Oktagon on the way to becoming the "Formula 1 of martial arts"
The Czech promoter Oktagon wants to achieve in Cologne what even MMA industry leader UFC has failed to do. 20,000 spectators are to experience an MMA spectacle and celebrate their local heroes. According to co-founder Neruda, the organization has even bigger plans.
Superstars such as Madonna and Coldplay fill it to capacity, as do the Cologne Sharks during top matches - the Lanxess Arena in Cologne can hold up to 20,000 spectators and is the largest indoor arena in Germany. Oktagon is the first European mixed martial arts organizer to make a stop in the Rhine metropolis. The event is set to be a milestone for the up-and-coming sport.
"Sold out" is a stamp that the organizers definitely want to get, emphasizes co-founder of the Czech organization Pavol Neruda in an interview with ntv. Just a few hours before the event, only a few percent are missing before Oktagon can announce that it is full. History has already been made. There have never been more spectators at an MMA event in Germany anyway.
Oktagon is currently conquering markets and locations that are not being considered by other major organizers such as the UFC. The Czech Republic is still the home market, but Germany is now number two with three to four events a year. In England, locations such as Manchester or Newcastle are deliberately targeted - there are many fans there who are not prepared to make the journey and pay the prices for the UFC when it makes a guest appearance in London.
As an organizer, the aim is to become even more international and, above all, the market leader in Europe. "We would like to be like the Formula 1 of combat sports. Like a Grand Prix, we bring big events from country to country. There is great enthusiasm and the whole city lives these events. That's what we want to achieve with Oktagon," says Naruda.
Oktagon founders: are storytellers
The Czechs are still a long way from Formula 1, at least financially. Turnover in 2022 amounted to ten million euros, but this year it is already at 17 million. A sign that MMA is booming as a sport. However, with the UFC, KSW and the PFL, there are several organizers competing globally. The UFC failed to sell out the Lanxess Arena in 2010 with around 13,000 spectators. Oktagon takes a slightly different approach. "We see ourselves as storytellers and lovers of the sport," says Neruda. "In our approach, the focus is more on storytelling and the event itself, while other organizers focus more on the TV product. We want to tell the story of each fighter. With us, you are entertained from start to finish on the day of the event, the hall is full from the very first fight. That is unique."
In addition, the conditions for fighters on the financial side should be better than in other organizations. "We try to pay the fighters the maximum. From a business point of view, it makes perfect sense," says Neruda. Other promoters are in a frenzy when it comes to bonus payments or have dubious backers in the background. "We want to create a sustainable system that still allows for growth. In European comparison, we pay between several thousand for starters in our organization up to six-figure sums, as you can see from the Gamechanger tournament, where there is a million euros in the pot and the winner gets 300,000 euros."
With an average of two fights per year, this would still be too little for beginners to pursue the sport professionally. Neruda therefore refers to the marketing through Oktagon. Thanks to the reach and platform, many sponsors are aware of the 185 fighters who are now under contract. The fighters and the MMA organization also support each other. Through marketing, Oktagon creates proximity to the audience, and the fighters' own reach on their social media channels then carries interest over the often months-long breaks without an upcoming fight.
Moeil fights for the title, Eckerlin for a big chance
The concept also works in Germany. Accordingly, many of the organization's crowd-pullers are present in Cologne. Frankfurt's Christian Eckerlin is the big drawcard; he will fight Brazilian Apollo Silva in the welterweight division. Naruda says he has the X-factor, that certain something. Even in the Czech Republic, Eckerlin is a star, but the fans there would rather see him lose. If Eckerlin wins in Cologne, he could soon be fighting for the Oktagon title - or for the fight against Christian Jungwirth that was originally planned for Cologne. One title is already safe in Germany. In the main fight, Hatef Moeil and Todor Lazev, a heavyweight from Cologne and a heavyweight from Stuttgart, will face off.
Former professional boxer Deniz Ilbay (featherweight against Corey Fry) and Konrad Dyrschka (lightweight against Thiago Silva) also want to make the most of their home advantage. Kerim Engizek is also likely to be spectacular again. After his lightning knockout in his debut a few weeks ago, he will face Adam Horvath at middleweight. Like Moeil, the three train at the UFD Gym in Düsseldorf.
Gym boss Ivan Dijakovic knows why he has placed his fighters at OKTAGON and what he likes about the organization. "I am impressed by the speed at which the organization has developed. After just five years, they have not just one, but two feet on the German market." In the case of Cologne, proximity was of course one factor, but the fascination for an event of this size was another. "I'm simply impressed that they've sold so many tickets and I'm excited about the atmosphere." However, the manager of numerous fighters still sees room for improvement. "You can certainly do more around it to reach the fans," Dijakovic told ntv with regard to the eventization.
Neruda announces "absolutely crazy" for Germany
But there are other fighters from Germany who should guarantee a spectacle. Ex-UFC fighter Niklas Stolze (La Onda Gym Magdeburg) is returning to Oktagon after more than five years. He will face Anrej Kalasnik, an experienced welterweight fighter. After around 18 months without a fight and three defeats in a row recently, Stolze wants to get back on the road to success in Cologne. In addition, Chihad Akipa from Cologne will fight Matthew Bonner in the middleweight division.
With Arijan Topallaj, the Czech promoter has signed one of Germany's biggest talents in the featherweight division at short notice. Five of his six professional fights did not go beyond the first round. The unbeaten Topallaj from the Planet Eater Gym in Balingen ended all of them prematurely, he will meet Roman Paulus, a kind of Octagon home-grown talent, in the Lanxess Arena. The 23-year-old Slovakian only won his contract through a reality format organized by the promoter.
The event in Cologne - whether it ends up being completely sold out or not - is already a success for the Czech organizers. At the end of the interview, Neruda has some good news and some bad news for German fans. Oktagon will cancel the planned event in Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena in the fall because they are planning something "absolutely crazy" in Germany. He is not allowed to give any details, but the company must set priorities in this case. Berlin will then be scheduled for 2025.
With Oktagon making a historic stop in Cologne, they aim to break the record for the largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event attendance in Germany. The organization, which sees itself as a storyteller in the sport, is set to offer a full day of entertainment for fans.
Oktagon's future plans include becoming the "Formula 1 of combat sports," bringing big events to different countries and creating a strong city-wide buzz, much like a Grand Prix. The Czech promoter is currently expanding internationally and aspires to be the market leader in Europe.
Source: www.ntv.de
