Oktagon 63 Preview; Buchinger v Nafuka, Jack Maguire Returns

Oktagon will return to Bratislava, Slovakia this Saturday. The Tipos Arena will host Oktagon 63, a ten-fight card.

In the main event, a young up-and-comer will get a level check against an all-timer. Ivan Buchinger (43-10) is a living legend in European MMA. The Slovakian is a man who has worn more belts than an undisputed boxing champion. The 38-year-old was the top 155er on the continent for many years. Buki is a choke master, excelling at the mundane rear naked chokes and whips out a D’arce / Anaconda / Brabo when he’s feeling fancy. The old dog still has power in his hands as well, one of his many weapons in his kickboxing repertoire. His only losses since 2018 have been to the current European top lightweight Salahdine Parnasse, Oktagon champions and Tipsport Gamechanger finalists Losene Keita and Rony Paradeiser, and the ever impressive Lom-Ali Eskijew. Do not underestimate his level. Hafeni Nafuka (10-1) is a young man with the world at his feet. Born in Germany of Namibian heritage, he’s an explosive grappler with fantastic submissions. Heavy on top, he does damage with ground and pound, and he’s a whizz at taking the back. He’s also got power in the stand-up phases. The potential is there, the question is the timing.

Máté Kertész (15-7) makes his seventeenth walk under the Oktagon banner. The Hungarian has a fan friendly style, and he should showcase his attractive kickboxing in this one. The 32-year-old is always ready for battle and up for a 15-minute war. He takes tough fights and he’s brave. Leandro Silva (28-12-1) is a UFC and PFL veteran who is very active on the Oktagon scene. The Brazilian is a submission expert by trade, notching eleven finishes along the way. The 38-year-old isn’t afraid to stand and bang, and he’s competed in pro boxing on multiple occasions.

Robert Pukač (17-13-1) will have the hometown screaming for him. The Slovakian’s salty record is owed to him fighting a who’s who of Czech and Slovakian talents as the scene was being built to its current level. The 32-year-old can get it done by trading with you and taking it to a decision. Ammari Diedrick (5-2) is a former Glory kick-boxer and a fast-twitch athlete. The Englishman is explosive in the striking exchanges and has the power to knock out a horse. Small gloves make him dangerous, particularly in the first round.

Karol Ryšavý (13-7) will be another one to have spectators wagging their tongues. The Slovakian is one of Oktagon’s most revered veterans. Bomby will be coming here to bite on his gumshield and to send folks home happy. He also has a guillotine choke up his sleeve to deter takedowns. Gjoni Palokaj (9-3) has won both his promotional bouts to date by submission. Born in Germany of Albanian heritage, he is a solid all-round threat. He’s got some good wrestling where he unleashes the ground and pound, and a range of chokes he can threaten with. Half his wins have come via strikes.

František Fodor (10-8) trains out of Bratislava and will benefit from local support. This is a man who fights on the edge, will take one to throw one. The Oktagon regular will play Russian roulette in the stand-up exchanges, betting on himself to land the killer blow. Damien Lapilus (17-18-2) is a man who’s been doing this a long time, active since 2011, long before MMA was even legalised in his country. The Frenchman’s record has taken a battering of late due an anti-doping violation turning four wins into losses. The 35-year-old is comfortable wherever the fight goes, he’s got nice footwork and technique in the striking arts, as well as a competent grappling and submission game. At his best, he’s very fun to watch.

Aaron Aby (16-9-1) is a liver cancer survivor and battles through cystic fibrosis. The Welshman doesn’t look for anyone’s pity, he’s a man who goes in there and fights with everything he has. The Wrexham man is a very good grappler with a good choke game, and serviceable on the feet. He’s a former Oktagon and Cage Warriors title challenger. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (16-9) is a UFC veteran who has a cult following online. The Kazakh is a powerful kickboxer with seven knockout wins. The 36-year-old is also able to navigate to dominant decisions. His best years may have passed him, however he’ll be keen to show he can still hack it at this level.

Radek Roušal (3-1) wouldn’t look out of place in the Arkham Asylum. The Czech is a big character and will be led out to the cage whilst restrained by his handlers here. The 29-year-old is a practitioner of the stand-up arts. Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, doesn’t matter, the man just wants to hit you. Ruchy loves a fight. At one stage it felt that Jack Maguire (2-1) was fighting on every card in Ireland. The Corkonian had a stellar amateur career and had gone 1-1 in his pro career before a near four-year layoff. He won his return bout in March by knockout in the third round. The man with the flat cap is always ready to throw down on the feet, and he’s always been practising his BJJ. This will be the first good look we get of him since his Cage Warriors days.

Roman Paulus (10-4) is another young man who just loves to fight. The Slovakian grew up in Oktagon, fighting most of his pro bouts there. The 24-year-old is at his most dangerous when he takes you down and goes looking for the back to sink in a choke. He’s not afraid of a dust-up either. Janne Elonen-Kulmala (18-12-1) is a veteran of many European promotions including Cage Warriors and M-1 Global. The 35-year-old has an action packed style, has power on the feet and no problem getting into a brawl, quick and technical in the scrambles with the ability to choke from any angle. He’ll give you a chance to win whilst trying to do it himself.

Veronika Smolkova (4-3) will be another local attraction. The Slovakian has won her last two on-the-bounce and she has a good kickboxing game with finishing ability. Her submissions are solid as well. Mileide Simplicio (4-1) makes her Oktagon debut and comes in from Slovakian promotion PML. The Brazilian is competent on the feet, however hasn’t shown huge power yet. The 23-year-old is most dangerous with submissions within the distance.

Tomáš Cigánik (3-2) is charged with opening the curtain on the free YouTube prelim. The Slovakian has most of his success in the grappling department, with the rear naked choke being his go-to so far. He did show some power in the amateur ranks. Kevin Enz (3-2) is an IMMAF veteran at amateur level, coming second in the 2021 Senior World Cup. The German has a BJJ base with an eclectic mix of submissions, with an ability to attack legs, arms and chokes equality proficiently. He picked up his first knockout back in March.

Oktagon 63 is live from Bratislava on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv and DAZN.