OKTAGON returned after a short summer break on Saturday night (September 7) with a blockbuster OKTAGON 60 card, which saw big wins in both the main and co-main event.
The promotion headed back to the Rudolf Weber-Arena with an 11 bout card, in their first show of a busy run for OKTAGON.
In the main event, Lom-Ali Eskiev arrived to the promotion in style, with a first round TKO victory over long time OKTAGON athlete, Ivan Buchinger. It was clear from the first bell that Eskiev’s speed and power were going to cause series issues for ‘Buki’. It took the 32-year-old just over four minutes into the contest to draw an end to the bout, as he backed Buchinger up against the fence and landed two right hands clean on the jaw to send the Slovakian athlete stumbling before a couple more clinical strikes forced the referee to step in.
However, the highlight of the night undoubtedly belonged to Niklas Stolze in the co-main event. With two minutes on the clock, Stolze launched a perfectly timed flying knee which caught Matouš Kohout flush. As ‘Mighty Rooster’ tried to get his legs back underneath him, Stolze stalked him down and uncorked a right hook to the jaw that instantly finished Kohout.
The card was littered with impressive first round finishes throughout, with Wahed Nazhand adding himself to the list with a slick submission over the vastly more experienced Max Handanagic. Nazhand’s grappling prowess was far too much for Handanagic to handle and after forcing the 27-year-old to give up his back, the Afghan native instantly locked up a rear naked choke to force the tap.
Elsewhere, Marek Bartl needed just 2:26 to return to winning ways as he stopped Zoran Solaja with a barrage of brutal elbows and handed the German athlete his first loss as a professional. Away from the stoppages, there were plenty of entertaining bouts that went the distance with Laura Kirtzel, Daniel Hromek, Cihad Akipa Hassan Shaaban Gjoni Palokaj and Jakub Bahnik all picking up decision wins.
The highly anticipated bout between Jaime Cordero and Milan Datelinka was waved off when the former caught the latter with an unintentional elbow to the back of the head. The bout was ruled a no contest.
OKTAGON 60 Results
Main Card
Main Event - Lightweight
Lom-Ali Eskiev (22-7, 1NC) defeated Ivan Buchinger (43-10) by TKO (punches) at 4:10 of round one
Co-Main Event- Welterweight
Niklas Stolze (14-7) defeated Matouš Kohout (11-8) by TKO (flying knee and punches) at 2:04 of round one
Middleweight
Jaime Cordero (5-2, 1NC) vs. Milan Ďatelinka (10-7, 1NC) ended in a no contest due to Cordero landing an unintentional elbow to the back of the head at 0:34 of round one
Lightweight
Jakub Bahník (10-5, 1NC) defeated Marcel Grabinski (23-11) by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Welterweight
Wahed Nazhand (9-2) defeated Max Handanagić (9-7-1) by technical submission (rear naked choke) at 3:00 of round one
Catchweight (69kg/152lbs)
Gjoni Palokaj (9-3) defeated Karol Arteaga (5-2) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Welterweight
Hassan Shaaban (4-1) defeated Kevin Enz (3-2) by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Middleweight
Cihad Akipa (7-2) defeated Dominic Schober (13-13) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight
Daniel Hromek (4-4) defeated Emir-Can Al (1-1) by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight
Marek Bartl (12-13) defeated Zoran Solaja (2-1) by TKO (punches and elbows) at 2:53 of round one
Projekt Y Final - Bantamweight
Laura Kirtzel (2-0) defeated Haifa Reso (1-1) by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) to win Projekt Y
