Fighters Only : Oktagon 48: Full 11-fight card confirmed for Manchester debut

Simon Head

Oct 31, 2023

Czech-Slovak promotion Oktagon MMA makes its UK debut on Saturday, November 3 as the AO Arena in Manchester plays host to Oktagon 48.

Headlining the event is a battle for the vacant flyweight title, as Wales' Aaron Aby takes on American contender Elias Garcia for the honor of becoming the promotion's inaugural 125-pound champion, while the co-main event features the UK return of former KSW middleweight champion Scott Askham, who faces Marc Doussis in a 92.5-kilo (204-pound) catchweight showcase.

Lightweight rising stars Akonne Wanliss and Shem Rock both have their sights set on the top of the 155-pound division, and they will both face Czech opposition. Wanliss will look to improve his No. 13 ranking when he takes on the division's No. 7 contender Jakub Bahnik, while 11th-ranked Rock faces eighth-ranked Jaroslav Pokorny as he bids to climb the lightweight ladder with an impressive win.

Also on the card, former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Jack Cartwright will make his promotional debut against short-notice replacement Junior Assis with a possible shot at the title up for grabs for the winner, while the Oktagon Challenge: England vs. Ireland finale will also feature, with England's George Staines taking on Ireland's Denis Frimpong in a lightweight matchup. Two other competitors from the show, England's Hascen Gelezi and Ireland's Aaron MacDonald, will face off in the first bout of the night.

Oktagon's other reality TV show, Stage to the Cage, will also come to its fruition as UK celebrities Jake Quickenden and Paul Smith step into the cage to compete for the first time as they go against each other in a welterweight bout.

Also featured on the fight card in Manchester are England-based French welterweight contender Alex Lohore, English former Cage Warriors middleweight champion Lee Chadwick, and English featherweight prospect Shoaib Yousaf.