OKTAGON MMA Hints at UFC Buy Out after Revealing Plan

UltimateGround
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Whilst the UFC might be the king of the hill in North America, Mixed Martial Arts here on the European continent is often dominated by another promotion, Oktagon MMA.

The Czech Slovak organization recently hosted an event for 59,000 screaming fans in Frankfurt, Germany, and has now teased plans to sell out the Allianz Arena and Santiago BernabĂ©u – all before a big-money offer from the UFC comes across their table.

Santiago Bernabéu views during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 25...
Santiago BernabĂ©u views during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 25...855×584 70.8 KB

Whilst the UFC might be the king of the hill in North America, Mixed Martial Arts here on the European continent is often dominated by another promotion, Oktagon MMA.

Bloody Elbow’s James Sweetnam has been lucky enough to attend multiple Oktagon MMA shows in the past, including some of their bigger stadium events, and was keen to share his thoughts on the promotion.

Oktagon MMA was founded in 2016 by entrepreneurs Pavol Neruda and Ondƙej NovotnĂœ; the promotion has since experienced a meteoric rise in mainland Europe, culminating in that insane 59,000-seater show in October.

However, as TV rights deals and online viewership continue to skyrocket, the two founders are planning something even bigger in the hopes of eventually being bought out by the UFC.

“We want to go to the Bayern Munich football stadium, the Allianz Arena, we promised ourselves we would definitely do that,” stated NovotnĂœ in an interview with Czech Crunch, adding: “The Santiago BernabĂ©u in Madrid could also be filled.”

Oktagon had hoped to add a UK stadium show to that list, but after losing around 2.5 million Euros on its last British venture, it’s safe to say that Wembley isn’t on the cards: “Not Wembley, I don’t like England, it’s ugly there.” Harsh, but true.

Whilst the monolithic UFC have so far been unable to pull off a stadium show, the Czech-Slovak duo hopes that proving their worth with a 70,000+ event (both Allianz and the Bernabéu hold a 75,000+ capacity) could result in the Las Vegas-promotion making an offer.

“They either have to destroy us or acquire us
 Oktagon is still our baby, which we can still equip for the future somehow. But the end is inevitable.

“Honestly, the best thing would be to build it up nicely so then the UFC would come in and buy us. Unlike some other organizations in the UFC, they’re not cocky. They are the kings of our world.”

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Europeans suck at business.

How did they lose 2.5 million in the UK?

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