OKTAGON kicks off 2026 with one of the most anticipated fights in European MMA history. On January 17, the PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany will host the grand final of the Tipsport Gamechanger middleweight tournament, pitting reigning champion Kerim Engizek against former UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko in a match for 300,000 euros and the title of Europe’s best middleweight.
Kerim Engizek vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Engizek, 34, representing Turkey and Germany from the UFD Gym in Dusseldorf, entered the tournament as OKTAGON middleweight champion and has extended an undefeated streak that has now lasted about a decade. His road to the finals 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 OCTAGON 77 in October, which immediately earned Fight of the Year consideration
The Humburger battle became the decisive moment of Engizek’s campaign. The video contains extensive footage from that match, showing Engizek taking heavy damage in the first round, breaking his nose and hand, but still rallying to win a unanimous decision (29–28 on all three scorecards). Post-fight medical evaluation indicated that the hand would take four to six weeks to heal properly, although Engizek stated that he had regained almost full mobility within a week. He describes the injury and comeback in motivational terms throughout the promo, repeatedly referencing his difficult upbringing and describing himself as “a hungry lion” who refuses to return to poverty.
Jotko, 36, a Polish fighter now based in Florida, compiled a UFC record of 11-6 between 2013 and 2022 and is ranked No. 37 in the world in the middleweight division. He joined OKTAGON in 2025 and went 3-0 in the promotion. He defeated Ion Surdu via unanimous decision in the opening round of the tournament, stopped Marek Mazúch by TKO in the third round in the quarterfinals on OKTAGON 74 and defeated Hojat Khajevand via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) in the semifinals on OKTAGON 77. Jotko missed weight for the Khajevand fight but was allowed to continue while the reserve fight met alternated
The winner of Engizek vs. Jotko receives 300,000 euros and the Tipsport Gamechanger crown, while the number two receives 130,000 euros. In addition to the prize money, the fight will determine who can legitimately claim to be Europe’s top middleweight, a distinction both men have publicly pursued. For Engizek, victory on home soil in Dusseldorf extends his unbeaten streak to an eleventh year and cements his status as OKTAGON’s big German star. For Jotko, winning marks the biggest achievement of his post-UFC career and maintains his perfect record in Europe
OKTAGON 82 features a reserve bout from the Gamechanger tournament, with Daniel Ligocki now facing David Zawada after original opponent Dominik Humburger withdrew due to health concerns. Other notable matchups include lightweight contender Gjoni Palokaj (12-3) against Cage Warriors veteran James Hendin (10-3), and a heavyweight clash between Marc Doussis (9-5) and Yevhenii Orlov (9-1), both of whom have achieved all of their victories by finishes.
Positioning this as the opening salvo of their 2026 season and a statement event for the promotion’s position in the global MMA hierarchy, OKTAGON returns to Dusseldorf, where Engizek has historically drawn large crowds. Doors open on January 17 at 5:00 PM local time. The main card is expected to start around 6pm and run until around 11pm. The event will be available live via pay-per-view on OKTAGON.tv.
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