A high-stakes bantamweight showdown is back on the books as Igor Severino and Jack Cartwright are set to collide for the vacant title at OKTAGON 74, now scheduled for Saturday, August 9, in Prague’s iconic open-air venue, Štvanice.
Originally slated to meet in April, the title bout was postponed after Cartwright suffered an injury. Now fully recovered, the former Cage Warriors champion is ready to re-enter the cage in what promises to be one of Europe’s premier MMA events of the year.
The Road to Redemption for Severino
Igor Severino (9-1), a 21-year-old Brazilian talent, turned heads last year after a controversial exit from the UFC following a biting incident. Since then, he has embraced the nickname “Hannibal Lecter” and found a new home with OKTAGON MMA. He made a strong statement in his promotional debut by defeating former champion Jonas Mågård via decision—an impressive performance that earned him a shot at the vacant belt. Now, Severino aims to prove that he’s not only matured as a fighter but is also the man to beat at 135 pounds.
Cartwright’s Comeback Trail
Jack Cartwright (12-2) burst onto the OKTAGON scene with a submission win over Júnior Assis in late 2023, earning him a headline slot in Newcastle. Though he suffered a decision loss to Mågård in that outing, Cartwright rebounded by outclassing top prospect Mate Sanikidze last September. With a decorated résumé and his eyes set firmly on championship gold, the Englishman is eager to capitalize on this second opportunity.
Stacked Lineup in Prague
OKTAGON 74 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated cards in European MMA this year. In addition to the bantamweight title headliner, the event features a women’s bantamweight title bout as reigning champion Cecilie Bolander takes on undefeated finisher Lucia Szabová.
Also on the card are all four quarterfinal matchups in the €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger middleweight tournament, including standout bouts such as Kerim Engizek vs. Mick Stanton and fan-favorite Vlasto Čepo facing UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko.
