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Engizek Secures Spot in €300,000 Tipsport Gamechanger Final After Gruelling Victory Bratislava, Slovakia – German-Turkish middleweight Kerim Engizek has advanced to the final of the prestigious Tipsport Gamechanger tournament, defeating Czech contender Dominik Humburger in a punishing three-round battle at OKTAGON 77 in Bratislava on Saturday. The reigning OKTAGON middleweight champion, known for his relentless power and knockout rate, was taken to a unanimous decision, enduring significant adversity, including a broken nose sustained early in the contest. The victory confirms Engizek’s position as a dominant force in the European Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) scene and sets up a high-stakes final for the tournament’s €300,000 ($320,000; £260,000) grand prize. Battle of Attrition The semifinal bout was widely described by commentators as one of the most gruelling in the tournament’s history. From the outset, the contest delivered a striking clash of styles, pitting the champion’s precision and formidable power against the relentless aggression and volume of Humburger. Engizek, 34, started strongly but found his resolve tested when Humburger inflicted a significant facial injury in the opening round, a moment that could have derailed a less experienced fighter. Despite the injury, which visibly affected his breathing and vision, the German-Turkish athlete adapted his strategy, leveraging his veteran composure to manage the distance and counter-attack effectively.
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Judges ultimately awarded the bout to Engizek by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), reflecting the razor-thin margins of the fight and the champion's crucial late-round dominance. The result extended Engizek’s impressive winning streak, which stretches back nearly a decade, further cementing his legacy in the continent's most competitive weight class. The Rise of a European Star Kerim Engizek has been a quiet constant in the regional MMA landscape for many years, often operating outside the global spotlight of the UFC. Fighting out of UFD Gym in Düsseldorf, Germany, he holds an impressive professional record of 24 wins against just four losses, with a finish rate exceeding 80 per cent. His participation in the Gamechanger tournament—a bracket-style competition designed to identify the best middleweight in Europe—was highly anticipated. The format requires fighters to compete multiple times throughout the year against elite competition, demanding both technical skill and extraordinary physical durability. “This tournament is about more than just fighting; it’s about navigating pressure and managing successive threats,” explained Professor Alan Davies, a sports analytics expert at the University of Westminster.
“Engizek demonstrated a level of grit and strategic adaptation that is rare, especially after sustaining such a significant injury. His longevity and ability to perform under this kind of sustained tournament pressure speaks volumes about his professional discipline. ” High Stakes and Historic Final Engizek now moves on to face former UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko in the tournament final, scheduled for December. Jotko, a Polish athlete with significant international experience, also secured his place on the OKTAGON 77 card. The final is not only a clash for the coveted title of "Tipsport Gamechanger Champion" but carries substantial financial weight. The €300,000 prize purse is one of the largest offered in European MMA outside of the top global promotions, underscoring the increasing financial viability and ambitious expansion of the OKTAGON brand. OKTAGON co-founder Ondřej Novotný commented on the significance of the upcoming final, suggesting it represents a pinnacle moment for the promotion.
"This matchup—a reigning European champion with an incredible win streak against a battle-tested international veteran—is exactly what the Gamechanger was designed to create," Novotný was quoted as saying. "It highlights the depth of talent we have built here and the winner will undeniably be recognised as the true king of the European middleweight division. " The success of the Gamechanger tournament is being watched closely by international promoters and investors, who view the European regional scene as a crucial breeding ground for future global talent. Engizek's performance, marked by resilience and clinical execution, has increased attention on the German-Turkish fighter as a potential late-career international breakthrough star. As the middleweight division looks ahead to the grand finale, the narrative is now firmly established: Kerim Engizek, having overcome physical adversity and a formidable opponent in the semifinal, faces his final and arguably greatest challenge yet for a career-defining prize. His journey so far serves as a compelling case study in professional combat sports endurance.
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