Another great spring afternoon is on tap, but not everybody’s going to be outside. MMA fans have good reason to stay indoors today because DAZN has some live fights on tap beginning at 12 noon ET/ 9 am PT with Oktagon MMA‘s Oktagon 56. Today’s card originates from Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England. All told, 12 fights will be held before this show goes in the history books.
Main Event
Your Oktagon 56 main event sees the promotion’s vacant flyweight championship at stake when Cage Warriors alums do battle. No. 1 contender Aaron Aby (16-8-1 MMA, 1-1 Oktagon MMA) returns to the promotion to take on Sam Creasey (18-5 MMA, Oktagon MMA promotional debut), onetime 125-lb. titleholder in Cage Warriors. This fight is an advertised five rounds at five minutes per round.
🏆 Vacant Flyweight Title 🏆
The OKTAGON 56 headliner for gold is official!
Aaron Aby – 56.5kg/125lbs ✅
Sam Creasey – 56.5kg/125lbs ✅Who leaves Birmingham tomorrow night as the champion?
Buy your tickets now👇🏼
🎫 https://t.co/M4HFmc9Pma pic.twitter.com/wwm39Kjyiq— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) April 19, 2024
Co-Main Event
Immediately ahead of the main event, the Tipsport Gamechanger Lightweight Tournament will continue with an opening-round fight between Akonne Wanliss (7-2, 1 NC MMA, 1-0, 1 NC Oktagon) and Sahil Siraj (9-2 MMA, Oktagon MMA promotional debut.) This fight had been scheduled to occur on March 2 during Oktagon 54 but was postponed to today after Wanliss ran afoul of his opponent’s coach.
Rest of the Card
Also happening on today’s show is a contracted catchweight (150 lbs.) between Shem Rock (9-1-1 MMA, 1-0-1 Oktagon MMA) and Stefano Catacoli (7-1 MMA, 1-0 Oktagon MMA), a light heavyweight fixture matching Daniel Skvor (7-3 MMA, 6-3 Oktagon MMA) and Will Fleury (11-3, 1 NC MMA, Oktagon MMA promotional debut,) a welterweight affair versing Andrej Kalasnik (10-5 MMA, 6-4 Oktagon MMA) and Liam Etebar (8-3 MMA, 0-1 Oktagon MMA), and a lightweight contest between George Staines (1-0 MMA, 1-0 Oktagon MMA) and Tomas Ciganik (1-1 MMA, Oktagon MMA promotional debut).
Oktagon 56 Results:
Main Card: (3 pm ET/ noon PT, DAZN)
Main Event: Sam Creasey def. Aaron Aby by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45,) wins Vacant Oktagon MMA Flyweight Championship.
Co-Main Event: Akonne Wanliss def. Sahil Siraj by TKO (Punch) at 0:48 into Round 1. Tipsport Gamechanger Lightweight Tournament Opening Round
Shem Rock def. Stefano Catacoli by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:47 into Round 1. Catchweight: 150 lbs.
Will Fleury def. Daniel Skvor by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at 1:14 into Round 2.
Andrej Kalasnik def. Liam Etebar by TKO (Punches) at 0:43 into Round 1.
George Staines def. Tomas Ciganik by Unanimous Decision (29-26, 29-27, 29-27).
Prelims: (noon ET/ 9 am PT, DAZN)
Featured Prelim: James Hendin def. Jakub Dohnal by TKO (Punches) at 4:43 into Round 2.
Co-Featured Prelim: Denis Frimpong def. Callum Mullen by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)
Mick Stanton def. Kamil Wojciechowski by TKO (Punches) at 4:01 into Round 3.
Ammari Diedrick def. Daniel Hromek by TKO (Punches) at 4:56 into Round 1.
Bakhtyaar Oryakhail def. Mbaye Gaye by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:04 into Round 3. Catchweight: 157 lbs.
Aitana Alvarez def. Megan Morris by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26.)
