Oktagon 72 Preview: Vémola Vegh 3, Muradov v Kincl

Oktagon are doing their usual summer party in Czechia this Saturday. The Eden Stadium, home of Slavia Prague, will once again host the festivities, hosting up to 20,000 fans with ten fights on deck.

We have a three-peat in the main event of the evening, and an OKMMA Infinity Champion will be crowned. Former Light Heavyweght champion and general Czech MMA legend Karlos Vémola (37-9) aims to delight local fans one more time and put on a show. The 39-year-old evened the score in this bout last summer in the very same arena by second round arm triangle, avenging a 2019 knockout loss in the city’s O2 Arena. “The Terminator” is an ex-UFC fighter who loves to push opponents against the fence, wear them down and sink in a submission. He’s amassed an amazing twenty submissions in his storied career, however don’t sleep on the power he has in his hands. Oktagon will have a tough time replacing this man. Attila Végh (33-10-2) is a Bellator and KSW veteran and in general a trailblazer for Slovakian MMA. The Bratislava man is an agent of chaos, adept at finding finishing situations on the feet or on the floor. The 39-year-old hasn’t been too active in the six years or so, and he’ll be desperate to show his real quality in the big stadium. If he sees a chin, he’s hitting it.

An interim OKMMA Middleweight Champion will be crowned on Saturday evening. Patrik Kincl (28-11) is the former champion and one of the stars of Czech MMA. “The Inspector” is the ring general of the last decade or so, providing lessons on how to conduct mixed martial arts fights. The 35-year-old has a powerful kickboxing game, mixed with good offensive grappling. He does struggle with some defensive grappling, but usually his other skills make up for that. Makhmud Muradov (28-8) is a fierce competitor and a UFC veteran. The Uzbek fighter is a master of the stand-up arts and has eighteen knockouts to his name. Now training in Ankos MMA in Poznań, this XFN legend has won both of his Oktagon bouts since returning. These are two very capable operators.

What is left to say about Ivan Buchinger (44-10). The Slovakian has won more belts than I’ve had jobs in my near 40-years. Most famous for being on the wrong end of a Conor McGregor knockout, Buki was the gold standard of European MMA for many years. The 39-year-old is a whizz in the submission game, having a choke for every occasion. He also loves to throw fizzing punches in the standing game that really affects opponents. Vladimir Lengál (8-5) is a game OKMMA veteran, always answering the call when excitement is needed. The Czech has a boxing and kickboxing background, and when he hits you stay hit. The Znojmo man has won all eight of his victories by knocking out his MMA opponents.

We talk a lot about top European matchups, and Saturday will deliver. Ronald Paradeiser (21-9) is the champion one weight down below and was defeated in the welterweight tournament finale by the great Losene Keita. “Rony” has been schooling fools on the feet for many years, combining that with his ground skills, he’s a very prepared fighter. Bojan Veličković (25–2-2) was the winner of the 2023 Tipsport Gamechanger tournament and will make his first appearance since then. The Serbian is a submission expert on a four-fight win streak. The 36-year-old has an impressive CV of wins, and he’s a well rounded athlete that can finish the fight anywhere it goes.

Daniel Škvor (9-4) took this fight on extremely short notice. The Czech is marching back to the title conversation following two back-to-back wins. The 36-year-old has hammers for fists and when he hits you, you stay hit. This kickboxer has a mean Ninja choke and the means to make your night a short one. Lucas Alsina (13-5) is on his second promotional bout and has fought Vémola in the past. The Argentine is a striker who aggressively throws killer shots on the regular. The 39-year-old has scored eight knockout victories to date. He’s a kickboxer with a hint of an arm lock game.

Jaime Cordero (8-2) returns to the cage having won three of his last four. The German is pure entertainment and always puts on a show. Whether it’s his heavy hitting kickboxing game or his tricky arm lock game, the Bremen man is always looking to close proceedings before a judge is necessary. David Hošek (12-6-1) is a KSW veteran making his tenth Oktagon walk. The Prague man prefers to do his business on the feet, carrying a bunch of power early on in the fight. The 32-year-old is also no stranger to a submission, so opponents have to watch out there.

Karol Ryšavý (14-8) is an Oktagon mainstay and this will be his nineteenth bout in the company. “Bomby” earned his nickname due to his exciting striking style and heavy hitting hands. The Slovak has seven knockout wins and also carries a significant submission threat. Jakub Batfalsky (7-1) is a bright prospect on a four-fight win streak. The Czech came through the GAMMA amateur scene and has experience beyond his years. The 22-year-old is a good striker, and is very aggressive early on looking for a finish. The Ostrava man is also capable in grappling exchanges, always looking to snatch a limb.

Alina Dalaslan (1-0) is an IMMAF champion at amateur level and has the potential to go very far as a pro. The German trains out of Stuttgart and won her debut via vicious knees in March. The 24-year-old is a mean striker who causes lots of damage. Róża Gumienna (5-4) is a talented kickboxer hailing from Wrocław. The Pole is a former FEN champion in the stand-up arts, and she loves to pepper her opponents early and often. The 35-year-old has precision and power on her shots.

Roman Paulus (11-5) is an Oktagon regular making his fifteenth appearance. The Slovak has a lot of experience for his age, and he has big grappling credentials to his name. The 24-year-old is good at getting the fight down to the mat, taking the back and sinking in a choke. Ayton De Paepe (12-5) is a Cage Warriors veteran. The Belgian is well rounded with a lovely submission game. The 30-year-old is also capable on the feet, with plenty of pop on his punches.

Jan Stanovský (6-2) is an IMMAF veteran and another talented prospect hoping to make an impact in Oktagon. The 26-year-old is new school with a heavy hitting Muay Thai style, brutalising opponents with every sharp part of the body. The Brno man can sink in a submission very quickly. Daniel Solaja (3-1) has dabbled in pro kickboxing. The German trains out of the UFD Gym in Düsseldorf. He’s a competent grappler, however he prefers to utilise his kickboxing. Finishes haven’t clicked yet for him in pro MMA, however we should start seeing him rattle off a few soon. 

Oktagon 72 is live from Prague on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.