This weekend, it’ll be the first Saturday in the month of May. Inside the United States, that means one thing: Thousands of spectators will converge on Churchill Downs for this year’s running of the Kentucky Derby. Not everybody will be watching a five-hour television program for what amounts to a two-minute equestrian extravaganza, however.
Before the Run for the Roses commences, you’ll have live MMA to watch on Saturday. Czech Republic-based Oktagon MMA makes a return visit to Frankfurt, Germany at Festhalle for Oktagon 57. Live coverage of Oktagon 57 will be shown gavel-to-gavel on DAZN inside the United States beginning at noon ET/ 9 am PT.
If you’re in the United Kingdom, Oktagon 57 will be aired on Channel 4 starting at 5 pm London time Saturday evening. All told, the final version of Oktagon 57 will feature a full 12-fight card (absent of any late postponements or cancellations between now and fight day.)
Catchweight Fight Focus of New Oktagon 57 Main Event
Highlighting the activities is a contracted catchweight at 176 lbs. in the new Oktagon 57 main event. Originally slated to be the co-headlining bout, Christian Eckerlin (15-6, 1 NC MMA, 2-1, 1 NC Oktagon) battles Miroslav Broz (17-3-1 MMA, 7-3 Oktagon). This contest was elevated to the headlining spot after the original main event for the Oktagon MMA Heavyweight Championship between titlist Hatef Moeli (15-4 MMA, 4-0 Oktagon) and No. 1 contender Stuart Austin (18-8 MMA, 2-0 Oktagon) was withdrawn due to the former sustaining an elbow injury.
The new Oktagon 57 main event will be an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
🚨 Frankfurt, we are coming back! 🚨
We return to the iconic Festhalle Frankfurt on May 4 for OKTAGON 57.
German MMA superstar, Christian Eckerlin (15-6, 1NC) 🇩🇪 takes on Miroslav Brož (17-3-1) 🇨🇿 in a huge feature bout.
Register for ticket presale👇🏼
🎫 https://t.co/pvFrzlZV9S pic.twitter.com/3NFht4EDgE— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) February 11, 2024
Oktagon 57 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the Oktagon 57 main event on Saturday, Christian Eckerlin stands as the taller man at 5-foot-11, compared to the 5-foot-10 frame of Miroslav Broz. The latter owns a 2.6-inch reach advantage (73.6 inches to 71 inches even.)
Currently, the oddsmakers have installed Christian Eckerlin as a -175 favorite on the money line, while Miroslav Broz counters as a +130 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Eckerlin with Important “Home Game” on Saturday in Oktagon 57 Main Event
Christian Eckerlin enters the Oktagon 57 main event this weekend having gone 3-1 with one no-contest over his last five fights. Most recently, he dropped a unanimous decision after three rounds to PFL alum Leandro Silva (28-11, 1 NC MMA, 4-2 Oktagon) during Oktagon 49 on Nov. 18 last year in Cologne.
Eckerlin will certainly have the support of his fellow countrymen and the hometown fans working for him on Saturday since Oktagon 57 will take place in Frankfurt, where his fight camp is based. This is a man who was on a nine-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2017 before his defeat to Silva late last year.
After losing to a 39-fight veteran on home soil, another fight with the locals in the audience could be the thing he needs to get back in the win column. Can he score a victory over the weekend in the Oktagon 57 main event?
Broz Looking to Ride Momentum of Eight-Fight Unbeaten Streak
In the other corner, Miroslav Broz has posted a record of 5-0 in his last five fights. All told, he hasn’t been defeated in his last eight fights. To find the last time that he didn’t get his hand raised at the end of a fight, you’d have to travel back to Dec. 30, 2020 in Oktagon 20.
That night, he dropped a split decision at the hands of Jan Malach (16-14 MMA, 3-5 Oktagon.) Since then, he hasn’t missed a beat. Other than a draw versus Adam Niedzwiedz (8-4-1 MMA) in December of 2021, he’s emerged victorious every time, including his latest triumph against Tom Crosby (8-4-1 MMA, 0-1 Oktagon) on Feb. 10.
If he is to walk away the victor here, he’ll have to do so while tuning out a hostile crowd. It’s hard enough knowing that Miroslav Broz had his fight elevated to main event status on short notice.
It’s even more daunting when he knows he’s going into enemy territory on Saturday. Will he make the crowd go home unhappy?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
It’ll be another toss-up in the Oktagon 57 main event on Saturday night. Both of these guys can finish their assignments before the final bell.
Watch For Eckerlin’s Rear-Naked Chokes
Christian Eckerlin can be brutal when the fight gets to the ground. In the first round of his fight vs. John Palaiologos, after a pause in the action due to a low blow, Eckerlin took Palaiologos to the canvas and transitioned to side control before softening him up with ground and pound shots.
It was only a formality, but Eckerlin applied the torque to lock up a rear-naked choke in under three minutes. If Christian Eckerlin can use ground and pound strikes to his advantage, it’ll give him the opening he needs to secure the submission.
Broz Vicious With Punches
In the other corner, Miroslav Broz can use his fists to get the job done. One need look no further than his contest against Denis Farkas last year.
Round two saw the fighters trade shots, but Broz moved in on Farkas and completed a takedown, landing some crisp ground and pound strikes. The onslaught proved to be too much for Denis Farkas to handle and the referee waved it off in a minute and 42 seconds.
Miroslav Broz’ key in the Oktagon 57 main event this weekend: Beat Christian Eckerlin to the takedown. If he dumps Eckerlin first, it’s his world.
Final Thoughts
Although no championship will be at stake like originally advertised in Oktagon 57 on Saturday, the main event of the evening looks to be a good one nonetheless. Consider it a satisfying start to a day-night doubleheader of MMA.
Prediction: Miroslav Broz by Second-Round Knockout.
