OKTAGON closed out the year on December 29 with a memorable night of action from the O2 Arena in Prague. OKTAGON 65 was one of the promotion's best cards to date but most significantly, the fights delivered and saw major changes to the current MMA title scene.
Three championships changed hands during the promotion's final event of 2024, which culminated with a blockbuster main event. Losene Keita delivered what many considered to be his most impressive performance, decisively defeating Ronald Paradeiser to capture the lightweight championship. The fast and explosive striker outclassed Paradeiser, showcasing his skills as he finished the fight by TKO halfway through the second round.
Keita's victory was notable not only for its significance but also for being the culmination of the Tipsport Gamechanger Tournament. The matchup was promoted as highly competitive, featuring the two best pound-for-pound fighters within the promotion, but it was Keita, nicknamed "Black Panther," who established dominance on the night.
Meanwhile, the co-main event showcased another thrilling fight, as Will Fleury continued his outstanding run within OKTAGON by dethroning Czech MMA icon Karlos Vémola through a commanding performance. The bout stood out for its one-sided nature, with Fleury convincingly winning every round via unanimous decision, with scorecards reflecting the disparity at 50-44 from all judges. The Irish fighter's showcase of superior skills was evident as he dominated both stand-up exchanges and grappling sequences against "The Terminator" Vémola.
Cecilie Bolander, stepping up on short notice, managed to reclaim her bantamweight title against Lucie Pudilová. After suffering a previous loss to Pudilová, Bolander's determination shone through as she rallied strongly during the final round, where she secured the judges' decision with scores of 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47. This victory marked not just her title win but also demonstrated her resilience and adaptability as seasoned fighter.
Another highlight of the night was Igor Severino's debut, where he faced former champion Jonas Mågård. Severino's performance was impressive, edging out Mågård by split decision with scores of 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28. His strong showing has begun to suggest great potential for the newcomer within the promotion.
The main card opened with Daniel Schwindt overcoming Radovan Úškrt. A thrilling back-and-forth exchange ensued until Schwindt turned the tide and secured the finishing TKO early in the second round, demonstrating his growth as a fighter.
The preliminary card also only added to this event’s excitement. Agy Sardari impressed with his submission win over Ognjen Dimić, finishing via rear-naked choke early in the second round, showcasing the promising talent aspiring within the ranks. Other preliminary results included Ozan Aslaner's tightly contested split decision victory against Jakub Tichota, along with notable decisions from Peter Gabal over Benny Bajrami and Marco Novák against Eemil Kurhela, reiterative of the night’s overall depth.
Overall, OKTAGON 65 provided not just thrilling matches but also shifted the competitive dynamics within the organization by introducing new champions and elevates several fighters’ careers.
Following this action-packed event, holders of the divisional titles have shifted, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next season and its upcoming matchups director released future dates, hinting at more remarkable achievements to come.