OKTAGON is finally planting its flag in Poland, and it’s doing it the right way: with homegrown champion Mateusz Legierski defending his lightweight belt against surging finisher Gökhan Aksu at OKTAGON 86 in Szczecin’s Netto Arena on April 11. It’s a classic homecoming title fight – local king versus fearless spoiler – and the stakes for both men could not be higher.
Legierski’s long road back to OKTAGON lightweight gold
Legierski’s story with OKTAGON goes back years. He became the promotion’s inaugural 155-pound champion at Prime 3 and then went on a tear, turning back contenders in wild, high-action fights. His resume is loaded with key wins: a gritty battle with Karol Ryšavý at Legierski vs. Ryšavý, a clinical performance against Matouš Kohout at Legierski vs. Kohout, and a hard-earned victory over Akonne Wanliss in Legierski vs. Wanliss. Those matchups built his reputation as one of the most reliable violence merchants in European MMA.
Then everything nearly fell apart. A serious back injury sidelined Legierski for over a year, with some doctors suggesting he might never compete again. Instead of walking away, he doubled down on rehab and training. The payoff came in Munich at Legierski vs. Korkmaz, where he went five hard rounds with Attila Korkmaz to recapture lightweight gold. That win didn’t just give him the belt back – it reset his entire career.
Now 13–2 and finally healthy, Legierski heads into OKTAGON 86 as the proud Polish champion defending on home soil for the first time. For him, it’s about more than another title defense; it’s a chance to cement himself as the face of OKTAGON in Poland.
Aksu’s knockout surge into title contention
On the other side is Gökhan Aksu, who has bulldozed his way into the title picture since joining the roster in late 2024. The Turkish lightweight has finished every opponent he’s faced under the OKTAGON banner, and each step has been more violent than the last.
Aksu’s debut saw him quickly wrap up veteran Jan Malach at Aksu vs. Malach, announcing himself with a slick submission. He followed that up with a ruthless three-minute stoppage of Ognjen Dimić in Aksu vs. Dimić, proving he’s just as dangerous on the feet as he is on the mat.
Then came the breakthrough performance that pushed him into title talks: a heated grudge match against Denis Frimpong at Aksu vs. Frimpong, where Aksu ended things with a brutal first-round finish that had social media buzzing.
ICYMI: Gökhan Aksu 🇹🇷 stopped Denis Frimpong in the first round of their lightweight grudge match last night at OKTAGON 80.
— OKTAGON (@OktagonOfficial) November 23, 2025
How many bouts away from a title shot do you think he is? pic.twitter.com/9kjj3JlODC
That performance answered the question in the caption almost immediately – he wasn’t “a few fights away” at all. With a six-fight win streak and a 100% career stoppage rate, Aksu forced his way to a title shot, and now he walks into OKTAGON 86 with a chance to silence a Polish crowd and bring the belt back to Germany.
OKTAGON 86: High-risk, high-reward for both lightweights
Stylistically, Legierski vs. Aksu is exactly the kind of lightweight title fight fans hope for from OKTAGON. Legierski’s well-rounded game and championship experience match up against Aksu’s explosive finishing instinct and momentum. The champion has already proven he can win 25-minute wars in fights like Legierski vs. Korkmaz, while the challenger has shown he only needs a moment to change everything, as seen in Aksu vs. Frimpong.
Whether OKTAGON 86 becomes the night a hometown champion builds a legacy, or the night a marauding finisher walks into enemy territory and wrecks the script, one thing feels certain: this lightweight title fight has “instant classic” written all over it.
