MMA
The return of Shem Rock to the Oktagon? It wasn’t an easy decision, we thought about it for a long time, Novotny admitted
Octagon has had a tournament in Newcastle. It was aimed more at the British audience, so it wasn’t as covered by the media as usual. One of the most interesting news we learned at the tournament was the signing of sinner Shem Rock, who is thus returning to the Oktagon. What did the promoter Ondrej Novotny have to say about it?
Oktagon has had a tournament in Newcastle. It was aimed more at the British audience, so it wasn’t as covered by the media as usual. One of the most interesting news we learned at the tournament was the signing of sinner Shem Rock, who is thus returning to the Oktagon. What did the promoter Ondrej Novotny have to say about it?
Shem Rock has stirred up the waters with his arrival to the Oktagon. But sometimes he can overdo it. After all, in the summer before the tournament in Štvanice, he got into a dispute with Vladimir Lengal during the weigh-in. When he was supposed to fight last time in Manchester, he kicked his opponent Jaroslav Pokorný and he couldn’t enter the duel.
In an interview with Ruiksport afterwards, Rock explained that it was more or less a self-defensive reaction on his part. But he made a big splash with the Czechoslovak fans and fighters. There were calls for his sacking, even a petition was created. It didn’t happen, but it seemed that he didn’t care about the Oktagon anymore.
“Since the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, the termination clause was invoked. I was not involved in that. Shem signed with our agency this week. He partedways with Octagon a few weeks ago,” Rock’s manager Graham Boylan told Ruiksport last December.
Rock is returning to the Oktagon
Rock was originally supposed to compete in Newcastle as well, as he is the one who can get people in the gym. But he wasn’t signed to the Oktagon and understandably missed the tournament. But Oktagon surprised the fans with the information about his return.
Fans of Rock can look forward to his next show, although most of the Czech ones are not among his big fans. What did Ondřej Novotný have to say about his signing?
“It wasn’t a completely easy decision, we thought about it for a long time. Of course it’s not easy to negotiate with Shem, he’s such a tough guy. But during the negotiations we found a consensus and we just agreed on the finances and we actually want the energy he brings.
We’re happy to have him in the Okagon. He’s our fighter now and we just often have complicated relationships with fighters, but we don’t shy away from them! We look forward to having him in the Czech Republic,” said promoter Novotny after the Oktagon 52 gala in Newcastle.
Source: Oktagon MMA
