Matěj “Money” Peňáz is making his long-awaited return — and the timing couldn’t be more intense. After recovering from injury and a brief stint on Dana White’s Contender Series, the Czech knockout artist is back in the OKTAGON MMA spotlight. He faces Poland’s battle-tested Piotr Wawrzyniak in the OKTAGON 74 quarterfinals — a crucial step on the path to €1 million in the Gamechanger tournament.
Peňáz has been one of the most electrifying prospects in the region. From his early days in kickboxing — where he crossed paths with elite names like Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya — to his blitz of first-round KOs in OKTAGON, “Money” has made his reputation with clean finishes and ice-cold composure. His pro debut at OKTAGON 18 set the tone as he stopped Patrik Jevický with ease.
Though he slipped up in the UFC’s Contender Series against Sedriques Dumas via guillotine choke, that moment barely scratched the surface of his ceiling. Since returning, Peňáz made a loud statement by finishing UFC veteran David Zawada with a brutal knee and punches combo to kick off his Gamechanger run.
Standing across from him now is Wawrzyniak, a rugged Polish veteran known for his grit and grinding pressure. He holds a big win over Patrik Kincl and enters the cage riding high after smashing Marek Mazúch by TKO. If Peňáz is looking for another highlight-reel finish, he’ll have to earn it.
With elite names like Jiří Procházka previously in his corner, Peňáz carries heavy expectations into this matchup. Can he live up to the hype and move €300,000 closer to the Gamechanger prize? Or will Wawrzyniak derail the comeback? One thing’s certain — all eyes will be on OKTAGON 74 this Saturday night.
