With 60,000 spectators in attendance, Oktagon 62 in Frankfurt is the biggest MMA event in Europe. Christian Eckerlin and Christian Jungwirth will face off to determine who is the “King of GErMMAny”. But the spectators can look forward to even more action.
On Saturday, the most famous German MMA fighters Christian Eckerlin and Christian Jungwirth will fight for the “King of GerMMany” title at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt at Oktagon 62. “An event like this in my hometown, especially in the stadium of my favorite soccer team, it doesn’t get any better than this. This is the absolute crowning achievement of my career,” Eckerlin emphasized on RTL with reference to the Frankfurt Eintracht soccer team.
“Fortunately, I have a very strong fan base that supports me loudly in all my fights – the atmosphere in the stadium will be electric and I expect a lot of support,” said Eckerlin, who will now fulfill a ‘childhood dream’ via a roundabout route. The 37-year-old actually had the goal of becoming a professional footballer and played in four regional league games for SV Darmstadt 98 during the 2006/07 season.
And Jungwirth also stood in front of the cage on the soccer field. At VfB Stuttgart, the 37-year-old was considered a great goalkeeping talent in the youth team and even trained under Thomas Tuchel. He didn’t make the breakthrough on the pitch, but he remained part of the soccer scene as a member of the VfB ultra and hooligan scene before switching to mixed martial arts at the age of 30 and becoming a professional there.
Before the fight against Eckerlin, who was born in Erbach, Jungwirth said in an Octagon documentary: “It’s the most important fight of my life.” And yet Eckerlin will not make it easy for his opponent. The man from Erbach explained: “I’m the better man in all areas. On the ground, standing. No matter where.” Rapper GZUZ, who is considered a long-time friend of Eckerlin, wants to support his friend and will therefore perform the 37-year-old’s entrance music live.
Engizek goes for the title
But at Oktagon 62, the event that will break the current world record for MMA spectators with 60,000 spectators, according to the organizer, it is not only about the “King of Germany”. Because there will be two title fights that evening. Before the five main fights begin, Katharina Dalisda, the first German woman to win a title at Oktagon, will defend her strawweight title. However, her opponent Mallory Martin from the USA wants to take back the title she lost to Dalisda in Frankfurt two years ago.
“Fighting in front of so many people will be a highlight. The reach is completely different. Many more people will see it. But the fight itself, as soon as it starts, is a fight like any other,” Dalisda said in an interview with NTV.
And Kerim Engizek will also be fighting for a title shortly before the grand finale between Eckerlin and Jungwirth. With 13 wins in a row, the Düsseldorf native is entering the fight against Czech Patrik Kincl with great self-confidence. Kincl is the strongest opponent of his career, says Engizek: “He is very experienced and has already fought over five rounds. I have never done that. He may have an advantage there, but in the end it won’t help him.”
However, the large number of spectators is not putting pressure on the Turkish fighter. In an interview with NTV, the 33-year-old said: “I’m not going to let it get to me. Last time there were 20,000 in Cologne, now there are 60,000 spectators”.
A dream comes true for “Mad Max” Coga
But in addition to Eckerlin, Jungwirth and Dalisda, numerous other German fighters will enter the cage on Saturday. Among them is Max Coga, who was born in Frankfurt and will face Antun Racić from Croatia before the fight between Engizek and Kincl. In a double interview with Coga and Racić, the fighter from Frankfurt explained: “Being part of the biggest organization and the biggest tournament in European MMA history, especially in Frankfurt, is a dream come true for me.”
The two opponents already met in a fight eleven years ago, which “Mad Max” Coga won in the second of five rounds by rear naked choke. From that moment on, Racić wanted a rematch, which he will now get on Saturday. About the rematch, Coga said: “I accept this challenge because I want to prove to him that my victory was no fluke.”
