MMA in Germany faces prejudice. We are happy for the arrival of the Octagon, says a journalist from Bild. How big a challenge is Novotny and co. facing?

The Czechoslovakian Oktagon MMA organization, which is undoubtedly among the European top, is about to make a big move as it slowly but surely expands into Germany. However, nothing easy awaits the organization’s owners. In an interview with Ruik, Kilian Gaffrey, a journalist for the Bild newspaper, spoke about German MMA and the potential benefits of Oktagon.

Oktagon promoters Ondřej Novotný and Pavol Neruda have been hinting for some time that they would like to establish themselves outside the Czechoslovak market. They started working on it last year, gradually bringing in several German fighters, and this year the biggest steps are planned.

First of all, there will be a reality TV show called Oktagon Challenge, which has made the organization visible on Czechoslovakian territory. The second series will feature a tournament in Frankfurt, Germany in June. It will feature not only German stars, but also Czechoslovak legends such as Ivan Buchinger and Karlos Vémola.

The Oktagon Challenge reality show will be broadcast in Germany by Bild, one of the biggest German media outlets. Kylian Gaffrey, a journalist of this German newspaper, is also happy about it and he gave us an insight into the situation in German MMA.

MMA in Germany is facing prejudice, it’s only allowed on TV after 10 p.m

MMA has been on a huge rise in recent years. The Czech Republic is proof of this, with two relatively large organizations that have managed to hold tournaments in the O2 arena in the last decade. However, only Oktagon, which has developed into an organization of at least European parameters, has lasted until today.

In Germany, however, MMA has not seen such a surge in popularity. “It’s been improving in the last 3 to 4 years, but the number 1 sport is football. Football gets all the attention, all other sports are in the background. MMA is becoming more popular because of a small but loyal community. It will go a long way to becoming a sport for the masses in our country,” Kilian Gaffrey told Ruik.

The journalist of Germany’s most widely read media outlet argues that people need to be educated about MMA in order for the sport to be cleansed of prejudices. A large part of the German population wants nothing to do with combat sports, fighters, according to these people, are rapists and criminals. They try to refute this image on television.

“Bild is almost the only media in Germany that broadcasts tournaments of many organizations, for example EMC, Oktagon MMA, KSW. DAZN broadcasts the UFC. However, due to the Youth Protection Act, MMA can only be broadcast after 10pm,” Gaffrey revealed.

“It has to do with our mentality. Don’t get me wrong, but people from Eastern Europe are more suited to combat sports. It’s in the mentality. We Germans are too strict and calm. A lot of Germans don’t see MMA as a sport, but just as a brutal and criminal thing. Not all, but many,” he added.

The problem, of course, is that MMA is being used by right-wing extremists for their own benefit, which is also very often reported in the German media. This kind of news always reaches the people. The result is that the aforementioned prejudices arise, even if it is a few stupid individuals.

They are happy for the arrival of the Octagon in Germany. What are the chances of success?

As mentioned, Oktagon is entering the German market and hoping for success. Bild is also happy about it. “We are happy that Oktagon is making this move in a huge collaboration. I hope it will help to make MMA much more popular in Germany. We need organisations this big to do that,” Kilian Gaffrey admitted to Ruik.

It is Bild that will broadcast the reality show Oktagon Challenge in Germany. The success or failure will of course only be judged after it has aired, but the journalist of the big German media outlet has very good feelings.

“This is the result of our good work over the last three years. Our goal was to have big and great matches in Germany. The numbers of readers, fans and articles are growing. This is the result of the content Bild creates. Unfortunately, we are still at the beginning,” says Gaffrey.

For the first time in its history, Oktagon will cross the Czechoslovakian border on June 4 when it hosts OKTAGON 33 in Frankfurt, Germany. The gala will be hosted in a beautiful historic hall with a capacity of around 10,000 seats.

“It will definitely be sold out, you can bet on it. Our 4 biggest MMA stars will be at the tournament. Christian Eckerlin and Stephan Pütz are the pioneers of the sport in Germany. We have to do what they do. Educate the mainstream. To show that fighters are tough, but also smart and nice fighters. Martin Zawada has been fighting for 20 years, his brother David is a UFC veteran,” Gaffrey didn’t hide his positive energy.

Just this week, Christian Eckerlin reached the 100,000 follower mark on his YouTube channel after nine months. His videos have over 16 million views. So he’s doing a great and invaluable job.

And what are Oktagon’s chances of success in Germany? “The entertainment factor is the key to success. And, of course, quality matches. Oktagon can help us tremendously in this respect,” Gaffrey concluded the interview.