Oktagon promotion co-founders Pavol Neruda and Ondřej Novotný are striving to become the “Champions League of MMA”.
MerseySportLive visited Birmingham on Saturday to follow local talents Shem Rock and George Staines, who train at Next Generation Gym alongside Patrick Pimblett and Molly McCann.
The pair picked up respective victories over their opponents in the MMA promotion Oktagon.
Oktagon MMA is the largest Czeck-Slovak company that promotes MMA combat sports tournaments.
The founders of the Czeck-Slovak organisation are Pavol Neruda and Ondrej Novotny.
Oktagon has built the biggest sports organisation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia within seven years.
In 2022, Oktagon crossed the Czech and Slovak borders for the first time and sold out the iconic Festhalle in Frankfurt twice.
In 2024, Oktagon continued its expansion with past successful events in Munich’s Audi Dome and is now looking to conquer England.
Liverpool’s Rock told MerseySportLive exclusively that he is the ‘UK’s Oktagon Poster boy.’
Rock has three fights remaining on his Oktagon contract after defeating Londoner Stefano Catacoli in an impressive first-round submission on Saturday.
“We take one fight at a time. I just want to win all my fights, make a statement, fight the biggest names in the sport, obviously get paid along the way, and look after Mumsy.
“Honestly, I just see myself at Oktagon, but who knows, this life is crazy, and anything could happen; I could break my leg or end up at the UFC after four fights, or I could be signing with Oktagon and be here for the rest of my life.
“I am more than happy at Oktagon. They are treating me well, and I honestly do, believe they are the biggest promotion in Europe. I am the face of the UK side; why would I want to be anywhere else?”
The UFC has been named the most valuable combat sports promotion, with a valuation of $11.3 billion.
According to Forbes, the UFC is valued at almost double WWE ($6.8 billion), the second most valuable promotion.
The list for 2024 includes four boxing promotions, three MMA outfits and two professional wrestling organisations.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing is the most valuable boxing promotion, at $850 million, with Top Rank seventh ($630 million), and Oscar De la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotion sitting ninth with a value of ($450 million)
The Forbes list of the Most Valuable Combat Sports Promotions for 2024 has been released and it includes FOUR boxing promotions 📋
1️⃣ UFC – $11.3 billion
2️⃣ WWE – $6.8 billion
3️⃣ AEW – $2 billion
4️⃣ ONE Championship – $1.3 billion
5️⃣ MATCHROOM BOXING – $850 MILLION
6️⃣ PFL – $690… pic.twitter.com/46y1LlLoj3— IFL TV (@IFLTV) April 19, 2024
The UFC’s closest rival in MMA is One Championship, which Forbes values at $1.3 billion, just 10% of the UFC’s value.
With Oktagon already conquering Europe on a large scale, bosses Pavol Neruda and Ondrej Novotny have been focused on breaking the UK MMA market.
Speaking after Oktagon 56, the bosses have clear intentions to become big players on the European MMA scene.
Asked how they are finding the challenge of expanding the promotion and competing with UFC and One Championship, Neruda hinted that they were on their journey and focusing on themselves.
Neruda said, “We are not looking at the competitors and adjusting our strategies to them; we have our own vision, and we are trying our best to fulfil it.
“Our goal is to be the ultimate number one in Europe, champions league of MMA sport and European fans watched, but this is where we feel we are strong.
“Conquering country by country, we are now here in England, Germany, Czechoslovakia, step by step focusing on us and doing our best to deliver for our fighters and fans.
“It may sound crazy, but we don’t compare ourselves to them; we look at ourselves and strive to always deliver the best.”
Featured image taken from YouTube Livestream below.
For the full press conference see here (Max’s questions at 1:05):
(Featured image from Oktagon UK & Ireland YouTube channel)
