Oktagon 41: Title unification bout takes center stage in Liberec

Fast-rising European promotion Oktagon is all set for another packed night of fights as the Czech-Slovak organization heads to Liberec, Czech Republic for Oktagon 41.

Headlining the event is a hotly-anticipated bantamweight title unification clash between defending champion Jonas Magard and interim champion, Gustavo Lopez.

Magard has been on top of the Oktagon bantamweight division since his second bout for the organization, where he defeated Filip Macek by unanimous decision to capture the 135-pound belt in November 2021.

The Dane, who trains out of Manchester Top Team in England, was all set to put his title on the line in a return bout with Macek last year only for a broken cheekbone ruled him out of action just 10 days before fight night in Prague.

Now Magard is back to full fitness and ready to go, and plans to cement his position as the promotion’s premier bantamweight by defeating former Combate Americas champion Lopez, who stepped in to face Macek at Oktagon 38 and promptly captured the interim title with a first-round guillotine choke submission victory.

“The Terminator” returns

The co-main event sees the return of one of the biggest stars on the Oktagon roster.

Reigning Oktagon light heavyweight champion Karlos Vemola was all set to face middleweight champ Patrik Kincl in a bid to become a simultaneous two-division champion, but those plans were shelved when Vemola was hospitalized with a serious illness that left “The Terminator” fighting for his life.

Vemola eventually recovered, and has been working his way back to full fight fitness. Now he’s ready to return to action and, with his planned tilt at Kincl’s middleweight title now set for May 20, Vemola will look to get back to full speed with a catchweight matchup against Contender Series veteran Al Matavao, who is looking to capture his third straight victory under the Oktagon banner.

Also set for action in Liberec are heavyweight contenders Adam Paladz and Lazar Todev, while former kickboxing star Daniel Skvor takes on bare-knuckle boxer Dan Vinni in what should be a lively stand-up battle at light heavyweight.

The event will also see the return of fan-favorite Vaclav “Baba Jaga” Mikulasek.

The event streams live on DAZN and via Oktagon.tv.