Cordero modestly dreams of a title shot, but the challenge of a lifetime awaits him: I didn’t expect to get this far. Can Oktagon sell out a football stadium in Germany?

After the German Oktagon Challenge, this was not expected. The most outstanding fighter of those who participated in it is Jaime Cordero, who was the only one to make it into the top 10 of his weight class. He has finished his last two fights with exhibition knockouts in the first round. On Saturday, he can take the next step to move closer to the top. In an interview with Ruik, he talked about his plans or expanding the Oktagon.

The unexpected ace of the German Oktagon Challenge

That he didn’t even make it to the finals of the German Oktagon Challenge, which was the organization’s ticket to the German market? Jaime Cordero shows that this is no problem. He switched weight classes and the move works out well for him as he made it into the top 10 of the middleweight division.

He didn’t fully expect it himself. “I couldn’t imagine being where I am now. I guess I’ve had the most fights out of all the people who have participated in the Oktagon Challenge,” he admits in an interview with Ruik.

“It was an opportunity that came up and I had to take it. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. At the time I joined the Oktagon Challenge, I had only been training MMA for a little over a year,” he recalls.

He holds a 3-1 record in the Czechoslovakian organization, winning his last two fights by first-round knockout, and his only loss was due to disqualification in a duel with Jakub Bahnik, putting on a great performance in the fight up until that point. In particular, Gabriel Török’s finish was magnificent.

“I feel great. I’m confident and ready to go all out on Saturday!” reports the 31-year-old native of northern Germany. However, he has a difficult task ahead of him. He will be tested by Marek Mazúch, a Slovak soldier.

“He is dangerous, probably my toughest opponent. I can’t make a mistake. If I stay focused, Mazuch is beatable. He’s single-minded, which makes it easier for me to prepare, but like I said, if I stay focused and true to my plan, I can beat him,” Cordero said.

The Bremen-based man believes we will see an attractive stand-up fight. He is dreaming of a quick knockout so that he can present himself in Cologne in November, a hall with a capacity of over 20,000.

“This fight will show if I’m ready to take the next step up to the next level and challenge someone who is above me in the division rankings,” the German fighter is clear.

That the MMA scene across the country knows me? Previously unimaginable, says Cordero

“When I started MMA, my goal was to become a professional, with the idea of seeing how far it could go. I knew I would fight a lot because I love it, but I couldn’t imagine being known across the MMA scene almost all over the country,” Jaime Cordero let it be known.

He also got into combat sports thanks to his sister. In fact, when he was 14 years old, she found out about a small gym that trained kickboxing and started to take it up: “My mom thought it would be a good idea if I joined it because I was getting into a lot of street fights at the time. I’ve loved martial arts movies since I was a kid, so I was happy to join.”

Now an Oktagon fighter, he has his own gym in Bremen and handles most of the preparation for his fights there. Just for the sparring sessions, he also visits other gyms. But would he do full camps outside? No way.

“I can make a living from my gym, and I do personal training to make a little extra money. But when I’m training for a match, I naturally try to work less. Unfortunately, I’m not able to make a living just by wrestling yet,” he spoke about his current situation.

One day I want to go for the title, dreams the German fighter

As mentioned, Jaime Cordero could move back into better company with a win against Mazuch. However, he is humble, wants to take one step at a time and is in no hurry.

“I’m happy for the way things have gone so far. Of course, I would like to one day go for the title, but I still have to have a few fights to gain experience before that happens. I’d love to fight Ole Magnor, Hojat Khajevand or Pirate one day, but I’m not really thinking about it yet,” he outlined his plans.

“I would like to thank everyone who supports me. I am grateful for everything. Follow me. I may be new to the game, but I’ll be a top fighter in the division. Plus, I still have a few years to go to get the belt,” he added.

And if he’s tempted by a rematch with Jakub Bahnik? “Yes, but I don’t think it will ever happen. Plus, right now I’m not even sure if it would make sense for my career.”

He hasn’t buried a possible return to welterweight in his career yet, but through strength and conditioning, he’s more suited to middleweight, as his results clearly show.

Cordero believes the Oktagon in Germany will head to the football stadium

The German fighter, who also lived in the United States for a few years in his youth, was last seen at a tournament in Prague’s Štvanica. He thoroughly enjoyed the open-air match.

“I loved the atmosphere of the arena and the weather was great. It was amazing to be one of the last people to fight here,” admits Cordero.

Even in Germany, of course, there is information leaking out that Oktagon is going to hold the tournament in a football stadium, although it is not yet clear whether it will be Prague’s Eden or Bratislava’s Tehelné Pole.

And if something like this would also be possible for our western neighbours? “It sounds crazy, but I believe Oktagon can do it. I think it will need a little more time to grow in Germany, but I believe that in a few years it will be possible.”

He himself would then appreciate it if the organisation looked to Bremen: “It would be a dream come true if I could fight in Bremen under Oktagon. I think one day I will be famous enough to fight in a main event at such an event. Plus, I have a lot of great fighters in my gym for that eventual card. I hope it happens one day.”

Source: Ruik, Octagon MMA