In Berlin, Korkmaz spins as "Pistolero" Ilbay strikes once more.
A thrilling night of mixed martial arts in Prague witnessed a packed Eden Stadium with 28,000 supporters cheering their favorite fighters. The promoter Oktagon put on a show that saw three German competitors triumphing.
Nearly matching the previous record of 45,000 spectators in an MMA event in Frankfurt, the Prague stadium event hosted 28,000 delighted fans. Among the night's brightest moments was the performance of three German contenders.
Kicking things off was Attila Korkmaz from Berlin. Taking on Makwan Amirkhani in the lightweight division, Korkmaz displayed his prowess in the opening round with swift head kicks. Although Amirkhani's formidable defense held firm, the Finn warmed up only after two minutes, opting for a takedown. While stronger on the ground, Amirkhani faced difficulties in the second round as Korkmaz launched multiple kicks to the body and limbs. His perseverance led to a knee that prompted a takedown from the Finn. Korkmaz eventually regained his footing, and the third round saw Korkmaz' improved conditioning advantage over his counterpart. As Amirkhani's fatigued limbs struggled to fend off a barrage of blows, a powerful hook knocked out the Finn.
In the second match of the night, Deniz Ilbay from Cologne entered the ring in the featherweight division. Ilbay promised an entertaining encounter against Denis Tripsansky, and the fans were not disappointed. The former professional boxer launched rapid combinations, leaving Tripsansky reeling. Tripsansky was a formidable counterattacker, almost carving a gash on Ilbay's right eye. However, Ilbay did not relent, matching Tripsansky's aggression with a series of blows. Tripsansky attempted a takedown in the second round, but was met by a knee from Ilbay, who managed to get back on his feet within two minutes. Unfortunately, Tripsansky tried a takedown one more time and was met with a left knee, dropping him to the ground. Ilbay followed with a salvo of punches until the referee intervened, declaring Ilbay the victor by technical knockout.
Wrapping up the trio of German fighters was David Zawada from Düsseldorf in the middleweight category. However, the evening did not end well for Zawada. Facing off against Marek Mazuch of Slovakia, Zawada faced a rapid-fire barrage of punches from Mazuch. A right hook caught Zawada off guard, causing him to become woozy. The Slovak continued the assault with 10 more blows, which Zawada tried to block or dodge. Eventually, one of them connected, sending Zawada down.
These three Germans represented their country proudly, leaving Prague with victory and a few new fans.
