Two huge title fights feature on milestone OKTAGON 50 card this Saturday
A landmark event in the history of OKTAGON MMA goes down this Saturday night, December 9, from Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Two intriguing title fights sit atop the best European MMA card of the weekend, OKTAGON 50, and the rest of the show is loaded with explosive contests where many finishes are likely!
OKTAGON 50: Keita vs. Samsonidse Showdown
In the main event, former OKTAGON MMA champion, Losene Keita (11-1), returns from a broken leg to face rising German star, Niko Samsonidse (10-2), for the vacant featherweight title. Keita held both the lightweight and interim featherweight belts before his unification bout against Mate Sanikidze ended abruptly. ‘Blank Panther’ suffered the fracture just one minute into the contest which resulted in his first professional defeat. After months of rehabilitation and recovery, the 25-year-old sensation travels to the Czech Republic, intent on claiming what he believes is rightfully his.
Samsonidse made his promotional debut back in April off the back of a serious injury of his own. Despite being out of the cage for two years, he impressed in Bratislava while dominating Roman Paulus over three rounds. ‘One Love’ followed that performance up with a first round submission victory against Nicolae Hantea at OKTAGON 46, which earned him this shot at the vacant gold. Who will leave with the belt as one of the best fighters on the continent? European MMA doesn’t get any better than this!
OKTAGON 50: Paradeiser vs. Buchinger 2 Showdown
In the co-main event, streaking finisher, Ronald Paradeiser (17-8), rematches Slovak legend, Ivan Buchinger (41-8), for the vacant lightweight title. When the pair first met back in 2021, it was ‘Buki’ who had too much for his adversary, forcing the tap in the opening round. However, Paradeiser has improved immeasurably since then and is now showing the best form of his life. Can Buchinger recapture his former glory or will Paradeiser gain revenge and raise an OKTAGON MMA championship after two attempts?
Vicious strikers will throw down in a feature bout when former boxing and kickboxing champion, Vladimír Lengál (6-1), faces Muay Thai ace, Samuel Bark (8-2), at featherweight. Lengál has won his last six fights all by knockout and aims to climb further up the rankings after delivering another show-stopping finish. Bark came up short in his promotional debut earlier this year opposite Losene Keita but feels that Lengál is the perfect opponent to showcase his skills.
Matěj Peňáz is back in action
Top Czech talent, Matěj Peňáz (7-1), is back from a year long injury and will square off with all-action competitor, Ole Magnor (8-7), in an entertaining middleweight contest. Furthermore, #3 ranked light heavyweight contender, Rafael Xavier (12-7), looks to make it six victories in his last seven bouts when he meets British brawler, Dan Vinni (24-17-2).
Elsewhere on the card, there is more UK interest as the man known as ‘The King of Violence’, Ammari Diedrick (4-1), makes his anticipated OKTAGON MMA debut against former title challenger, Máté Kertész (13-7, 1NC), at welterweight. Also, Great Britain Top Team product, Stefano Catacoli (6-1), steps up on short notice to challenge hometown hero, Jan Široký (13-15, 1NC), in a lightweight bout.