Karlos Vemola Going For Double Champ Status Despite Doctors Telling Him To Retire

OKTAGON light heavyweight champion, Karlos Vemola, is chasing the rarified status of ‘champ champ’ this year, despite advice from doctors that he calls it a day on his career, due to a terrifying injury.

Back in December last year, European promotion, OKTAGON put on their new years eve show, OKTAGON 38. The event was scheduled to be headlined by current middleweight champion, Patrik Kincl and current light heavyweight champion, Karlos Vemola, but the latter had to pull out of the bout due to a serious health issue. The 37-year-old had serious abrasion on his elbow that resulted in the whole side of his body becoming inflamed.

Due to severe inflammation of his body, his nodes ruptured and caused Vemola’s body a serious problem. Physiotherapist, Pavel Kolar said: “His condition was very serious and his inflammation parameters were very high, so it was almost a life-and-death situation.”

Vemola described the terrifying night he went through in which he detailed doctor Kolar staying in the hospital all night watching him as he was fearful he wouldn’t make it through the night. Despite the doctors advising that he retires from fighting to preserve his health, Vemola decided he wanted to challenge himself at the top again.

On April 15th, Vemola is scheduled to take on Al Matavao at OKTAGON 41 in Liberec, Czech Republic. Not only that, but just over a month later, he is scheduled to take on Patrik Kincl in a rematch, for the OKTAGON middleweight championship.

With a win, Vemola will become the middleweight and light heavyweight champion, but because of his health conditions, it is uncertain that he will get through his fight with Matavao unscathed. Matavao competed on the UFC’s Contender Series in which he was defeated by Tafon Nchukwi. Since his emergence in OKTAGON in 2021, he has fought three times, winning two of those.

The last time Vemola stepped into the cage was back in July of last year at OKTAGON 34. The event was one of the biggest Mixed Martial Arts events ever as it took place on Central Tennis Court, Stvanice.

Vemola’s return will mark his 40th professional fight, spanning over 15 years in the sport. A true warrior and legend of the game.