

Mochamed Machaev (17-2) will defend his OKMMA Featherweight Championship for the first time, winning the belt against Niko Samsonidse in January. The Brave CF and XFN veteran is one of the promotion’s most popular and exciting fighters on the roster, always employing a high-octane offensive style. The Austrian has a low centre of gravity that offers him a solid base, and he uses his stocky shoulders to pack power into his punches, winning nine by knockout. The 26-year-old has won his last three contests, and he’s got the cardio to go the distance and maintain his threat throughout. Gjoni Palokaj (13-3) is a former WE LOVE MMA champion and has earned this opportunity by winning six bouts under the Oktagon banner. The German comes from Albanian roots and he has a reputation of being a tough and durable striker. The 31-year-old has high fight IQ and has proven to be able to dominate the fifteen minutes in a judge friendly style. The Hannover man hasn’t shown too much power, although attritional damage is a major advantage.

Patrik Kincl (29-12) is a former OKMMA Middleweight champion and KSW title challenger. The 36-year-old returned to winning ways in December with a unanimous decision win over Robert Pukač after losing two on-the-bounce. The Czech is also an ACB and XFN veteran and utilises a powerful kickboxing game with great technique. In the clinch, he’ll rip off elbows and knees, and out in the open, he can control the fight with his footwork and distance management. Thirteen wins have been via knockout and seven by submission. Hojat Khajevand (10-5) has been very competitive since joining the promotion and was a semi-finalist in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament. The Iranian is based out of Freiburg, Germany, and he’s known as a high level wrestler. Once he gets things on the ground, he chooses position over submission and is risk averse, but he’ll attack the back and sink in a rear naked choke if it’s safe to do so. On the feet, he’ll use the takedown threat to come over the top with some big punches.

Cihad Akipa (11-2) is on a five-fight win streak heading into this one, and we last saw him in Oktagon last October with a knockout win. The Kurd has pro boxing and kickboxing experience, and it’s the striking game that’s brought him most of his MMA success. The 30-year-old starts fast and likes to get first round finishes, however his power carries late too. Damage is the aim of his game. Máté Kertész (15-10) joins the Oktagon 20-fight club on Saturday and is looking to turn around a three-fight skid. The Hungarian also uses a striking style to earn his wins, however is more of a decision fighter with the ability to control the bout and leading the dance. The 33-year-old has five knockout wins, the last of which was in 2019.

Marc Doussis (9-5) moves up to heavyweight after a poor run of results down at light heavyweight. The German is a KSW veteran and is a generally well rounded performer. The UFD Düsseldorf man would employ striking as his first option, and he carries a lot of power, earning five knockouts. Failing that, he can employ a submission game, with four tapouts on his record. When he wins, he does it within the distance. Sasha Weinpolter (14-6-1) steps in on a couple of days notice, and he’s well known to carry a gumshield with him when travelling to events in case he’s needed. The 40-year-old has won his last five bouts across all codes, including a hat trick of bare knuckle boxing wins. The Austrian is only going for the knockout, and threatens opponents have fallen before him.

Tamerlan Dulatov (5-0) has a rocket tied to him and he’s on his way to the top. The 26-year-old comes from a family of fighters with fingers in many pies, from modelling to the business world. The UFD Gym man has blown through the opposition so far, winning all within the first round. “Most Wanted” will aggressively fly out of the blocks and attempt to land a big strike or try to snatch a submission quickly. Nikola Janković (9-2) is his toughest test to date, and he’s a young and talented finisher. The Croatian is a dangerous grappler who absolutely rips the ground and pound. The 21-year-old can utilise a wide range of submissions to tap you out, and he’s adept at getting early takedowns.

Kamil Oniszczuk (12-5) is an ACA and Bellator veteran and he’s won his last two bouts in Oktagon. The Pole is a very talented kickboxer with great timing and nice technique. The 29-year-old likes to use his kicks to control proceedings, smashing the legs and body, hoping to open up the head for a massive blow. In the submission game, his favourite technique is the arm triangle. Mick Stanton (14-9) is a former Cage Warriors champion and this is the first appearance since August. The Englishman is a hard-nosed wrestler who can dominate from the top position and make life miserable. The 39-year-old has an absolute hammer for a fist, winning six by knockout. The Atherton man is as tough a fighter as they’ll come, and he can make you wilt quickly.

Altin Zenuni (4-0) was a silver medallist European IMMAF competitor at youth level and a national champion. The UFD Gym Düsseldorf man had thirty amateur bouts in all, developing a very well rounded skill-set. His wrestling game is ameliorated by his ground and pound, which opens up the rear naked choke, and his kickboxing poses a knockout threat. He is the future. Patrik Šebek (4-0) had a strong sixteen-fight amateur career of his own, mostly displaying his strong wrestling game and his adept back taking into the rear naked choke. The Slovakian continued the theme in his first two pro bouts, getting two tap outs. He picked up his first knockout win in March.

Iwan Tagner (2-0) is another off the UFD Düsseldorf conveyor belt of talent. The German was a gold medallist in the World IMMAF Youth category. He turned pro last August and scored a first round knockout, then followed it up in December with a first round rear naked choke. Maiwand Hamras (2-1) was a WTKA champion in kickboxing. The German lost his pro debut, but has been perfect since, scoring two first round rear naked choke victories. He doesn’t have much amateur MMA experience to fall back on, so he’ll likely try to keep this standing.

Jackson Ross (3-0) is a newcomer and he was a Pan-Am GAMMA champion at amateur level. The 27-year-old is known as a big puncher even in the larger eight ounce gloves. The American turned pro April 2025 with two knockout wins so far. Nicolaj Wagner (4-4) is a man who has one goal, knocking your head clean off. The German will march out of the blocks, winging head shots and has successfully scored three first round knockouts, with a fourth in the second round.

Zoran Milić (6-2) is an IMMAF veteran at amateur level and came through the Fight Club Rush scene in Sweden. This will be his first outing in Oktagon and his reputation is one of being a powerful striker. The Serbian is willing to get into wars on the feet, taking one to give one. Three wins have been due to strikes. Aaron Aby (18-11-1) is a man who has had to overcome a lot of challenges to get into the cage. The Welshman was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a child, and survived testicular cancer. The Wrexham man has won his last two, and he’s a fantastic wrestler that loves to use an arm triangle amongst other techniques. Seven wins have been via submission and he’s a genuine annoyance in the striking game.

Jakub Zacpal (5-1) comes from a Muay Thai background and has won his last four, all by finish. The Czech is predominantly a striker, earning two knockout wins with his punches. He does have a submission threat, mainly the rear naked choke. Furkan Ugur (4-4-1) comes in from FNC in the Balkans. The 20-year-old turned pro in 2023 and has been very active since, already making his tenth appearance. The UFD Gym Düsseldorf man has shown good submission aptitude and picked up a first round rear naked choke in June.

Oktagon 91 is live from Cologne on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.