Oktagon MMA: what is it? The MMA federation.

What is the Oktagon MMA federation?

Oktagon MMA is a European mixed martial arts organisation founded in 2016 in the Czech Republic. Its founders are Ondřej Novotný and Pavel Neruda. Its name is no coincidence. Although fans clearly associate it with this federation, the word 'oktagon' also refers to the characteristic octagonal cage in which these fights take place.

It is currently one of the biggest and, at the same time, one of the fastest-growing MMA federations in Central and Eastern Europe. Its expansion already covers, among others, the markets of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.

It stands out not only for bringing together top names, but also for its professional production, refined visual presentation and high entertainment value. It is no surprise, then, that year after year it continues to break new records, both for attendance at live events and for viewers of online broadcasts. At present, the frequency reaches several dozen events a year, and in various locations as well.

Rules, course, decisions and regulations of fights in Oktagon

Fights in Oktagon MMA are divided into:

3 rounds of 5 minutes each (in standard fights).
5 rounds of 5 minutes each (in championship fights).

As in most competitions of this type, cage bouts can end by:

KO / TKO (that is, knock-out or technical knock-out).
Submission.
Disqualification of the fighter (for example, for breaking the rules).
Judges' decision (on points).

Judging is based on the 10-point system. This means that the winner of the round receives 10 points, while the loser gets 9 or, depending on the advantage achieved, fewer.

Fighters must compete wearing officially approved MMA gloves (much lighter than boxing gloves), groin protection, a mouthguard and the appropriate kit (we will talk about that in a moment). Of course, all of this is within clearly defined rules. For example, it is not allowed to strike the opponent's groin or eyes, or to kick when they are on the ground, bite, headbutt, pull hair, etc. Certain behaviours are also unacceptable, such as grabbing the cage mesh, using vulgar language, spitting, etc.

The course of the fight in the cage is supervised by an appointed referee. In addition, outside the oktagon, there are three judges who assess the bout and award the appropriate points.

Which weight classes do Oktagon MMA fighters compete in?

For men competing in Oktagon, we distinguish the following classes:

Heavyweight - up to 120.2 kg.
Light heavyweight - up to 93 kg.
Middleweight - up to 83.9 kg.
Welterweight - up to 77.1 kg.
Lightweight - up to 70.3 kg.
Featherweight - up to 65.8 kg.
Bantamweight - up to 61.2 kg.
Flyweight - up to 56.7 kg.

For women, for obvious reasons, the number of classes is smaller and looks as follows:

Bantamweight - up to 61.2 kg.
Flyweight - up to 56.7 kg.
Strawweight - up to 52.2 kg.

Naturally, within each of the above classifications there are championships contested by those holding the highest positions in the rankings prepared by the Czech federation.

How does it compare with other MMA federations in the world?

Without a doubt, what all federations around the world have in common is the very nature and course of the fights. The rules of the bouts, as well as the venue in which they are held, are similar. All organisations use octagonal cages for this purpose.

The differences are mainly visible in scale and recognition. While UFC, that is, Ultimate Fighting Championship is a truly global brand known worldwide, KSW (Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki) and the subject of this publication (Oktagon MMA) are indeed major players, but rather on a European than a global scale.

This is accompanied by differences in reputation, reach and, consequently, budgets as well. In many cases, top fighters see European federations more as a “stepping stone” to a future career in UFC than as a final professional destination.

Oktagon's steadily growing position suggests that very soon it may stop being just a sporting curiosity and become a real threat to the top spot in Europe, until now held by KSW. What will happen? Time will tell.

What kit do participants wear in cage fights?

In this case, there is no revolution or anything unusual. Oktagon fighters wear standard MMA gear. Men limit themselves to shorts and gloves. Women, in turn, wear shorts, gloves and tops (sports bras). Fighters often design their own kit with sponsor logos, national flags or personal motifs. They all have one thing in common: they must be lightweight, breathable and ensure full freedom of movement.

Is MMA your passion and your way of life?

Invest in quality clothing that lets you focus on what matters most: improving your form and raising your sporting level. In the SMMASH online store, you will find solutions that we design and produce specifically with this discipline in mind. Both MMA shirts and dedicated shorts. You can choose from designs and full collections already available, or opt for personalisation and made-to-order shirts.