Even though the UFC won’t be handing out another championship until the end of this month, you won’t have to wait that long for title fights on your TV screen. This Saturday, before UFC Fight Night from the Apex, Frankfurt, Germany is the site for some daytime MMA.
Waldstadion, now known officially as Deutsche Bank Park, usually plays host to Eintracht Frankfurt’s home matches in the Bundesliga, but the venue won’t go dormant or devoid of action this weekend because of the FIFA October hiatus.
A venue normally known for corner kicks will instead play host to head kicks when Oktagon MMA heads to the stadium for Oktagon 62: Bigger Than Ever this Saturday. An audience of more than 58,000 people will head to Deutsche Bank Park to witness the action live.
Inside the United States and Great Britain, Oktagon 62 will be seen at 12 noon ET/ 9 am PT on DAZN, in addition to being shown linearly on Channel Four at 5 pm London time Saturday evening in the UK. Absent of any postponed fights, the final version of Oktagon 62 will feature 11 bouts.
Middleweight Championship Up For Grabs in Oktagon 62 Co-Main Event
There are three title fights to be held during Oktagon 62 on Saturday. After the strawweight championship is settled on the undercard, action shifts to 185 lbs. in the Oktagon 62 co-main event. Incumbent Oktagon MMA Middleweight Champion Patrik Kincl (28-10, 1 NC MMA, 4-0 Oktagon) defends his title against challenger and No. 3 contender Kerim Engizek (20-4 MMA, 2-0 Oktagon.)
As with all MMA title fights in most promotions, the Oktagon 62 co-main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round.
🎥 OKTAGON 62: Unlocked 🎥
In episode two, Patrik Kincl 🇨🇿 and Kerim Engizek 🇹🇷 complete final preparations for their title clash.
Katharina Dalisda 🇩🇪 also puts together her walkout song for inside Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday.
Full episode👇🏼
🔗 https://t.co/wXCWdEGvDB pic.twitter.com/ZvZd7aA9eX— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) October 9, 2024
Oktagon 62 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the Oktagon 62 co-main event on Saturday night, challenger Kerim Engizek stands as the taller man at six feet even, compared to the 5-foot-11 frame of champion Patrik Kincl. The champ owns a 72-inch reach, with no such information accessible for the challenger at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Patrik Kincl installed as a -175 betting favorite, while Kerim Engizek counters as a +130 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Kincl Ready To Go for Oktagon 62 Co-Main Event
Champion Patrik Kincl enters the Oktagon 62 co-main event having posted a record of 4-1 in his last five fights. At present, he’s won four fights in succession.
Last time out, he bested Piotr Wawrzyniak (13-6 MMA, 2-1 Oktagon) by third-round submission (arm-triangle choke) on March 2 during the Oktagon 54 main event. Initially, Kincl was supposed to have returned on June 8 against Matej Penaz (9-1 MMA, 9-0 Oktagon), but the fight was scrubbed due to an injury.
Kincl’s training camp was chronicled in an episode of Oktagon 62 Unlocked.
“I have to say that apart from a few hiccups, the preparation went great,” Kincl said, translated through onscreen subtitles, “but there are always some problems or minor injuries to deal with. Fine-tune the details, familiarize myself with the game plans that are in place.”
He hasn’t fought in almost seven and a half months’ time. With Kincl being given a clean bill of health, can he make it five wins in a row? Tune in on Saturday and find out.
Engizek Gets Title Shot in Third Oktagon Appearance
In the other corner, challenger Kerim Engizek has posted a mark of 5-0 in his last five contests. He’s gotten his hand raised at the end of his last 14 outings dating back to April 18, 2015, with six of those wins coming in championship fights.
Most recently, he scored a first-round knockout (right hook followed by ground and pound shots) during Oktagon 49 versus Adam Horvath (11-9, 0-3 Oktagon) last November. Much like Kincl against Penaz, Engizek was slated to return earlier this year for a fight with Scott Askham (20-7 MMA, 1-1 Oktagon) but the contest was called prior to the show.
Unfortunately, Kerim Engizek 🇹🇷 has suffered an injury and will no longer be competing at OKTAGON 53 in Oberhausen.
We wish him a speedy recovery 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/GAVRyi6gnV
— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) January 29, 2024
In the latest episode of Oktagon 63 Unlocked, the challenger weighed in on the test Kincl brings.
“I see Kincl as one of the strongest at Oktagon at the moment,” Engizek said, translated to English. “His experience, his dominance, his winning streak definitely speaks for itself. It’s going to be a good fight. Everybody is different, every fighting style is different. But like I said, at the end of the day, it’s just me and him in the cage.”
Having six title fight wins during a 14-fight winning streak is an impressive feat, so it’s no wonder why Oktagon would book him for a seventh championship fight in his last 15 contests. Will he be able to bring another title home?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
The Oktagon 62 co-main event looks to be another one of those strength-versus-strength matchups. Who will emerge victorious?
Kincl a Proven Finisher
Numerically speaking, Patrik Kincl has won 20 fights inside the distance, with seven by way of submission, including his victory over Piotr Wawrzyniak last March. During the third round of the contest, the champion got taken down but flipped the script to take back mount and land ground and pound shots before applying the torque for an arm-triangle choke.
Wawrzyniak had no choice but to tap out. Should Kincl find himself on the ground, all he needs is a sliver of daylight to lock up a submission.
Engizek Has One-Punch Power
In the other corner, a recurring theme throughout challenger Kerim Engizek’s current winning streak is his ability to score the knockout. Heading into Saturday’s bout, he’s won five straight fights by that method, including his promotional debut last year against Matias Juarez.
During the first round of a scheduled three, he stalked Juarez before firing off some feint kicks to keep him honest. Upon connecting with a leg kick, he landed a round kick before Juarez moved in on him, making him pay with a crisp jab to knock him down and out right away.
Look for Engizek to go for the jab early in the Oktagon 62 main event. All it takes is one shot on the money.
Final Thoughts
The Oktagon 62 co-main event has the potential to be one of the best fights of the weekend in combat sports. Expect some fireworks on Saturday.
Prediction: Patrik Kincl by Third-Round Submission.
