OKTAGON 37 Results | Kaik Brito becomes new champion with unbelievable performance

OKTAGON 37 took place on Saturday evening, December 3, from Ostrava, Czech Republic and it will go down as one of the European promotion’s best events ever. Two new champions were crowned on the memorable card that saw eight of the eleven bouts finished before the final horn. Close to 11,000 fans watched on to witness highlight-reel finish after highlight-reel finish as new stars emerged for the organisation.

Kaik Brito (16-4) was billed as the most dangerous title challenger David Kozma (30-12) had ever faced and the Brazilian proved exactly that in the evening’s unbelievable main event as he ushered in a new era of the division. Brito’s thunderous strikes hurt ‘Pink Panther’ several times during the contest, but Kozma showed incredible toughness and summoned enough strength to rally in bursts. However, the TKO finish came in the third round when Brito’s power was just too much to handle and he became the first man to defeat Kozma in the organisation, claiming welterweight gold in the process.

The 170lbs weight class will take centre stage throughout 2023 with the launch of the €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger welterweight tournament – the biggest project in OKTAGON MMA history. Sixteen of the best athletes around, both inside and outside of the promotion, will compete in a unique bracket never seen before internationally. More participants will be revealed in the coming weeks, all of whom are intent on showing they are one of the best in Europe. The tournament will kick off on March 4 at OKTAGON 40, also in Ostrava, where all eight first round matches will take place as well as a tournament reserve bout.

In the co-headliner of OKTAGON 37, Mate Sanikidze (9-2) cemented his position as a huge prospect on the continent when he defeated Jakub Tichota (5-1) by split decision to win the vacant featherweight title. The talented duo put on a thrilling fight that went back and forth during the opening rounds, with both men dropping the other. As the bout reached its conclusion, it was the Georgian, Sanikidze, who took over and ended up being one step ahead of his adversary. Despite the loss, Tichota still has a big future in the sport but it was Sanikidze who took a giant step forward in his fledgling career.

Current OKTAGON MMA lightweight champion, Losene Keita, has made it known that he wants to drop down to 145lbs in an attempt to become a double champion. A matchup between himself and Sanikidze would be a massive fight for the promotion and the whole of Europe.

Vlasto Čepo (11-2) continued his intimidating 100% finishing rate by stopping Bellator veteran, Gianni Melillo (14-8), via TKO in the opening frame at middleweight. ‘El Chapo’ has had former kickboxer, Matěj Peňáz, in his sights for some time and made a statement by finishing Melillo, something that Peňáz could not do when he faced the Italian earlier this year. A meeting between the two would guarantee fireworks and OKTAGON MMA fans will hope the fight comes to fruition in the not-too-distant future.

In one of the scariest knockouts of the night, Adam Pałasz (8-1) dispatched of Tadej Dajčman (5-3) in the first round after the pair threw down on the feet. In his post-fight interview, the Pole made it clear that he wanted to be the man to face Hatef Moeil next year for the vacant OKTAGON MMA heavyweight title. Katharina Dalisda (8-3) used her superior grappling to defeat Monika Chochlíková (3-1) by unanimous decision at strawweight and also called for a shot at the vacant belt in her division.

Elsewhere on OKTAGON 37, Al Matavao (10-5) knocked very late replacement, Marek Mazuch (6-2), unconscious at a catchweight of 209lbs in just over two minutes and Ronald Paradeiser (15-8) stopped Felipe Maia (13-7) after only twenty-one seconds in a 161lbs catchweight contest. Former FEN champion, Robert Bryczek (15-5), had a successful return to OKTAGON MMA when he sent Abdel Rahmane Driai (7-2) face first to the canvas in their middleweight bout during the opening round.

OKTAGON 37 Results
 
Main Card
 
Main Event
OKTAGON MMA Welterweight Title
Kaik Brito (16-4) defeated David Kozma (30-12) by TKO (punches) at 4:12 of round three to win the welterweight belt
 
Co-Main Event
Vacant OKTAGON MMA Featherweight Title
Mate Sanikidze (9-2) defeated Jakub Tichota (5-1) by spilt decision (49-46, 47-48, 49-46) to win the featherweight belt
 
Middleweight
Vlasto Čepo (11-2) defeated Gianni Melillo (14-8) by TKO (punches) at 2:30 of round one
 
Catchweight (72kg/159lbs)
Konrad Dyrschka (15-2, 1NC) defeated Jan Široký (12-14, 1NC) by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
 
Catchweight (96kg/212lbs)
Al Matavao (10-5) defeated Marek Mazuch (6-2) by knockout (punches) at 2:02 of round one
 
Preliminary Card
 
Catchweight (73kg/161lbs)
Ronald Paradeiser (15-8) defeated Felipe Maia (13-8) by knockout (punches) at 0:21 of round one
 
Light Heavyweight
Václav Mikulášek (8-10) defeated Petr Bartoněk (2-5) by knockout (punches) at 4:59 of round one
 
Heavyweight
Adam Pałasz (8-1) defeated Tadej Dajčman (5-3) by knockout (punch) at 2:26 of round one
 
Strawweight
Katharina Dalisda (8-3) defeated Monika Chochlíková (3-1) by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
 
Middleweight
Robert Bryczek (15-5) defeated Abdel Rahmane Driai (7-2) by knockout (punches) at 1:25 of round one
 
Lightweight
Matěj Kuzník (18-7) defeated Ozan Aslaner (8-5-1) by TKO (injury) at 3:30 of round one

OKTAGON MMA return for their end-of year spectacular, OKTAGON 38, on Friday 30 December at the O2 Arena, Prague. In one of the biggest fights in promotional history, Patrik Kincl (26-10, 1NC) defends his middleweight title against Czech superstar, Karlos Vémola (33-6), in a champion vs. champion showdown filled with bad blood. Furthermore, Jonas Mågård (14-5) puts his bantamweight title on the line in the co-main event when he rematches clinical finisher, Filip Macek (27-16-1).