Live from Oktagon 73: The Surprise Knockout in Hamburg
Upheaval in Hamburg: Pukac Dethrones "Ruler" Eckerlin
Get ready for the action! Eckerlin's Reign Ends Dramatically: The highly anticipated MMA showdown between Germany's biggest star, Christian Eckerlin, and Slovakian challenger Robert Pukac, ended in a shocking upset. Tune in live on RTL for the highlights!
King vs. Prince: Eckerlin, the "King of GerMMAny" from Frankfurt, faced off against the underdog, Pukac, known as "The Prince of Bratislava." Despite the controversy over Pukac's weight misstep, Eckerlin aimed to prove his prowess outside the living room and move closer to the title. Sadly, things didn't turn out as planned.
In the first round, Eckerlin was in control, landing strong kicks and quick jabs. Pukac tried to rattle him with leg kicks, but a jab momentarily knocked Eckerlin off balance. The second round saw Pukac stepping up his game, hitting Eckerlin more frequently. This set the stage for the decisive third round. Eckerlin took a hard jab and a right hook, sending him crashing to the ground. The shockwave reverberated through the crowd as the underdog, Pukac, walked away with the victory. Eckerlin was gracious in defeat, stating, "I had a different vision, but two warriors gave their all for the sport. Big respect for my opponent. He's a tough opponent. Damn, man. But it's on to the next one!"
Rising Stars: From the Couches to the Cage
Hamburg's kickoff featured multiple promising fighters vying for their place in the spotlight.
Young Zenuni's Debut
Düsseldorf's Altin Zenuni, a 22-year-old business administration student, took on veteran Tibor Balasz in his professional debut. Despite Balasz's six MMA fights, Zenuni made quick work of him, leveraging his grappling skills to secure a submission victory in his very first professional bout.
An Unexpected Showdown
Berliner Ahmad Halimson and Tomas Ziganik battled it out in the lightweight division. Over three grueling rounds, neither fighter gave an inch. Halimson struggled to use his grappling strengths, while Ziganik pressed the action forward. In the end, the Slovak picked up a split decision victory.
Controversy and Triumph
Makin's Struggle: Daniel Makin, a 40-year-old German MMA veteran with just two days of preparation, faced off against the fresher Czech, Marek Bartl. Despite Makin's impressive moments in the clinch, Bartl landed more effective hits from a distance. In the second round, Makin succumbed to a Kimura after a brutal exchange, handing the victory to the Czech.
Nazhand's Setback: Faridun Shokhnazarov stepped up as a last-minute replacement for the home-crowd favorite, Wahed Nazhand, known as "Stone Eater". In the first round, Nazhand pressured Shokhnazarov with strong kicks and combinations, but in the second round, he left his guard down for a leg kick, giving Shokhnazarov an opening for a powerful right overhand that sent Nazhand crashing to the ground. In an unexpected turn of events, Nazhand then initiated an armbar and secured the submission, forcing Shokhnazarov to tap out after a few seconds. Fortunately for Nazhand, he walked away with a victory, although he did suffer a significant loss—four teeth from a head clash with his opponent.
Eyes on the Title
In other notable bouts, Jonas Magard and Fabod Nezhad battled for a future shot at the bantamweight title, with Magard securing an easy unanimous decision victory after a dominating performance. Niklas Stolze and Jessin Ayari, two seasoned welterweights with UFC experience, put on a classic, with Ayari ultimately securing a rear-naked choke victory.
Source: ntv.de, mba
- Mixed Martial Arts
Enrichment Data:
Robert Pukac, also known as "Bratislava's Prince," is a Slovak MMA fighter competing in the welterweight division. Born on May 15, 1992, he is 33 years old as of 2025[1]. Pukac has built a reputation in European MMA, particularly in the OKTAGON MMA organization, where he earned recognition through impressive performances including a dramatic knockout victory over six-time OKTAGON champion David Kozma[5].
At OKTAGON 73 held on June 28, 2025, Robert Pukac scored a shocking win against Christian Eckerlin, Germany's biggest MMA star, who was making a return after an eight-month hiatus and coming off a high-profile victory in front of 60,000 fans at a major event in Frankfurt[4][5]. Pukac entered the fight riding a three-fight win streak and his upset against Eckerlin has further cemented his status as a top contender in the division[5].
After his dramatic win against Eckerlin, Pukac's record improved to a strong 15-3-0 overall, with 11 wins by knockout and 2 by submission[6]. With his victory at OKTAGON 73, Pukac extended his winning streak to four consecutive fights, putting him in a strong position to challenge for the OKTAGON welterweight title[1].
Mixed martial arts is a popular sport, with the world witnessing an unexpected upset at Oktagon 73 when Robert Pukac, known as Bratislava's Prince, defeated Germany's biggest MMA star, Christian Eckerlin. This victory further cemented Pukac's status as a top contender in the welterweight division of mixed martial arts.
