OKTAGON kicks off 2026 with one of the crucial anticipated fights in European MMA historical past. On January 17 on the PSD Financial institution Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, the promotion phases the grand finale of the Tipsport Gamechanger middleweight match, with reigning champion Kerim Engizek going through former UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko in a conflict for 300,000 euros and the title of Europe’s prime middleweight.
Kerim Engizek vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Engizek, 34, representing Turkey and Germany out of Düsseldorf’s UFD Gym, entered the tournament as OKTAGON middleweight champion and has extended an unbeaten run that now stretches approximately ten years. His road to the final included a unanimous decision over Kamil Oniszczuk at OKTAGON 66 in February 2025, a first-round TKO of former Cage Warriors champion Mick Stanton at OKTAGON 74 in August, and a brutal three-round war with Dominik Humburger at OKTAGON 77 in October that earned speedy “Struggle of the Yr” consideration.
The Humburger battle turned the defining second of Engizek’s marketing campaign. The video contains prolonged footage of that contest, displaying Engizek absorbing heavy harm within the first spherical, breaking his nostril and his hand, but rallying to win a unanimous determination (29-28 throughout all three scorecards). Put up-fight medical analysis revealed the hand would wish 4 to 6 weeks to heal correctly, although Engizek acknowledged he regained almost full mobility inside every week. He frames the harm and comeback in motivational phrases all through the promo, repeatedly referencing his troublesome upbringing and describing himself as “a hungry lion” who refuses to return to poverty.
Jotko, 36, a Polish fighter now based mostly in Florida, compiled an 11-6 UFC report between 2013 and 2022 and sits at world rating quantity 37 within the middleweight division. He entered OKTAGON in 2025 and has gone 3-0 within the promotion, defeating Ion Surdu by way of unanimous determination within the match’s opening spherical, stopping Marek Mazúch by third-round TKO within the quarterfinals at OKTAGON 74, and edging Hojat Khajevand by way of unanimous determination (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) within the semifinals at OKTAGON 77. Jotko missed weight for the Khajevand battle however was permitted to proceed because the reserve bout alternate.
The winner of Engizek vs. Jotko collects 300,000 euros and the Tipsport Gamechanger crown, whereas the runner-up receives 130,000 euros. Past the prize cash, the battle determines who can legitimately declare to be Europe’s primary middleweight, a distinction each males have publicly pursued. For Engizek, victory on dwelling soil in Düsseldorf extends his unbeaten streak into an eleventh yr and solidifies his standing as OKTAGON’s marquee German star. For Jotko, profitable delivers the most important accomplishment of his post-UFC profession and maintains his good report in Europe.
OKTAGON 82 features a reserve bout from the Gamechanger match, with Daniel Ligocki now going through David Zawada after authentic opponent Dominik Humburger withdrew as a consequence of well being points. Different featured matchups embody light-weight contender Gjoni Palokaj (12-3) in opposition to Cage Warriors veteran James Hendin (10-3), and a heavyweight conflict between Marc Doussis (9-5) and Yevhenii Orlov (9-1), each of whom have received all their victories by end.
OKTAGON positions this because the opening salvo of their 2026 season and an announcement occasion for the promotion’s standing within the world MMA hierarchy, returning to Düsseldorf the place Engizek has traditionally drawn massive crowds. Doorways open at 5:00 PM native time on January 17, with the principle card anticipated to start round 6:00 PM and run by means of roughly 11:00 PM. The occasion is on the market stay by way of pay-per-view on OKTAGON.tv.
