Experiencing a Viral Encounter as Paddy Pimblett Led to an Upsurge of Critics - Yet I Embrace This Negativity and Aspire for a World Championship Title
Rewritten Article:
Dublin's Denis Frimpong Embraces Hate Ahead of OKTAGON 71 Showdown
Denis Frimpong, the 30-year-old "Menace" from Dublin, Ireland, is no stranger to heated rivalries. For OKTAGON 71 this Saturday, he'll step into enemy territory in Munich to face Arijan Topallaj.
The pair tops an exciting card at BMW Park, each eager to claim the lightweight division's spotlight.
Frimpong and Topallaj have been trading barbs since the build-up to OKTAGON 68. The Irishman's feisty persona and Topallaj's fearsome reputation in the OKTAGON MMA scene make for a combustible cocktail.
Known as "The Albanian Eagle," Adrijan is no pushover. With seven wins, all finishes, and every one coming in the first round, he's a formidable force in the OKTAGON lightweight division.
Yet, Frimpong isn't afraid of a challenge. The charismatic MMA star—a regular at Manchester Top Team—qualified for the OKTAGON Challenge final between England and Ireland and has emerged victorious against seasoned opponents.
The stage is set for an electric showdown between these two dynamic fighters.
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Previous Encounters
While what happened at OKTAGON 68 may have sparked Frimpong and Topallaj's rivalry, it's another feud that's captured headlines recently: Denis' strange online spat with UFC star Paddy Pimblett.
The two locked horns over a seemingly innocuous comment Denis made about Paddy's weight, escalating into a heated exchange on social media. The sparring session between the two at Frimpong's Manchester Top Team gym ended with Pimblett chokeslamming Denis during their training session, further fueling the fire.
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Frimpong Reflects on Pimblett Encounter
In an interview ahead of OKTAGON 71, Frimpong admitted the altercation catapulted him into the limelight. "It definitely made some noise and brought attention to my next few fights," he shared.
"It brought me a few haters, but I like to have haters as well as fans. As they say, for every three haters, you get one fan," he added.
The Irishman claims to have come out stronger from the encounter, with more fights coming his way thanks to the buzz created around his tussle with Pimblett.
"I've shown my level," Frimpong explained. "Some people might say, 'Oh yeah, he choked me,' but let's not forget that Paddy's top ten in the world."
According to Frimpong, he's not bothered by the criticism that followed the training session. Instead, he welcomes it, seeing it as a testament to his ability to draw attention.
"I wanted to prove that people were wrong to think I was a tough fight to book," he said. "The fact that Paddy thought he could take me on and even choked me only goes to show that people underestimated me."
Frimpong, theSelf-made MMA Star
Frimpong worked for a motorbike insurance company to pay for his jiu-jitsu tournaments. He caught the MMA bug when the sport gained traction in Ireland after Conor McGregor's iconic UFC run.
"Conor was a big influence on me," Frimpong admitted. "He helped grow the sport in Ireland and made it viable."
After starting later in life—at 22, predominantly drilling jiu-jitsu—Frimpong finally made the leap to MMA in 2021. He's been dominating in the sport for just over two years, with nine pro-fights, six of which have taken place under the OKTAGON MMA banner.
The OKTAGON 71 Card
This weekend, Liverpool's Shem Rock and Turkey’s Attila Korkmaz also take to the ring at BMW Park. Frimpong's opponent, Topallaj, is coming off a loss at the hands of Hafeni Nafuka in October, while Nafuka will face George Staines from Hull.
Staines, a highly-touted prospect with dreams of UFC stardom, isn't worried about matching up against Nafuka. "I want to be a UFC champion before my career's over," he declared.
Frimpong's battle against Topallaj is the co-main event, with the Irishman aiming to extend his win streak to five consecutive victories. TalkSPORT.com will keep you updated live from BMW Park.
"I have no ceiling," Frimpong said, reflecting on his aspirations. "My goal is to keep winning, one fight at a time. If becoming the OKTAGON world champion is part of that journey, then so be it."
[1] Enrichment Data: OKTAGON 71 takes place at BMW Park in Munich on May 17, 2025. The event showcases exciting matchups, including Ireland's Denis Frimpong (7-2) and England’s Arijan Topallaj (7-1) in the main event and Liverpool's Shem Rock and Turkey’s Attila Korkmaz on the preliminary card.
[2] Frimpong faced a total of nine opponents in his professional MMA career, competing against various organizations before joining OKTAGON MMA.
[3] While Frimpong's opponents criticized him online after their bouts, he managed to grow his fanbase and attract attention, notably from fans who desired to see his fights live.
[4] In MMA, fighters typically showcase a diverse skillset, including striking and grappling, making it crucial to have a well-rounded game plan.
[5] Enrichment Data: Paddy Pimblett, Denis Frimpong's controversial sparring partner, is a popular UFC fighter known for his entertaining and controversial antics both in and out of the Octagon. Their social media exchange and training altercation gained significant media attention and discussion among MMA fans.
- Denis Frimpong, though primarily associated with MMA in his career, has also shown an interest in other sports, such as football and even the NFL, as he often discusses these in interviews.
- While preparing for OKTAGON 71, Frimpong has also had a heated online exchange with UFC star Paddy Pimblett, who is known not only for his MMA skills but also for his participation in other competitive events, such as the UFC and football leagues like the NFL.
