ECKERLIN vs. PUKAČ | OKTAGON 73

OKTAGON 73 delivered one of the most talked-about moments in German MMA as Robert Pukač silenced the Hamburg crowd by stopping local favorite Christian Eckerlin in the third round. The bout, held at a packed arena with national pride on the line, ended in a thunderous TKO that few saw coming.

Pukač entered the fight measured and cautious, but as the rounds progressed, his confidence surged. By round three, the “Prince of Bratislava” was in complete control — picking his shots, landing clean combinations, and eventually forcing the referee to intervene. Eckerlin gave it everything, but the energy drained fast under Pukač’s increasing pressure. The result: a decisive victory that propelled Pukač to a new level of recognition within OKTAGON MMA.

Post-fight, Eckerlin showed immense sportsmanship, offering Pukač half of his fight purse due to a prior weigh-in issue. It was a classy gesture from a respected veteran, proving again why he remains one of the promotion’s most admired figures — even in defeat.

All eyes now turn to OKTAGON 74, set for August 9 at Prague’s iconic Štvanice venue. With high-stakes matchups like Lucia Szabová vs. Cecilie Bolander and Igor da Silva vs. Jack Cartwright on the bill, the welterweight landscape could shift again. Will Pukač return to the cage soon and ride this momentum into title contention?

If you missed the live broadcast, now’s your chance to see the fight that turned heads across Europe. Whether you're a longtime OKTAGON fan or just discovering the promotion, this was a defining night for Slovak MMA — and it’s only the beginning.