OKTAGON 73: Eckerlin vs. Pukač takes place this weekend at 12:00 PM EST on Saturday. It is broadcast on PPV on the OKTAGON website but I think the prelims can be viewed on YouTube on the OKTAGON Global channel (not 100% sure). OKTAGON MMA is a promotion I used to follow years ago when my sleep schedule was a mess and I had a DAZN subscription. Since then, OKTAGON has been hosting some massive events including an event last year which has 59,000 in attendance at a stadium.

CHRISTIAN ECKERLIN (17-6) vs. ROBERT PUKAC (19-13) – Welterweight

I think Eckerlin is the better wrestler of the two here, and Pukac isn't dangerous enough on the feet to hurt Eckerlin. Both of these guys are gigantic welterweights so perhaps a  big shot could change the fight. i think Eckerlin should be able to control Pukac here to a decision like he did in his last fight. Eckerlin is old but seems to be a star in Germany that OKTAGON is pushing hard.

Pick: Christian Eckerlin by decision. Medium-high confidence.

ADAM PALASZ (9-4) vs. KASIM ARAS (9-5) – Heavyweight

Both of these guys are just overweight, slow, unathletic heavyweights. I do remember Kasim Aras from his poor Bellator run and a few Levels Fight League fights. He is a short heavyweight who just wants to close the distance to clinch. He's not very good but honestly neither is Palasz. Palasz is a favourite here but I couldn't figure out why, he didn't impress me. He got knocked down by Stuart Austin which is an awful look, and then got knocked out by Todev who is a much more athletic striker. I don't feel great about the pick but it seems like Palasz really struggles against anyone who threatens a take down.

Pick: Kasim Aras by decision. Very low confidence.

KAIK BRITO (17-6) vs. JOILTON LUTTERBACH (39-10) – Welterweight

If Lutterbach fights smart, he should look great here as a -150 favourite. Lutterbach has a win over Andres Gustafsson where he actually won that fight with the wrestling. Given Andreas' recent win over Khaos Williams that win has aged well. Lutterbach competes a lot in many different striking events too so we know he is well rounded. Kaik Brito is a great striker but at this point I don't think he is as good as I hyped him up to be a few years ago. He is coming off a pretty bad KO loss against a huge guy who knocked him out as he exited the clinch. I do think you can make a good argument for a Brito KO in this fight as he does have great striking and power, but cardio is an issue and take down defense is a concern too. Lutterbach needs to fight smart to win and given his inactivity in MMA and failed drug test when he signed for the UFC he is a bit hard to trust, but I think he gets this one done. If Brito wins it's likely a round 1 KO.

Pick: Joilton Lutterbach by decision. Low-medium confidence.

NIKLAS STOLZE (14-7) vs. JESSIN AYARI (18-6) – Welterweight

Two former UFC fighters. Stolze's UFC run was poor since he couldn't defend any take downs, and Ayari's UFC run was poor because he just wasn't that good. This is 100% a striker vs. striker fight and I think Stolze is the better striker of the two.

Pick: Niklas Stolze by decision. Medium confidence.

JONAS MAGARD (17-7) vs. FARBOD IRAN NEZAD (12-3-1) – Bantamweight

I like Magard here. Magard is very one dimensional given that he is only a grappler, but he is very good at it. Nezad isn't good enough on the feet in my opinion to present any issues for him like Felipe Lima and Igor Severino were able to. Nezad does have decent wrestling but he shoots his take downs from way too far out with no set up. Magard should be able to out grapple Nezad here as this is a big step down in competition. I am not sure if OKTAGON is victim to home town decisions but this fight is in Germany, and Nezad is German so if the fight is close maybe Magard could be on the wrong end. In my opinion Magard beat Severino which was a split decision, but a lot of people seem to disagree with me on that though.

Pick: Jonas Magard by decision. Medium confidence.

WAHED NAZHAND (9-2) vs. FARIDUN SHOKHNAZAROV (4-0) – Welterweight

Do not bet on this fight. This is too unpredictable. Faridun hasn't done anything to impress me but Nazhand is super unpredictable as he is way too aggressive and is very hittable on the feet.

Pick: Wahed Nazhand by decision. Low confidence.

BENAO ADAMIA (12-8-2) vs. ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV (17-9) – Flyweight Championship

Not every day we see a title fight on the prelims but here we are. Former UFC fighter Zhalgas Zhumagulov has been on a good run since being released from the promotion after back to back split decision losses. He now fights the current Flyweight champion Beno Adamia who has a a very deceptive record. Adamia has been on a run recently where has managed to pull off a win streak after starting out with a 6-8-2 record. He beat Sam Creasey which is a huge win and upset in his last fight by close decision. He fights very similarly to Zhalgas where he is a pressure fighter. He comes forward and looks to clinch while throwing a lot of low power strikes. Zhalgas is a very high volume striker who likes to pressure and attempt take downs on occasion. He was victim to a lot of close decisions not going his way in the UFC but it come down to a lack of aggression in moments in my opinion. This fight does intrigue be as Zhalgas is a big favourite here at -400, but I think the fight is closer than that. That being said, I do think Zhalgas can implement his game plan and if he does shoot a few take downs to mix things up I think that will really help.

Pick: Zhalgas Zhumagulov by decision. Medium confidence.

VOJTO BARBORIK (16-3) vs. RICHIE SMULLEN (14-3-1) – Featherweight

Barborik intrigues me as a 6'0″ tall featherweight, but whenever he has taken a step up in competition he has lost. His take down defense against good competition has not held up which isn't a good sign against Smullen. Smullen isn't the best fighter in the world but I think he has had a pretty underrated career. An Ultimate Fighter opportunity in 2018 didn't go his way and since then he has bounced around many promotions, including Bellator where he has a 4-2 record and a win over Harry Hardwick. I think this is a grappler vs. grappler fight unless Barborik decided he wants to strike from range for 15 minutes. I think Smullen is the better grappler of the two though so I am picking him.

Pick: Richie Smullen by decision. Low confidence.