Oktagon 77 Preview: Gamechanger Semi-Finals, Smullen v Buki

Oktagon returns to one of its ancestral homes this Saturday. The Tipos Arena in Bratislava hosts Oktagon 77, which will see the semi-finals of the Tipsport Gamechanger Middleweight Tournament, as well as nine other bouts on the night.

The main event of the evening features a tournament semi-final and the OKMMA Middleweight Champion Kerim Engizek (23-4). The 34-year-old has won an impressive sixteen bouts in a row, including winning belts for GMC and EMC before besting Patrik Kincl last October for the Oktahon crown. The UFD Düsseldorf man beat Kamil Oniszczuk by decision and Mick Stanton by ground and pound to advance to this round. The German of Turkish heritage is a fantastic boxer who hits hard to the body and head, and if there’s any blood in the water he sniffs it out and ends proceedings. He can also grapple and threatens from rear naked chokes. Dominik Humburger (11-2) has been on a tear since inking his Oktagon deal, defecting from KSW. The Czech picked up two second round finishes so far in the brackets, knocking out Mark Hulme and Samuel “Pirát” Krištofič, elite competition. The 29-year-old is a fierce knockout artist, usually downloading the data early before finishing in the second half of the first round or in the second. Nine wins have been due to striking stoppages, and he’s won his last three.

Vlasto Čepo (13-3) performs in front of his fellow natives this Saturday. The Novi Sad man has absolutely no interest in the three judges sitting cageside, he leaves it to the ref to pull him off opponents. The 30-year-old has hands of stone, with a right hand that can send you into next week. The Slovakian has some submission chops and has a nice guillotine and rear naked choke. Once that bell rings, the fists are swinging at full pelt. Daniel Schwindt (8-3) will be happy enough to stand in the pocket and duke it out. The German likely will try to bring it to the mat where he can utilise his unforgiving ground and pound. The 26-year-old is aggressive from the off and will use his striking to set up his takedown and then its bombs away. His bravery has been his undoing in his losses, and he tends to get caught on the chin early, a trait he can’t afford against the heavy hitting Čepo.

In the second semi-final, we have a battle between solid grapplers. Krzysztof Jotko (27-6) is a former UFC and PFL competitor in addition to being a breakdancing fanatic. The Pole loves to make your life miserable against the cage, controlling everything and dominating rounds. The 36-year-old has built up a solid kickboxing game in his long martial arts career, and he earned his spot here with a ground and pound victory over Marek Mazuch and a good decision versus welterweight king Ion Surdu. The Elbląg man has a lot of experience at the elite level of the sport, with eleven UFC wins on his record. Hojat Khajevand (10-4) has been my surprise package in this year’s tournament, and he’s beaten two Poles already on his journey to the semis. In the last round, he beat former OKMMA interim champion Piotr Wawrzyniak and before that he knocked out former Babilon MMA title holder Łukasz Siwiec. The Iranian calls Freiburg his home nowadays and he’s known for being a fantastic wrestler. He’s heavy on top and looks to weaken you before jumping a submission; however, it’s notable that his boxing has been shining in recent times with a pair of knockouts with his hands in 2025.

Ivan Buchinger (45-10) is a living legend of European MMA and has won belts in Oktagon, Cage Warriors, XFN, M-1 Global amongst other promotions. The Slovakian is a slick BJJ player who has racked up twenty-six submission wins to date. The 39-year-old has an exquisite choke game, specialising in the likes of the Anaconda and D’arce style. Buki is also a solid kickboxer with a knockout threat, finishing twelve with his strikes. He’s got all the experience in the world and he doesn’t like leaving it to the judges. Richie Smullen (15-3-1) called out Buchinger after beating Vojto Barborik in his Oktagon debut, and his prayers have been answered. The Arklow man is a UFC and Bellator veteran, and is as rugged and tough-nosed a competitor as you’ll encounter. The SBG HQ competitor has long been known as an elite grappler, a high level Jiu Jitsu player and a man that makes your night miserable. The 34-year-old is vicious with his ground and pound, softening people up for the submission. He’s won his last five and didn’t need the judges for any of them.

Samuel Krištofič (17-7) is another legend of Czecho-Slovakian mixed martial arts. Pirát, as he’s better known as, makes his eighteenth promotional bout and he’s a former interim middleweight champion. Early in his career he was known for his submission acumen, specialising in the arm-triangle. The Slovakian has developed a great kickboxing game over the years and he’s got a hammer of a right hand. The 36-year-old has struggled for activity and form of late; however, the skills are still there. Jaime Cordero (9-2) was one of the first prospects discovered in the German expansion. The Bremen man is a bit of a whirlwind of action when the cage door closes. His kickboxing game is electric, throwing up vicious head kicks and winging full power punches early on. He’s tricky when scrambling and is adept at snatching arms.

Marco Novák (6-2) is part of the new wave of Czecho-Slovakian talents emerging on the scene. The Bratislava man has won four of his last five, and he comes in from a Muay Thai background. Whilst striking is his most comfortable environment, he is a tricky submission player who can lock on techniques out of nowhere. Daniel Solaja (3-2) also comes from a kickboxing background, training out of the infamous UFD Gym in Düsseldorf. The German has a nice guillotine in his locker to combat sloppy takedowns, and he’s also used striking to earn two other victories. He’s still looking for it all to click, but when it does, it should see him go on a run.

Tomáš Cigánik (6-2) has won his last five, and his only slip-ups have been to tough opponents George Staines and Peter Gabal. The Slovak is a former Clan Wars amateur champion and appeared for Cage Warriors at their 2019 Cork show. Submissions have been his path to success, with a great ability at taking the back and sinking in a choke. Konrad Dyrschka (16-2) is a KSW veteran on a five-fight win streak. The German has two decision victories to date in Oktagon, and he’s a well rounded competitor training out of UFD Gym. The 33-year-old has a powerful kickboxing game and is a good top wrestler. He has only one loss in the last decade.

Veronika Smolkova (6-3) has really clicked as a professional since 2024, winning four MMA fights and a Muay Thai bout. The Slovak game through the GAMMA amateur scene and her strongest facet is her striking. “Sweetheart” throws heavy and chews up opponents early, usually finishing within the first few rounds. Ana Carolina Araujo (3-2) is very young in her career and she was a champion at Pit Bull Super Fight in her homeland. The 19-year-old also prefers the striking arts, and likes to utilise a mean Muay Thai game. The Brazilian is dangerous with her elbows and knees in the clinch, and has finished two bouts through strikes.

Karol Ryšavý (14-9) is a mainstay on the scene and makes his twentieth Oktagon walk. The Slovakian earned the name “Bomby”, owing to the massive power in his fists. The 32-year-old is actually a very talented submission player, with a guillotine and armbar to beware of. All-in, he’s got twelve finishes under his belt. Acton De Paepe (13-6) is a Cage Warriors veteran and is a very game competitor. The Belgian is active on the feet with a little bit of pop. The 30-year-old is also a threat in submission exchanges. He’s very durable in the stand-up, and he’s very good at earning decision victories.

Monika Chochlikova (3-1) returns to MMA looking to get back to winning ways following a first career defeat against Katharina Dalsida in 2022. The Slovakian is a storied Muay Thai competitor who has won titles across regional promotions. She is a Bellator veteran and will mostly use her striking to get the win, usually to a decision. Atenea Flores (debut) will try MMA for the first time. The Spaniard comes in from a kickboxing background. She trains out of Germany and was a world K-1 champion in 2018 and a two-time Muay Thai champion.

The free YouTube opener is a banger. Jorick Montagnac (6-3) has the physique of a video game character. The Frenchman is a heavy hitting striker who has great wins against Didi Škvor and Pavol Langer. Knockouts haven’t come readily for him so far, however the power is there and when it clicks, the bodies will hit the floor. Mateusz Duczmal (3-2) trains out of the UK and comes from a kickboxing background. The Pole achieved all three victories with his striking game, finishing with a hat trick of stoppages. Submissions have been his undoing so far. His punches do big physical damage.

Oktagon 77 is live from Bratislava on Saturday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.