OKTAGON returns this weekend for the promotion's first event of 2025 and February 1 is just the start of some exciting things to come.
At OKTAGON 66 at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, the 2025 Tipsport Gamechanger Tournament will get underway before running throughout the year.
This time around it's the middleweight division that will be on show and of course, that means that the champion, Kerim Engizek, is in the mix.
In fact, the champion is set to fight in front of his home crowd in the first main event of the new year when he takes on France's Anthony Salamone.
Engizek hasn't lost a fight since 2014 but it was at OKTAGON 62 in October last year where he finally ascended to the top of the division by beating Patrik Kincl in a very impressive performance.
His first opponent in the tournament, Salamone, is undefeated at middleweight with the only two losses of his pro career coming up at light heavyweight in the PFL, including a decisive setback against the current OKTAGON light heavyweight champion, Will Fleury.
All of the upcoming cards from OKTAGON will feature two match-ups in the tournament and the second bout on this card is another great match clash of styles.
Germany veteran David Zawada will need to use all of his experience to try and become the first man to defeat Matěj Peňáz in OKTAGON.
The Czech striking specialist is a nightmare match-up for anyone on the feet and if he's able to keep his fights standing, he's going to be a real favourite to go all the way in this tournament.
Zawada, who holds a win over Engizek in 2012, has faced some top opposition throughout his career but Peňáz is a very unique puzzle for him to solve.
The card also features a big lightweight clash between Lom-Ali Eskiev and Damien Lapilus alongside a battle between two former pro boxers when Deniz Ilbay takes on Vladimír Lengál.