Exclusive | Aaron Aby on facing UFC’s Zhalgas Zhumagulov: Ready to Exploit “Weaknesses”

aaron aby vs Zhalgas ZhumagulovAt Oktagon 63 upcoming on November 9, the Welsh-born Aaron Aby is set to face former UFC fighter Zhalgas…

aaron aby vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov

At Oktagon 63 upcoming on November 9, the Welsh-born Aaron Aby is set to face former UFC fighter Zhalgas Zhumagulov. The MMA veteran Aby explained that he is well-prepared for this matchup and has done his homework.

Aaron Aby vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov

Zhalgas Zhumagulov is a veteran MMA fighter originally from Kazakhstan. He had close matchups in the UFC and has since picked up multiple wins since walking away from the organization. With a win against Aby, it is highly likely he would compete for gold in Oktagon.

Aaron Aby is a cancer survivor and was born with Cystic Fibrosis. After a decade of competing in MMA, he is ready to take on one of the toughest tests of his career as he soon will face Zhalgas Zhumagulov.

Zhalgas Zhumagulov

In an interview with LowKickMMA, Aaron Aby discussed his match against Zhalgas Zhumagulov and said:

“I do watch tape; I’m also a coach at my own gym, so I’m always studying opponents. I’ve watched him, studied his weaknesses, and I’ve identified areas where I think I’ll have the advantage.”

Aby is ready to leave an impact on the MMA world. He added:

I haven’t had time off from the gym, and I feel like I’m improving every day. I’m getting older, but I’m still progressing. This fight’s a tough one, but I feel like I’m ready.

Zhalgas Zhumagulov is set to make his debut on November 9 in Oktagon, but the former Welsh footballer Aby is coming to spoil his introduction to the organization.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira – Odds and Match Preview

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira PFLFrancis Ngannou is set to make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi…

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira PFL

Francis Ngannou is set to make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This highly anticipated heavyweight bout will headline the PFL: Battle of the Giants event.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira – Odds

The betting odds for the Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira fight heavily favor Ngannou. According to the opening with the best sports betting sites with jaxon right here, Ngannou is set as a solid favorite at -298, while Ferreira is the underdog at +240. 

This means that if you were to bet $100 on Ngannou, you would potentially win about $33.56 (plus your original stake), whereas a $100 bet on Ferreira could net you $240 (plus your original stake) if he wins.

This is likely due to Ngannou’s reputation as a former UFC heavyweight champion and his recent high-profile boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which have kept him in the spotlight despite his absence from MMA.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Match Preview

The former UFC heavyweight champion is returning to MMA after a brief stint in professional boxing. Francis Nagnnou is known for his devastating knockout power. He has not competed in MMA since January 2022, when he successfully defended his UFC title against Ciryl Gane.

After leaving the UFC due to contract disputes, Ngannou ventured into boxing, facing Tyson Fury in a closely contested match and later Anthony Joshua in a bout that ended in a knockout loss.

Renan Ferreira, on the other hand, is the reigning PFL heavyweight champion. ‘Problema’ Ferreira has been active in MMA, fighting eight times since Ngannou’s last MMA bout, winning most of these by way of knockout.

He secured his position as Ngannou’s challenger by winning the 2023 PFL Championships and recently defeated Bellator champion Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds.

Both fighters have expressed respect for each other, with Ngannou acknowledging Ferreira’s unique abilities and Ferreira recognizing the significance of this fight for his career. This match is expected to end by way of knockout one way or another. 

This fight marks the return to MMA for Francis Ngannou and his debut in the PFL, where he also holds a position as chairman and equity owner in PFL Africa. A victory would solidify his status as one of the world’s top heavyweights across multiple combat sports. For Ferreira, defeating a former UFC champion of Ngannou’s caliber would significantly boost his profile in the MMA world.

Francis Ngannou PFL 1
Photo By Tim Wheaton

This main event is supported by an impressive undercard, including a women’s featherweight bout between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco. Live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 19, it is expected to be an explosive night in MMA history.

Christian Eckerlin Crowned the King of Germany After a Dominant Five-Round Performance at Oktagon 62

Christian EckerlinChristian Jungwirth and Christian Eckerlin battled for the King of Germany title at Oktagon 62, in front of a…

Christian Eckerlin

Christian Jungwirth and Christian Eckerlin battled for the King of Germany title at Oktagon 62, in front of a sold-out audience of 60,000 fans in Frankfurt, Germany. After five rounds of action, Christian Eckerlin was crowned the King of Germany.

Christian Jungwirth vs. Christian Eckerlin

Germany’s Eckerlin had a solid opening round controlling the pace against the German-born Jungwirth. The two opened trading punches in round 2 but Jungwirth controlled the center and continuously pushed the pace until a cut interrupted the pace which required a check from the referee. Eckerlin found a solid right-hand counter but ate a hook from Jungwirth and the two began to trade. Even on the back foot, Eckerlin was able to find much success with knees and counterpunches.

Jungwirth came out aggressive in the third round throwing punching combos with body kicks. Eckerlin secured a takedown and began to work from half guard but struggled against the wrist control and knee shield from Jungwirth. With top position and side mount, Eckerlin was able to maintain control for the majority of the round as he varied ground and pound and submission threats.

Tripling up the jab, Christian Eckerlin was finding success in round 4. Mixing jabs into crosses and even attacking the body. Sharp punches continued to find a home against Jungwirth. Eckerlin secured a takedown and got on the back of his opponent at the halfway point of the round. Jungwirth attempted to work back to his feet but was constantly dragged back down.

In the fifth and final round, Christian Jungwirth pursued his opponent aggressively aiming for a knockout win. But the double and triple jab from Eckerlin controlled the match even on the backfoot. Ducking low, Eckerlin dashes to the inside and secured a takedown.

Across all judges’ scorecards, Christian Eckerlin won each round of the five round matchup.

Oktagon 62 Results

Christian Eckerlin def. Christian Jungwirth via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
Kerim Engizek def. Patrik Kincl via unanimous decision – Oktagon MMA middleweight championship
Max Coga def. Antun Ra?i? via KO. 1:40 of Round 2.
Niko Samsonidse def. Daniel Torres via submission (rear-naked choke). 4:06 of Round 2.
Lazar Todev def. Adam Pa?asz via TKO. 2:19 of Round 2.
Max Holzer def. Mohammed Sadok Trabelsi via TKO. 1:23 of Round 3.
Mallory Martin def. Katharina Dalisda via unanimous decision. — Oktagon MMA women’s strawweight championship
Magomed Machaev def. James Hendin via unanimous decision.
Will Fleury def. Pavol Langer via KO. 1:31 of Round 1.
Hafeni Nafuka def. Arijan Topallaj via unanimous decision.
Deniz Ilbay def. Michael Deiga-Scheck via TKO. 3:19 of Round 1.

Mallory Martin uncrowns Katharina Dalisda to capture the strawweight title at Oktagon 62

Mallory Martin Oktagon 62At Oktagon 62, Katharina Dalisda looked to defend her Oktagon strawweight crown against UFC veteran Mallory Martin. This title…

Mallory Martin Oktagon 62

At Oktagon 62, Katharina Dalisda looked to defend her Oktagon strawweight crown against UFC veteran Mallory Martin. This title match took place in front of a whopping 60,000 live audience at the Deutsche Bank Park, in Frankfurt, Germany.

Katharina Dalisda vs. Mallory Martin Results

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, ‘Tigress’ Katharina Dalisda had the hometown crowd on her side heading into this rematch, the live audience audibly behind her. Katharina Dalisda has been unbeaten for the past three years and was also the first German champion in Oktagon history.

The two fighters originally met in 2022 with Dalisda getting to nod over Martin. At Oktagon 62, Mallory Martin was looking to avenge this loss.

Oktagon 62 Results

Mallory Martin was landing punching combinations and counterstrikes with authority in round 1. A counterpunch from the US-born athlete nearly made the German fighter stumble. A bloodied Dalisda went for a takedown and had to fight off an armbar attempt from the title challenger.

Round 2 saw the German champion landing single punches from range and mixing high and low, plus attacking with an inside leg kick. Martin found success with a powerful right hand and a solid 1-2. In the last 90 seconds, Dalisda ducked under a right hand and succeeded in a takedown but Martin was able to work her way back to her feet.

The counterpunching game for Mallory Martin seemed to be on point as the fight continued into round 3. Dalisda struggled to find an opening.

Dalisda put her opponent against the fence to kick off the fourth round, looking for a takedown but not succeeding. Afterward, the German fighter pushed forward and Mallory Martin was going backward and landing counterpunches. Martin went for a takedown and Dalisda tried for an armbar but could not lock it in. With Martin in top position, she was unable to pass guard.

Knowing she was likely behind on the scorecards, the German champion tried to land a flying knee and then dived for takedowns, but neither were successful. The sharp counter game continued to be successful for the US-born title challenger Mallory Martin, she even succeeded in earning a takedown.

Mallory Martin def. Katharina Dalisda by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-54) – To Earn the Oktagon Strawweight World Title

Exclusive | Katharina Dalisda Talks Transformation of MMA in Germany Ahead of Oktagon 62

Katharina Dalisda Oktagon 62The German-born MMA fighter Katharina Dalisda will be looking to defend her world title in her hometown in front…

Katharina Dalisda Oktagon 62

The German-born MMA fighter Katharina Dalisda will be looking to defend her world title in her hometown in front of 60,000 screaming fans at Oktagon 62. This stadium event in Frankfurt, Germany, has shown how much the attitude of MMA has changed in Germany over the past decade.

Katharina Dalisda on German MMA

Katharina Dalisda had a background in Judo but never intended to compete in MMA, she was just looking for a good workout. Fast forward, now, she holds a world title in Oktagon and will be battling in front of a record-breaking audience live from Deutsche Bank Park, a massive stadium.

Speaking in an interview, she explained:

“I did judo for about 17 years. Then I stopped and did endurance sports for two years, like triathlons and running. I found it a bit boring and wanted more action. I met someone at the running track; we were both doing a half marathon, and we didn’t know each other. We started talking while running, and he said he was doing kickboxing. That piqued my interest. Yes, it’s kind of crazy! But training is fun. It became a true passion for me.”

Katharina Dalisda Tim Wheaton Oktagon 62

UFC 99 was hosted in Germany and the country was not welcoming of the new sport, painting it as a bloody affair with street toughs. Now, Oktagon will be hosting a major event in Frankfurt after investing in the nation. On this shift, Katharina Dalisda explained:

“I think it has a lot more awareness than it did two or three years ago. When I started, I had my first fight in 2019 at a really big event in. There were maybe two or three thousand fans, and it felt huge! Now, Octagon is doing a really good job with marketing and getting fans into the scene …

“More people are becoming aware of the sport. I hope the image of MMA continues to improve too. It’s mixed right now. Many “normal” people enjoy the sport and see the complex tactical aspects behind it, but not everyone is there yet. I think in a year or two, it will get even better.”

Oktagon 62

Oktagon 62 is an MMA event scheduled for October 12, 2024, at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany. This event is expected to attract up to 60,000 fans, making it one of the largest MMA gatherings ever. In fact, it even surpassed the UFC’s record attendance of 57,127 from UFC 243 in Melbourne.

The main event will feature a welterweight title fight between two popular German fighters: Christian Eckerlin from Frankfurt and Christian Jungwirth from Stuttgart. This matchup is being billed as a battle for the title of “King of Germany.”

‘Tigress’ Katharina Dalisda plans to defend her Strawweight title against former UFC fighter Mallory Martin. Germany’s Dalisda is looking to make it seven wins in a row.

See the full interview below:

German Police Smash Neo-Nazi Martial Arts Gathering: 200 Officers Raid Underground Event

German Police Smash Neo-Nazi Martial Arts Gathering: 200 Officers Raid Underground EventThe German police conducted a raid on a neo-Nazi underground fight event in Hachenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, on Saturday evening. German…

German Police Smash Neo-Nazi Martial Arts Gathering: 200 Officers Raid Underground Event

The German police conducted a raid on a neo-Nazi underground fight event in Hachenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, on Saturday evening.

German Police

The event, organized by the right-wing extremist political party Der Dritte Weg, attracted approximately 130 attendees, including several Dutch nationals and minors. The raid, involving around 200 police officers, began at 9:30 p.m. and lasted until 2:30 a.m. the following morning.

At the venue, authorities discovered a boxing ring and participants wearing martial arts attire. The police seized numerous items indicative of right-wing extremist ideology, as well as some drugs and a weapon.

German Interior Minister Michael Ebling emphasized that such gatherings, while appearing harmless, serve to strengthen right-wing extremist networks. He stated that the operation in Hachenburg sends a clear message that the government will resolutely oppose those who challenge Germany’s democratic order.

German Police Smash Neo Nazi Martial Arts Gathering 200 Officers Raid Underground Event 1

Der Dritte Weg

The event’s organizers reportedly have connections to Der Dritte Weg, a neo-Nazi group active in Germany since 2013 with approximately 800 members. This organization has been expanding its influence, particularly in southern Germany and Rhineland-Palatinate, and is under surveillance by security services.

Der Dritte Weg (The Third Way) is a small far-right and neo-Nazi political party in Germany. The party promotes a nationalist ideology. Their platform includes positions such as the nationalization of key industries, promotion of German ethnic identity, opposition to immigration, and withdrawal from NATO.

While no arrests were made during the raid, the police are investigating whether possession of the seized items is punishable. The presence of Dutch teenagers at the event has raised additional concerns about the spread of neo-Nazi ideology across borders.