Oktagon Proves Stadium MMA Events Can Thrill, Challenging Dana White’s Views
Dana White, UFC's president, has long dismissed stadium events, insisting he prefers arenas for their atmosphere. In April 2025, he declared that stadiums fail to generate enough noise and energy from fans. Yet, a European MMA promotion, Oktagon, recently proved otherwise.
Based mostly in Germany, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, Oktagon is no global giant like the UFC but has made remarkable strides. In October 2024, it set an attendance record outside of early-2000s Pride shows in Japan, drawing nearly 60,000 fans at Deutsche Bank Park, the stadium of Bundesliga's Eintracht Frankfurt. Two years later, Oktagon 94 returned to the same venue aiming for an even bigger spectacle.
A Trade-Off Between Size and Showmanship
Co-founder Pavol Neruda admitted they chose spectacle over breaking the attendance record this time, focusing on a massive entrance stage and a unique halftime show featuring diamond-selling artist Robin Schulz. Rather than distracting, Schulz’s performance became a highlight.
The halftime break did see some fans leave their seats, likely unfamiliar with such intermissions after the poor World Cup final experience, but the stadium was nearly full from the second preliminary fight onward. The opening fight’s excitement—Michael Obodozie knocking down his opponent, celebrating prematurely, then finishing quickly—may have drawn late arrivals.
Passion and Enthusiasm That Rival UFC Events
The atmosphere proved loud and intense, defying White’s argument. Local fighters like Max Coga and Christian Eckerlin added to the drama; Coga secured a win in the co-main event, while Eckerlin lost by submission just before the first round ended amid retirement rumors.
The card featured seven finishes in ten bouts, six ending in the first round, which electrified the crowd. Yet, there was a moment of chaos when a power outage darkened the cage during a featherweight prelim between Deniz Ilbay and Hugo Vach, halting the fight for two minutes amid loud whistles from the crowd.
Oktagon had warned the stadium about power issues ahead of time, but no fixes were ready. Luckily, power returned, and Ilbay delivered a knockout punch shortly after the lights came back, ironically making 'lights out' a literal part of the night twice. Ilbay credited unconventional training methods from his father for his calm during the blackout; Vach blamed the interruption for disrupting his rhythm but refused to make excuses.
More Than Just a Fight Night
Oktagon's event in Frankfurt took place amid political unrest, with protests and election gains for Germany's far-right AfD party happening simultaneously. Neruda said he wasn’t aware of these tensions but praised MMA’s ability to unite people beyond divisions. Indeed, 58,000 fans gathered for the sport they love, creating a powerful shared experience.
Atmosphere That UFC’s White House Event Lacked
The UFC’s White House card, though significant, notably lacked atmosphere, contrasting sharply with the roaring Oktagon 94. This irony highlights how the UFC misses opportunities by avoiding stadium shows, especially since Oktagon plans to make these large-scale events annual rather than one-offs like UFC Freedom 250.
Pavol Neruda summed it up: "We want to say to Europe and even to the world that we are here. We are doing something special, and it’s worth the watch." Oktagon has certainly made its statement.
