More daytime MMA happens on Saturday. What a better way to spend the final day of summer than to sit at your computer or with your mobile device in-hand by watching fights. While Cage Warriors 178 happens in Manchester, the Czech Republic is the spot for another crucial card from Oktagon MMA.
Winning Group Arena in Brno serves as the venue for Oktagon 61. Live coverage of the show begins at noon ET/ 9 am PT on DAZN inside the United States. If you’re in the United Kingdom, Channel Four will air Oktagon 61 at 5 pm London time Saturday evening.
All told, barring any late alterations to the bout order, the final version of Oktagon 61 features a full 12-fight card. Highlighting the card will be the semifinals in the Tipsport Gamechanger Lightweight Tournament.
Paradeiser Battles Duque for Last Spot in Final on Saturday
Your main event of the evening is the second semifinal in the 155-lb. bracket. Current Oktagon MMA Lightweight Champion Ronald Paradeiser (20-8 MMA, 14-4 Oktagon) takes on No. 3 contender Acoidan Duque (21-4, 1 NC MMA, 2-0 Oktagon) in the Oktagon 61 main event, though the former’s title is not at stake here, given that the tournament has no bearing on the championship picture.
Its winner advances to the Tipsport Gamechanger Lightweight Final at year’s end to face the survivor of the first semifinal contest between No. 1 contender and current Oktagon MMA Featherweight Champion Losene Keita (14-1 MMA, 8-1 Oktagon) and No. 2 contender Mateusz Legierski (12-1 MMA, 9-0 Oktagon.)
As per the rules of the tournament, these semifinals, including the Oktagon 61 main event, will be a maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round.
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Oktagon 61 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the Oktagon 61 main event on Saturday night, Ronald Paradeiser stands as the taller man at 6-foot-2, compared to the 5-foot-10 frame of Acoidan Duque. The former owns a 62-inch reach, with no such information accessible for the latter at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Ronald Paradeiser installed as a -275 betting favorite on the money line, while Acoidan Duque counters as a +200 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight in MMA and/or combat sports this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Paradeiser Looks to Run Winning Streak to Eight on Saturday
Ronald Paradeiser, who claimed the lightweight title last December during Oktagon 50, has gone 5-0 in his last five fights. Currently, he’s on a seven-fight winning streak.
Both of his wins in the tournament have been confirmed by the scorecards after 15 minutes of action, including his quarterfinal triumph (unanimous decision) over Daniel Torres (15-6, 2 NC MMA, 1-1 Oktagon) on July 20 in Oktagon 59: Summer Party on DAZN.
Paradeiser is a tough fighter to try and defeat. Dispatching seven opponents in a row over the course of the last couple of years will put a target on any fighter’s back, something that isn’t lost on him in a recent video posted to the Oktagon YouTube channel.
“I certainly entered this project hugely motivated to defeat everyone and to prove I’m the best in my division in Europe,” Paradeiser said, translated through onscreen subtitles. “I was born in Slovakia. I like Slovakia. I want to take the Slovak flag as far as I can.”
Remember that he’s only lost four times under the Oktagon MMA promotional banner since joining the active roster in November of 2017. He’s already sent Torres and Attila Korkmaz packing since the Tipsport Gamechanger Tournament began in March. Now that he’s one win away from the final, can Paradeiser end Duque’s run in the 155-lb. bracket in the Oktagon 61 main event?
Duque in Search of Notable Win
In the other corner, Acoidan Duque, a veteran of Bellator MMA, has gone 4-1 in his last five fights. Currently, he’s on a four-fight winning streak.
During Oktagon 58 on June 8, he scored a unanimous decision after three rounds against Mochamad Machaev (14-2, 1 NC MMA, 1-1 Oktagon) on the undercard. During an interview with the Oktagon YouTube channel, he discussed facing Machaev late this past spring.
“I really enjoyed the fight in Czechia,” Duque said, translated into English. “It was fun. The fight went very well for me. Machaev really pushed forward with his jabs. I knew he was the favorite to win, but I believed in myself.”
Unlike Paradeiser, Duque has had a longer layoff by more than a month going into this semifinal fight. A victory over Paradeiser in the Oktagon 61 main event could be the most critical for his career.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
This looks to be another one of those strength vs. strength affairs in the Oktagon 61 main event. Who moves onto the final?
Look for Paradeiser to Take Control
Ronald Paradeiser’s ability to secure the momentum of a fight can tell the story in the Oktagon 61 main event. During his July win vs. Torres, he kept his foot on the gas throughout, repeatedly landing his jab in round two, wobbling Torres in the process, mixing in a kick to the head late in the period.
This pace continued during round three, scoring with another head kick and teeing off with punches to the head against the cage fence. By the fight’s later stages, he’d outpaced Torres by a 123-41 clip. In short, this was one-way traffic from beginning to end.
If Ronald Paradeiser assumes control of the fight early, he’ll be headed to the final at the end of this year.
Watch Duque’s Ground Game
In the other corner, Acoidan Duque has an impressive ground game, as was illustrated in his 2022 fight vs. Helson Henriques. After a pause in the action due to an illegal blow in round one, Duque drove Henriques against the cage fence and secured a takedown. Although Henriques rolled over to assume top position, Duque quickly regained top mount and landed some ground and pound to soften up his opponent.
While Henriques got back to the clinch, Duque dumped him again for another takedown and continued to land punches on the mat, pouring it on as the round neared its close. Duque’s key: Dump Ronald Paradeiser early in the Oktagon 61 main event.
Final Thoughts
Don’t miss the Oktagon 61 main event. This will be an awesome fight to watch.
Prediction: Ronald Paradeiser by Unanimous Decision.
