Oktagon 69’s thrilling finishes spotlight Central Europe’s MMA boom
Central Europe’s premier promotion returned to Cologne on 30 Aug 2025 for Oktagon 69, a stacked card that demonstrated how far the region’s MMA has come. In the main event, featherweight Max Holzer wore down Turkey’s Deniz Ilbay over four rounds before sinking in a rear‑naked choke at 4:14 of round 4. Holzer’s cardio and grappling edge broke Ilbay’s spirit and cemented the German as a leading contender for the Oktagon title.
The co‑main event delivered a highlight‑reel knockout as Ediz Tasci uncorked a left hook that sent Uwe Schüder sprawling at 2:51 of the opening round. Another German, former UFC veteran Khalid Taha, reminded fans of his punching power by stopping Jose Zarauz in round 2. The trio of finishes electrified the Lanxess Arena and showcased the depth of talent emerging from Germany’s gyms.
Earlier on the main card, Predrag Bogdanović eked out a split decision over Fedor Duric in a back‑and‑forth lightweight battle, while Gjoni Palokaj out‑pointed Marco Novak with crisp boxing and effective takedown defence. Submission specialist Frederic Vosgröne added another tapout to his resume, forcing Jorick Montagnac to concede via triangle choke. On the preliminary card, lightweight veteran Marcel Grabinski returned to form with a decision win, Lucie Pudilová rallied to defeat Rita Jacinto, and Karol Rysavy stunned Michal Kotov with a guillotine choke. Rising prospect Mohammed Walid dominated Artur Zdończyk on the scorecards, while David Hošek wrapped up the night by choking out Jonathan Kerkhove.
Oktagon’s ability to sell out big arenas in Germany reflects the growing appetite for MMA across Central Europe. The promotion has created local stars, nurtured ex‑UFC fighters and built a strong feeder system through its reality‑show format. Oktagon 69 not only delivered dramatic finishes but also provided a glimpse of future title challengers. For fans craving world‑class action beyond the UFC and PFL, Oktagon continues to deliver.
