Oktagon 66 Preview; Tipsport Gamechanger Season 3 Opener

Oktagon are ready to start their calendar year off with a bang, and we will see the first matches of the 2025 Tipsport Gamechanger tournament. This year’s addition is all about the middleweights. Oktagon 66 goes down in the PSD Bank Dome Arena in the great fighting city of Düsseldorf this Saturday night. Eleven fights will be vying for our attention.

The main event features a Tipsport Gamechanger tournament bout. Kerim Engizek (21-4) is the OKMMA Middleweight Champion, a title he won via unanimous decision over Czech superstar Patrik Kincl last October. The Turk trains out of the city in the infamous UFD Gym, one of the best gyms on the continent and where many of the top names of European MMA train. The 33-year-old has won his last fourteen bouts, in addition to a pro boxing victory. He’s a really slick boxer with knockout power, alongside his dangerous kicking game. Thirteen of his wins have been by his strikes. Kamil Oniszczuk (10-4) takes this fight on short notice after a late card reshuffle. The Pole is a very talented kickboxer who competed for Bellator and ACA. The 28-year-old has struggled to hit his peak form of late, but when he’s on, he puts on a fantastic display. His kicks can cause opponents fits, and he’s got the killer instinct to get a finish. Half his wins have been via knockout.

Lom-Ali Eskiev (22-7) is one of the premier fighters competing out of the city and one of those responsible for building the reputation of the UFD Gym. Originally from Chechnya, he now calls Germany his home. The 32-year-old is a very well rounded operator and is a veteran of KSW and ACA. He’s got the Caucus wrestling style that can dominate opponents, and he’s got a lethal kickboxing game with bundles of knockout potential. On his Oktagon debut last September, he beat the great Ivan Buchinger by knockout in the first round. Wanderley Junior (17-9) is another stepping in late due to the card reshuffle. The Brazilian is a promotional debutante and has competed for UAE Warriors in the past. The 30-year-old is a good submission player with a mean guillotine and tricky choke game. He’s got the bravery to mix it up on the feet and carries some knockout threat, however can leave himself open for a counter.

In another tournament bout, Matěj Peňáz (9-1) will be most people’s favourite to take home the prize. The Czech sensation is a Contender Series veteran and one of his country’s top fighters. The 28-year-old has high level kickboxing and mixes it up beautifully. He’ll brutalise you at every level, work your body to wear you out and smash you up top when the time is right. Eight of his wins have been due to strikes. “Money” is very experienced across the martial arts. David Zawada (19-10) is another well travelled individual. The UFC veteran has also competed for PFL and KSW. The gritty German is mostly remembered for his attractive boxing game and he’s got pop on his punches. The 34-year-old is a crafty grappler who has found some killer instinct in the submission game in recent years.

Deniz Ilbay (7-1) has been a success story for UFD Gym in that he came in with a great 22-3 pro boxing record and they’ve done wonders with his grappling game. The German has retained the power on the feet, however is a huge threat in getting it to the mat and bashing your brains in with ground and pound. He’s won his last two. Vladimír Lengál (7-4) has a similar background with a 12-0 pro boxing record. The Czech is likely more powerful, although wouldn’t really be looking to take it to the mat. He wants to stand and strike where he can use his devastating power in the kickboxing game. All of his wins have been knockouts.

Matouš Kohout (11-8) is a very popular fighter and is affectionately known as “The Mighty Rooster”. The Czech is an exciting Muay Thai specialist who always comes to put on a show. He’ll be looking to use punches, elbows, knees and kicks to cause his opponents fits over the fifteen minutes. The Prague man likes to stay active and will take on all comers. Cihad Akipa (7-2) is from Germany of Kurdish descent. The 28-year-old has competed in boxing in the past, and his main threats are his hard hitting punches. Four of his wins have come via knockout. His grappling is serviceable and may be where he plans to take this fight.

There is an alternate bout for the tournament opening the main card. Hojat Khajevand (7-4) has had decent success since strapping on the Oktagon gloves. The Iranian trains out of Germany and is known for his great wrestling game. The Tehran man then likes to take the back and sink in the choke. He’s won three of his last four. Kennedy Rayomba (6-3) steps in late from NFC and is eager to take the opportunity with both hands. The German is a well rounded prospect who has a solid choke game. He’s also a punisher on the feet with damaging blows. This is up a level and he’ll need to have improved his takedown defence for his last bout.

Raphael Federico (5-0) is a talent out of SBG HQ in Dublin. The 25-year-old had a stellar amateur career and is flawless as a pro. The Italian is mostly a stand-up fighter with a powerful kickboxing game. Three of his wins were on the feet, with a fourth knockout via ground and pound. Daniel Solaja (2-1) is a former Glory kickboxer. The German trains out of the UFD Gym and is known as a competent striker who hasn’t shown knockout power so far. He’s been working hard at his grappling and has a nice guillotine to deter takedowns.

Emir-Can Al (1-1) had a very accomplished amateur career, competing over twenty times. The UFD Gym has some lovely chokes in his locker, and he can cause trouble in kickboxing exchanges. “The Turkish Bull” is always looking to entertain. Viktor Kováč (debut) is an IMMAF veteran at amateur level and he’s finally ready to be paid for his exploits. The Slovakian is most dangerous on the feet, with multiple knockouts on his record. He’s competed in grappling competitions where he’s shown a nice guillotine.

Tamerlan Dulatov (1-0) comes in from the regional scene to make his debut in the promotion. The Chechen has long since called Germany his home and is the brother of UFC bound Oktagon veteran Islam Dulatov. The 24-year-old has done modelling in the past as well as being an accomplished businessman. So far it’s been his grappling that’s been the most successful for him, using his takedowns to unleash ground and pound. His submission game is also on-point. Ghith Ighzawi (debut) was born in Kuwait and trains out of Germany. Very little is known about the 24-year-old and he’s got no recorded amateur fights. All will be revealed on the night.

Zoran Solaja (2-1) has trained at both UFD Gym and Allstars in Sweden, two top quality camps. The Düsseldorf man is known for his devastating striking on the regional scene, a mean operator. Both his wins have come via knockout. He was unsuccessful in his Oktagon debut and is looking to announce his arrival here. Lukáš Eliáš (4-0) is from the Spartakus Gym in Trnava. The Slovakian has a knockout victory in the promotion from November 2023, a corker of a right jab. The IMMAF veteran has had more success with his grappling, securing three submission wins. He’s also got a couple of exhibition appearances on the Oktagon Underground series.

Sara Luzar Smajić (4-2) finally steps back into the cage after a two-year layoff, and has spent a chunk of that time battling injuries. The Croatian KSW veteran has trained at UFD Gym in the past, however has done a lot of the work in Pula in her native land for this bout. The 29-year-old is a good boxer who throws decent volume, and is well conditioned to go fifteen minutes. She’ll be eager to make up for lost time and some recent fight cancellations. Danielle Misteli (3-4) comes in from the regional scene. The Swiss woman is known for her judo, with a submission threat both standing and on the floor. The 41-year-old has won her last two. This will serve as the YouTube free fight.

Oktagon 66 is live from Düsseldorf on Sunday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv and DAZN.