Krzysztof Jotko will return to the cage on October 4, 2025, at Bratislava for Oktagon 77, the place he’ll meet Hojat Khajevand in a semifinal bout of the Tipsport Gamechanger match.
Oktagon 77
The European MMA Champions League, backed by a €1 million prize pool, has superior to its closing 4 following the quarterfinals held at Oktagon 74 in Prague. Jotko, a former UFC veteran with 11 wins below that banner, seeks to safe a spot within the Gamechanger closing and transfer one step nearer to the match payout.
Oktagon 77 marks the second cease of the middleweight pyramid that started earlier this yr. Sixteen fighters entered the bracket; eight superior from quarterfinal matchups together with Jotko’s victory over Marek Mazúch in August. The occasion on October 4 options two Gamechanger semifinals, with Jotko taking up Khajevand in a single and the defending champion Kerim Engizek dealing with Dominik Humburger within the different. The winner of Jotko vs. Khajevand will compete for a six-figure purse and the match title at a later date.
Hojat Khajevand brings knowledgeable document of eight wins and 4 losses into his semifinal look. The Iranian middleweight claimed his spot by submitting Piotr Wawrzyniak at Oktagon 74, demonstrating his capacity to complete fights on the bottom. Khajevand has competed in numerous European promotions since debuting in 2017 and holds a popularity as a sturdy opponent with a balanced ability set of putting and grappling.
Krzysztof Jotko
Krzysztof Jotko ’s preparation has included coaching the place he spends most of his camp at American Prime Workforce in Coconut Creek, working with wrestlers, jiu-jitsu specialists, and kickboxers below the steerage of coach Artem Levin, a former high contender who twice defeated Alex Pereira. Jotko described the atmosphere as “The most effective on the earth, with Olympic-level wrestlers and world-class grapplers.” Two to 3 weeks earlier than battle night time, he relocates to Germany, coaching at Planet Eater below Peter Sabota to regulate to time and local weather adjustments forward of his European bouts.
In an unique interview with Tim Wheaton of LowKick MMA, he defined:
“For on a regular basis I stay in Florida. So I practice for each battle in American Prime Workforce after which two, three weeks earlier than the battle I come to Germany to Planet Eater to Peter Sabota health club. Yeah. After which I identical to do little drills, little sparring and lower my weight and simply acclimatize for Europe, you understand. Due to course in Florida is sizzling, six hour distinction. So I have to typically right here, you understand.
“That is the explanation this health club is the most effective on the earth. Now we have the most effective wrestlers, the most effective jujitsu fighters, the most effective kickboxers, everyone the most effective. Like the most effective kickboxer Artem Levin, he’s a coach. He was beat Alex Pereira two occasions and he beat him like he was on a trip.
Early in his UFC profession, Jotko had the chance to coach with Georges St-Pierre and Rory MacDonald at TriStar Fitness center in Montreal. He recollects grappling rounds with GSP as “very sensible and protected,” noting that their classes helped him develop a measured method to MMA exchanges. Throughout that very same camp, he frivolously labored with MacDonald, who was recovering from an ankle harm sustained in his battle towards Robbie Lawler, gaining publicity to high-level recreation plans and coaching protocols.
“My second battle within the UFC, I used to be in Montreal for eight weeks. I skilled with Firas Zahabi, George St. Pierre, Rory McDonald.
“Starting of profession on UFC, so I do couple rounds, couple rounds like grappling with Georges. Georges was excellent, very sensible and a really protected associate like even he smash you, he not going to harm you, so it’s excellent coaching with him. Once I was there Rory MacDonald simply completed the battle with Robbie Lawler. He was after this battle, so he had injured ankle and he was a bit broken after this battle, so we skilled a bit bit however not an excessive amount of.”
The semifinal bout towards Khajevand will take a look at Jotko’s capacity to handle distance and tempo towards an opponent recognized for his wrestling base and submission threats. Because the Tipsport Gamechanger match strikes into its semifinal section, Jotko’s bout with Khajevand carries important implications each for the €1 million championship and for Jotko’s personal legacy as he seeks one other title alternative inside Europe’s high promotion.
