Fighters Only : Oktagon 45: Two nights, two titles, one packed weekend of MMA on Prague's Stvanice island

Simon Head

Jul 28, 2023

Oktagon's very own "Fight Island," at Stvanice, Prague will play host to a spectacular two-night MMA extravaganza as the Czech-Slovak promotion gets set for a huge weekend of fights on home soil.

The tennis arena in Stvanice, home to the ATP Challenger Tour's Prague Open, will serve as a spectacular open-air colosseum of fighting, as the promotion holds back-to-back big-arena shows that will stream live internationally on DAZN.

Headlining night one in Prague is a battle for the Oktagon bantamweight title, as Denmark's Jonas Magard puts his 135-pound title on the line against Brazil's Felipe Lima.

Magard captured the bantamweight title in November 2021 with victory over Filip Macek and, when a planned rematch with the Czech fell through due to injury, Magard instead faced Gustavo Lopez, and promptly finished him 31 seconds into the second round at Oktagon 41.

Now he takes on Lima, who arrives in Oktagon riding an 11-fight win streak, including a first-round flying-knee KO in his most recent outing.

Also featured on night one is a middleweight title eliminator between hard-hitting Robert Bryczek and former interim champion Samuel Kristofic, who will do battle in a bid to earn the next shot at 185-pound champ Patrik Kincl. Bryczek is a noted knockout artist, while the gritty Kristofic has never been stopped in his career.

Also in action on night one are Oktagon regulars Mate Kertesz and Vaclav "Baba Jaga" Mikulasek, while Team Ireland coach in the upcoming Oktagon Challenge: England vs. Ireland series, Shem Rock, also returns to action for his second bout under the Oktagon banner. He faces off against Jan Malach in a lightweight main card bout.

Night two features one of the biggest stars in Oktagon. Losene Keita is a bonafide star in the making, and the Belgian, who has already captured the lightweight title, is moving down to challenge for the featherweight belt against champ Mate Sanikidze.

Keita was due to face Sanikidze earlier this year at Oktagon 42, but when the Georgian was forced out of the bout with a shoulder injury, Keita instead faced, and defeated, Jakub Tichota for the interim title.

Now Keta and Sanikidze are finally due to meet in a huge title unification bout. added the interim featherweight title to his collection earlier this year that will either see Sanikidze unify the titles and cement his status as the promotion's premier featherweight, or Keita will improve to 12-0 and capture his third Oktagon title to become undisputed champ in two weight classes.

The second night of fights in Prague will also see one of the biggest stars in Czech MMA, Karlos Vemola, return to the cage.

Reigning light heavyweight champion Vemola fell short in his bid to recapture the promotion's middleweight title when he lost a decision to 185-pound champ Patrik Kincl at Oktagon 43, but "The Terminator" is bouncing straight back, with a 201-pound catchweight bout against 11-4 Argentine Lucas Alsina, who has won three of his last four.

Former Oktagon champ Ivan Buchinger is also set for action on night two. The decorated Slovak makes the walk for his 48th professional fight as he takes on France's Abou Tounkara in a lightweight bout.