OKTAGON MMA return to the stunning O2 Arena, Prague this Saturday, May 20, for one of the biggest events in the top European promotion’s history. The stacked card – OKTAGON 43 – features a highly anticipated title fight grudge match as well as two exciting €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger welterweight tournament quarterfinal contests. A capacity crowd of almost 20,000 fans are expected to be in attendance to witness the blockbuster show.
In the main event, Patrik Kincl (26-10) defends his middleweight belt against Karlos Vemola (34-6) in a monumental rematch that has been simmering on the Czech MMA scene for five years.
The pair first met in June 2018 after their friendship ended and it was “The Terminator” who got his hand raised via a tough three-round decision. Vemola then moved to OKTAGON MMA before claiming the middleweight title, but he was stripped of the belt after failing to make weight. None other than Kincl signed with the promotion and lifted that same gold strap himself. After Kincl defended his title for the first time last September, Vemola jumped into the cage and challenged his bitter rival to a rematch for the belt he never lost in competition, claiming Kincl had only been looking after it for him while he captured the light heavyweight title.
They will finally meet again this Saturday night in one of the biggest OKTAGON MMA fights of all time. Vemola promises to finish Kincl this time to prove he is the better man once and for all, becoming a double champion in the process, while Kincl says that his whole life revolves around this one bout. Both men simply refuse to lose and the stakes could not be higher when they collide this weekend. To gain even more insight into the headliner, watch the full episode of “OKTAGON 43: Showdown” below.
In the co-main event, former welterweight champion David Kozma (31-12) faces the dangerous Alex Lohore (23-8) in a €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger quarterfinal. When the participants in the tournament placed themselves on the bracket after the opening round, “Pink Panther” and “Da Killa King” were the last two fighters remaining so had no option but to face each other in a Czech Republic vs. France clash. Fans have touted this contest as arguably the best and most intriguing of all the quarter-finals matchups in what could turn out to be an instant classic.
Danish grappler Louis Glismann (10-2) takes on LFL welterweight champion Melvin van Suijdam (14-5) in the second €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger quarterfinal at OKTAGON 43. This bout is also a rematch from 2018 when Glismann defeated the Netherlands native by kneebar in the second round. “MvS” believes the pressure is all on Glismann after how their first fight ended and wants to even the score in a contest he views as the biggest of his career. Only one man can progress to the semifinals later this year.
In another feature bout, former FEN champion Robert Bryczek (15-5) looks to follow up a huge knockout victory last December against Bellator veteran and promotional newcomer Lee Chadwick (28-17-1) in an important middleweight contest. Furthermore, Mateusz Legierski (8-1) wants to continue his climb back to the lightweight belt he never lost inside the cage when he squares off with talented all-rounder Matej Kuznik (18-7).
Elsewhere on the card, the man known as “Dracula,” Ion Surdu (12-5) challenges Georgian prospect Amiran Gogoladze (14-3) in a Tipsport Gamechanger welterweight tournament reserve bout, and fan-favorite, Miroslav Broz (15-3-1) returns to OKTAGON MMA to take on Slovakia’s Robert Pukac (16-10-1) at 170 pounds.
OKTAGON 43 will be broadcast live around the world on Oktagon.tv as well as global platform DAZN, in selected international markets. All of the action begins at 12 p.m. ET.
