OKTAGON MMA will crown a brand new welterweight champion on Halloween evening when Amiran Gogoladze meets Felix Klinkhammer at OKTAGON 96. The 170-pound title struggle is ready for Saturday, October 31, at SAP Backyard in Munich, Germany, with Gogoladze carrying an 18-3 document into the matchup in opposition to unbeaten Klinkhammer, 11-0.
Amiran Gogoladze faces Felix Klinkhammer for vacant welterweight title at OKTAGON 96
The belt turned vacant after Kaik Brito left the promotion to pursue one other alternative. Brito had been booked to defend in opposition to Gogoladze in September, however that bout was faraway from the schedule as soon as the Brazilian gave up the title and focused a return to Dana White’s Contender Sequence. The change put two of the division’s most harmful finishers on a collision course as a substitute.
Gogoladze enters the bout as one among OKTAGON‘s established welterweight contenders. The Georgian fighter has received 4 straight beneath the promotion’s banner, a run that features a resolution over former UFC fighter Leandro “Apollo” Silva. His newest outing made a robust case for a title alternative, as he knocked out former champion Ion Surdu within the opening spherical at OKTAGON 86 in Szczecin, Poland, on April 11. Gogoladze landed a proper hook that ended the competition on the 2:34 mark, shifting his skilled document to 18-3.
That end was a significant second for “The Sniper.” Surdu had beforehand held the welterweight belt and arrived with a popularity as one of many division’s extra harmful strikers. Gogoladze will now search to show that breakthrough into his first OKTAGON championship, however Munich presents a totally completely different task.
Klinkhammer is unbeaten in 11 skilled appearances and brings a submission-heavy sport into the title struggle. The London Shootfighters consultant beforehand received the ARES welterweight championship and launched himself to the OKTAGON viewers by submitting former title challenger Máté Kertész within the first spherical. His document contains finishes by heel hook, kneebar, rear-naked choke and arm-triangle choke, which supplies Gogoladze little room to chill out in clinches or scrambles.
Earlier in his profession, Klinkhammer picked up submission wins over Karim Rabei and Wissame Akhmouch, then defeated Jeferson Minotauro by unanimous resolution over 5 rounds at ARES FC 24. That championship-distance expertise could also be helpful if the struggle turns into an extended tactical battle slightly than a fast change.
The matchup presents an easy title-fight distinction as Gogoladze has momentum after placing away a former champion, whereas Klinkhammer has constructed an undefeated document by positional management and submissions. Munich will host OKTAGON for its fifth occasion, and SAP Backyard gives the setting for a brand new identify to take over at welterweight on October 31.
