On the eve of the final MMA event of the year Oktagon 65, the European promotion have announced the lineup for next year’s million dollar middleweight tournament.
Full Lineup For Tipsport Gamechanger Million Dollar Tournament Revealed
Oktagon MMA has proven a welcome addition to the European mixed martial arts scene over the past couple of years. The Czech-based promotion have made a huge splash by putting on massive events in front of sold-out crowds all over the continent, with a particular highlight being October’s Oktagon 62 which took place before a crowd of 59,148 in Frankfurt, Germany.
As they prepare to close out 2024 in Prague this Sunday by treating fans to three world title fights, the promotion has announced the full list of participants for what they call their “European MMA Champions League”…their middleweight grand prix which carries a prize of $1 million for the eventual winner.
Let’s take a look at some of stars lined up to take part in the million dollar tournament.
💰 Tipsport Gamechanger 3 💰
The first round for the €1 million European MMA Champions League at middleweight is set!
🇨🇿 Peňáz vs. Zawada 🇩🇪
🇲🇩 Surdu vs. Jotko 🇵🇱
🇸🇰 Čepo vs. Kartal 🇦🇹
🇵🇱 Wawrzyniak vs. Mazúch 🇸🇰
🇨🇿 Petrášek vs. Stanton 🏴
🇸🇰 ‘Pirát’ vs. Wildcard ❓
🇬🇷… pic.twitter.com/nIRWMe1gmy— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) December 28, 2024
Kerim Engizek
Kerim Engizek (21-4) is the newly-crowned middleweight champion within the promotion, with the Turk having overcome previous champion Patrik Kincl at the aforementioned stadium show in Germany in October.
The 33-year-old, who fights out of the famed UFD Gym in Germany, is a relative newcomer to Oktagon, having appeared just three times within the promotion so far, and will enter the million dollar tournament with a target on his back.
Krzysztof Jotko
Krzysztof Jotko (25-6), a 17-fight UFC veteran who competed inside the Oktagon from 2013 to 2022 has signed with Oktagon and will partake in the tournament, it has been revealed this week.
The Polish middleweight, who holds victories over Gerald Meerschaert, Eryk Anders and Misha Cirkunov, fought once inside the PFL smartcage and once under the FNC banner since his release from the UFC (where he amassed an 11-6 record) and will debut in the opening stages of the tournament early in 2025.
Matěj Peňáz
Matěj Peňáz (9-1) is the hottest rising star on the Oktagon roster, with the 28-year-old Czech fighter having won all nine of his fights since transitioning from the world of professional Muay Thai and kickboxing.
“Money” fought just once in 2024, where he completely dominated former Cage Warriors champion Matt Bonner on the way to a second-round TKO victory at Oktagon 52 last January.
Ion Surdu
Ion Surdu (16-6), who clinched the Oktagon welterweight title in spectacular fashion just a few weeks ago when he knocked out Kaik Brito in the opening round of their Oktagon 64 main event, will make the jump up to 185 lbs to challenge for all the marbles in the million dollar tournament next year.
The Moldovan will square off against Krzysztof Jotko in the opening round of the tournament.
Mick Stanton
Former Cage Warriors middleweight champion Mick Stanton (13-8) got his Oktagon career off to a winning start last April with a third-round knockout win over Kamil Wojciechowski in Birmingham, England.
The Liverpool native will compete against Miloš Petrášek at Oktagon 67 in February.
David Zawada
Another UFC veteran, David Zawada (19-10), who memorably submitted Abubakar Nurmagomedov via triangle choke back in 2019 will also take part in the tournament. The German veteran brings a wealth of experience having also fought in numerous elite promotions such as KSW and the PFL throughout his storied career.
The Tipsport Gamechanger opening round matchups of the million dollar tournament will take place across three events, with eleven countries represented, and are as follows:
OKTAGON 66 in Düsseldorf, Germany, on February 1
Kerim Engizek (21-4) vs. Anthony Salamone (8-2)
Matěj Peňáz (9-1) vs. David Zawada (19-10)
OKTAGON 67 in Třinec, Czech Republic, on February 22
Piotr Wawrzyniak (13-6) vs. Marek Mazúch (9-2)
Miloš Petrášek (13-7) vs. Mick Stanton (13-8)
OKTAGON 70 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, on April 26
Vlasto Čepo (12-3) vs. Erhan Kartal (12-2)
‘Pirát’ Krištofič (17-6) vs. Wildcard (TBC)
Events to be confirmed
Ion Surdu (16-6) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (25-6, 1NC)
Andreas Michailidis (16-8) vs. Mark Hulme (12-3)
