Wales' Aaron Aby takes on America's Elias Garcia as Oktagon MMA gets set to crown its first flyweight champion at Oktagon 48.
The matchup will form the main event of the Czech-Slovak promotion's debut event on UK soil as they host a big-arena show at the AO Arena in Manchester on November 4.
Aby's career arc is a remarkable one. Initially, a young Aby's parents were told he was unlikely to survive beyond his teenage years, but Aby launched himself into martial arts and eventually turned pro in 2013.
Aby then faced more adversity as he was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer that developed into a stomach tumor. But, after undergoing extensive treatment, Aby won his battle with cancer and eventually resumed his MMA career. Now he has the chance to capture championship gold in Manchester on November 4.
Facing him across the Oktagon cage is 9-2 contender Garcia, who arrives in Oktagon after picking up a hat-trick of wins under the Combate Global banner. Garcia also fought twice in the UFC, including a bout with current flyweight contender Kai Kara-France that went all the way to the scorecards.
Aby vs. Garcia will top a fight card that features the season finales of Oktagon's two UK reality shows, "Stage To The Cage" and "Oktagon Challenge: England vs. Ireland."
UK lightweight stars Shem Rock (Team Ireland) and Akonne Wanliss (Team England) are also both scheduled for action on the card.
Speaking about the confirmed main event for Manchester, Oktagon MMA co-founder Pavol Neruda said, "We are really pleased to announce our headline event for Oktagon 48. These flyweights are going to put everything on the line to write their names into the history books.
"We have spent much time building the fight card, and our match-makers have done a great job to ensure that from the first fight of the prelims, to the main event, the fans are going to in for a great show.
"This is the first of many UK shows for us, and we can't wait to show the fans what Oktagon MMA is all about."
Oktagon 48: Confirmed bouts
- Aaron Aby vs. Elias Garcia – for inaugural flyweight title
- Team England vs. Team Ireland – Oktagon Challenge finale
- Jake Quickenden vs. Paul Smith – Stage To The Cage bout
- Jack Cartwright vs Antun Racic
- Alex Lohore vs. Ion Surdu
- Jaroslav Pokorny vs. Shem Rock
- Lee Chadwick vs. Radovan Uskrt
- Jakub Bahnik vs. Akonne Wanliss
- Stuart Austin vs. TBC
- Shoaib Yousaf vs. TBC
