The OKTAGON Middleweight division will be unified when longtime champion Patrik Kincl will meet interim champion Piotr Wawrzyniak.
The two are set to collide at OKTAGON 54, in what will mark Kincl’s long awaited return from injury and only Wawrzyniak’s second fight for the promotion.
The bout is set to take place on March 2nd, in the Ostravar Arena at OKTAGON 54: Tipsport Gamechanger 2 – a card already stacked with major fights.
The current pound for pound king, Patrik Kincl will make the walk to the OKTAGON cage for the first time after being on the sidelines for 10 months due to a severe injury.
Kincl signed with OKTAGON in 2022 and was straight into a title fight as he faced Samuel ‘Pirat’ Kristofic at OKTAGON 31. Over a gritty 25-minute war, Kincl showed himself to be a huge addition to the Middleweight division and earned a lot of fans in the process; being crowned the new Middleweight champion with a decision win.
He first title defence came at OKTAGON 35 against a well-versed Alex Lohore. Kincl needed less than three minutes to pick apart and finish Lohore in emphatic style.
The impressive win then set up his second title defence against the in a rematch 5 years in the making, against OKTAGON legend Karlos Vemloa at OKTAGON 43.
The pair met at XFN 11 in 2018 where Vemola came out on top, taking a unanimous decision victory. However, it was Kincl’s time to shine when the two met again. ‘The Inspector’ shone on the big stage and looked levels about Vemola in every aspect of the bout, claiming a unanimous decision victory with 49-46, 50-45, 50-45 scorecards.
Piotr Wawrzyniak’s promotional debut came at the end of 2023 when he faced Vlasto Cepo at OKTAGON 51. Due to Kincl’s extended period on the sidelines, the promotion took the decision to make bout for the interim 185lbs strap.
Entering the contest on a four-fight winning streak, there was not a huge deal known about the Polishman on the global scene.
After a tough few opening minutes to the contest, Wawrzyniak really grew into the bout and showed he certainly deserved to be, not only on the big stage, but challenging at the very top of the division.
The contest ended in the third round when after establishing full mount, Wawrzyniak reigned down a flurry of strikes and the referee had seen enough.
Alongside the Middleweight event, OKTAGON 54 will also play host to the opening round of the Lightweight Gamechanger tournament, which will see 16 athletes compete as they look to advance through to the quarter finals of the tournament.
