Liverpudlian lightweight Shem Rock has been champing at the bit to get back into the Oktagon MMA cage. Now, after a longer-than-expected wait, he’ll get his wish.
Rock, who is riding a three-fight win streak for the European promotion, had made a string of callouts in a bid to secure a fight at Oktagon 62’s stadium show in Frankfurt on October 12. But after a bout failed to materialise, Oktagon matchmakers and Rock had to pivot to alternative options.
And, with Rock seemingly struggling to find a willing dance partner, he received just what he needed when Jakub Bahnik called on Oktagon to match him with Rock later this year. The promotion’s officials duly responded, and Rock will now face Bahnik at the promotion’s big end-of-year show at The O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, on December 29.
“He knows, we all know, that it’s ‘The Shem Show’ all over again,” said Rock.
“I’ll finish him however I want to finish him, and we know I’m going to finish him. I can take him down and submit him in the first round.
“He’s too old, he’s too slow, he’s too stiff. But, if he can keep it on the feet, I’ll knock him out.”
The 11-1-1 Brit has admitted that he thrives on fighting on enemy territory, and will get the chance to do exactly that when he faces Czech fighter Bahnik in Prague in December. In his last fight, Rock settled his previous rivalry with Jaroslav Pokorny with a first-round rear-naked choke victory at Oktagon 58. Prior to that victory, Rock had defeated Stefano Catacoli and Jan Malach. His promotional debut saw him battle to a majority draw with Arthur Lima.
That fight saw Rock take a replacement opponent after his originally-booked dance partner withdrew from the contest. That fighter? Bahnik.
Bahnik vs. Rock joins two other fights already booked for the December 29 event. The card will feature the final of the €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger lightweight tournament, as Oktagon lightweight champion Ronald Paradeiser faces featherweight champion (and former lightweight champ) Losene Keita. Also on the card, the promotion’s women’s bantamweight title will be up for grabs as rising Slovakian star Lucia Szabova takes on Czech former UFC veteran Lucie Pudilova.
