In front of a roaring 26,000-strong crowd at Eden Stadium, Karlos Vemola emerged victorious over old foe Attila Vegh at OKTAGON 72, sealing the trilogy and earning the symbolic “Infinity Belt.” It was a high-stakes bout that marked the likely final chapter in both veterans' storied careers.
Vemola came out strong in the first two rounds, using his trademark cage pressure and relentless clinch game to smother Vegh. While Vegh found brief moments of success on the outside, it was largely Vemola controlling the tempo early.
But Round 3 flipped the momentum. Vegh rocked Vemola with a barrage of strikes and had him wobbled—only to surprisingly shoot for a takedown instead of pursuing the finish. That moment allowed Vemola to recover and narrowly escape the round still ahead on the cards.
In the fourth, it was more back-and-forth action. Vemola hunted for a guillotine choke while Vegh once again threatened with crisp stand-up and a damaging knee late in the round that left Vemola bloodied.
Heading into the final round, two of the three judges had it even. And it was Vemola who dug deep, pushing forward with pure grit and grinding out the decisive fifth frame. The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, awarding Vemola the trilogy victory and one of the most meaningful wins of his career.
Both men exit the sport with their legacies intact, but it’s Vemola who walks away with the last word—and a belt that symbolizes more than just a win, but a career of endurance, heart, and rivalry settled.
