Kerim Engizek is poised to defend his middleweight championship in a highly anticipated rematch against Krzysztof Jotko at OKTAGON 91 on July 11 in Cologne. This monumental title bout offers Engizek an opportunity to avenge the only defeat of his OKTAGON career. The event will headline a return to the impressive Lanxess Arena, which boasts a capacity of over 18,000 spectators and is recognized as Germany’s largest indoor arena, serving as a crucial venue for the promotion’s German schedule.
Middleweight King Kerim Engizek Faces Krzysztof Jotko in Home Territory at Lanxess Arena
Their initial encounter in January at OKTAGON 82 in Düsseldorf significantly altered the established narrative surrounding the middleweight division’s reigning champion. Engizek entered the Tipsport Gamechanger final boasting a 24-4 professional record and an undefeated streak at middleweight that spanned several years, encompassing both regional German promotions and OKTAGON. His notable victories included triumphs over Dominik Humburger, Kamil Oniszczuk, and former KSW champion Patrik Kincl. Jotko, recognized for his extensive 17-fight tenure in the UFC before joining OKTAGON, participated in the tournament as the most seasoned competitor, carrying the distinction of a ‘Polish veteran’ with a 29-6 record (1 NC).
During that memorable night in Düsseldorf, the fight concluded with a stunning first-round submission. Jotko secured Engizek’s back and expertly applied a rear-naked choke, compelling the German-Turkish champion to tap out and thereby ending his impressive winning streak before his home crowd. This victory earned Jotko the €300,000 prize from the Gamechanger tournament and its accompanying trophy. However, it’s vital to note that the middleweight championship belt was not contested in that particular final. In the subsequent weeks, Engizek revealed that he had entered the fight recovering from a significant hand injury, which he felt had hampered his preparation. This revelation has since become a central theme, portraying the rematch as his opportunity to demonstrate his true capabilities when fully fit.
Jotko’s journey to his initial victory over Engizek solidified his reputation as one of Europe’s most consistent middleweight fighters. Operating out of American Top Team, he navigated the ‘European MMA Champions League’-style Gamechanger bracket, securing decision wins against Ion Surdu and Marek Mazúch. He then utilized his dominant top game against Hojat Khajevand to secure his place in the final. Since his arrival at OKTAGON last year, Jotko has maintained an undefeated record within the promotion, leveraging his extensive experience from competing against top-tier opponents during his UFC career to excel in five-round preparations.
Meanwhile, Engizek retains his status as the official OKTAGON middleweight champion and stands as one of the promotion’s prominent German stars. Representing UFD Gym in Düsseldorf, he has gained recognition within OKTAGON for his formidable knockout power, initially impressing fans with finishes against Matias Juarez and Adam Horvath before demonstrating his endurance in longer championship bouts. The 34-year-old enters the Cologne event with a 24-5 record and has expressed his intention to utilize this rematch to firmly re-establish himself as the division’s premier draw, now that his hand injury has completely healed and his training camp has proceeded without hindrance.
Ondřej Novotný, the promoter and co-owner of OKTAGON, has highlighted OKTAGON 91 as one of the most significant rematches in the promotion’s history. He emphasized that the bout is “meaningful from every perspective,” considering the compelling blend of revenge, validation, and championship implications. Engizek will once again have the chance to defend his title on German home turf, while Jotko aims to depart Cologne not only with the Gamechanger trophy on his record but also with the undisputed OKTAGON middleweight championship belt.
