The biggest star of German MMA will return to one of the most iconic European arenas of this sport.
German fan favorite Christian Eckerlin (18-8, 1 NC) was officially announced as the first fighter scheduled to compete at the event Octagon 94which will take place Saturday, September 26, 2026On Deutsche Bank Parkhome stadium Eintracht Frankfurt.
The long-awaited event is expected to be the biggest MMA gala in Europe this year, as OCTAGON MMA continues the 10th anniversary celebration with another historic showcase of the stadium.
The “King of Germany” returns
Eckerlin earned his nickname “King of Germany” after headlining the promotion’s first stadium event in the country, defeating another German fighter Christian Jungwirth in front of a huge crowd in October 2024. Now, with the support of his hometown fans in Frankfurt, Eckerlin hopes to deliver another unforgettable performance.
Eckerlin, a former professional football player who switched to mixed martial arts, has become one of the most recognizable figures in European MMA. His aggressive fighting style and deep connections with the fans in Frankfurt made him one of the biggest attractions at OCTAGON.
Eckerlin’s comeback season
The German star endured a hard 2025 campaign, suffering defeats Robert Pukach and veteran Ivica Trušček. However, Eckerlin bounced back in impressive fashion earlier this year when he lost Matous Kohout in Hamburg, proving that he is still among the top promotions.
Eckerlin believes that once you adjust your training plan and renew your focus, a fresh version of yourself will be ready to take center stage.
“Version 2.0 of Eckerlin has arrived and he is ready to show how dominant he can be.”
Stadium spectacle
Octagon 94 promises to be more than just a fight card. The event is expected to feature many of the biggest names in European MMA, competing on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
In addition to high-level competition in the cage, fans attending the event will be able to experience a fun-filled entertainment spectacle, including a halftime performance by a famed musical artist and other special surprises planned throughout the evening.
The facility itself holds a special place in the history of MMA. While Octagon 62 in 2024, a world record number 59,148 fans packed Deutsche Bank Park, setting an attendance record for an MMA event.
With tickets already selling out quickly – despite only one competitor currently announced – the promotion is on track to deliver another historic evening in Frankfurt.
Josh
Hokit believes Alexander
Volkov will never get a chance to fight him.
Hokit (10-0) is scheduled to challenge Ciryl Gane
(14-2, one no contest) for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Volkov has
criticized Hokit since the title fight was announced, and the
American has responded.
Volkov considers Hokit an easy matchup and predicts that Gane will
defeat the unbeaten contender. In response, Hokit compared their
records, noting that he defeated Derrick
Lewis and Curtis
Blaydes, both of whom beat Volkov.
“Drago†has won consecutive decisions over Jailton
Almeida and Waldo
Cortes-Acosta and is scheduled to face Rizvan
Kuniev at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Hokit added that Blaydes
defeated both Almeida and Kuniev. “The Incredible Hok†claims he
will already be dominating the light heavyweight division by the
time Volkov earns a fight with him.
“Volkov saying he'd beat me easy is funny… He'll never get the
chance,†Hokit wrote on X. “I just beat Blaydes and Lewis. Volkov
lost to BOTH. Now he's fighting Kuniev (who Blaydes beat), after
squeaking by Almeida (who Blaydes dominated). I’m going to kill
Ciryl, who he lost to twice. Zero finishes, pure boring. By the
time you earn a fight with me, I'll already be dominating LH.â€
Volkov saying he'd beat me easy is
funny..he'll never get the chance. I just beat Blaydes and Lewis.
Volkov lost to BOTH. Now he's fighting Kuniev (who Blaydes beat),
after squeaking by Almeida (who Blaydes dominated). I’m going to
kill Ciryl, who he lost to twice. Zero finishes, pure boring. By
the time you earn a fight with me, I'll already be dominating
LH.
— The Incredible Hok (@Josh_HokitUFC)
October 8, 2026
Colby Covington tells Gable Steveson to leave Jon Jones for
Daniel Cormier
Covington responded by citing domestic abuse allegations against
Jones. “Chaos†said Jones' professional achievements don't excuse
his alleged conduct outside the cage. The former interim
welterweight champion then suggested that Steveson train with
Daniel
Cormier, Jones' longtime rival.
“The things I say only bother you because they're true,†Covington
wrote on X. “You're a narcissistic abusive sociopath. Your
achievements inside the Octagon don't make you a better person
outside of it. Those same achievements definitely don’t give you
the right to abuse women either, Jon. At the end of the day, I feel
for Gable being in this situation… It's too bad he can't take
punches from heavyweights as well as your wife does. If Gable
really cares about advancing in his career, he should leave you and
go train with a real man like Daniel Cormier.â€
Jones and Cormier's heated rivalry has continued since their
fighting careers ended. Jones defeated Cormier in their first UFC
bout, but his knockout victory in their rematch was overturned to a
no contest after “Bones†failed a drug test. Years after retiring,
“DC†has said he has no interest in reconciling with Jones.
The things I say only bother you because
they're true @jonnybones . You're a narcissistic abusive sociopath.
Your achievements inside the octagon don't make you a better person
outside of it. Those same achievements definitely dont give you the
right to abuse women either Jon. At the end of the day I feel for
Gable being in this situation… it's too bad he can't take punches
from heavyweights as well as your wife does. If Gable really cares
about advancing in his career he should leave you and go train with
a real man like Daniel
Cormier.
— Colby
Covington (@ColbyCovMMA)
October 8, 2026
Mikey Musumeci is no longer the UFC BJJ bantamweight champion, and he vacates the belt to focus on a potential transition to mixed martial arts in the future.
A former grappling champion in ONE Championship and four-time IBJJF world champion as a black belt, Musumeci was victorious in four title matches in UFC BJJ — all by submission — before entering the bowl this past September to win a decision over UFC bantamweight Bryce Mitchell.
“I am 30 years old and have been obsessed with training MMA and want to prioritize my training for MMA,†Musumeci wrote on a statement. “I train jiu-jitsu everyday still and can come back anytime.â€
That doesn't mean Musumeci will no longer compete in grappling and in UFC BJJ. He plans on continuing to do so, but without having to defend a title and possibly stalling the weight class as he pursues a new goal in MMA.
“I will continue to do more grappling super fights with UFC BJJ, just a different style of jiu-jitsu more to get people out of our sport to watch,†Musumeci wrote. “That means more to me at the point I am in my career. I want to thank everyone that has supported me and Claudia Gadelha and Hunter for how kind they have been with me and continue to be. Excited about my next chapter. SO MANY CRAZY THINGS AHEAD.â€
The now vacant UFC BJJ bantamweight title will be up for grabs in the main event of UFC BJJ 13 on Oct. 29, when Jalen Fonacier battles Kleber Barboza.