A huge featherweight title battle is set to electrify Hannover this spring as OKTAGON 88 brings championship action to the ZAG Arena on Saturday, May 16.
Surging phenom Mago Machaev (17-2, 1NC) will defend his featherweight crown for the first time against hometown favorite Gjoni Palokaj (13-3) in what promises to be one of the highest-level matchups the promotion will stage this year.
Machaev’s Rise to the Featherweight Throne
Machaev entered OKTAGON in 2024 as part of the €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger tournament before ultimately settling into his natural weight class at featherweight.
He made a massive statement in front of a record-breaking 60,000 fans at Deutsche Bank Park, where he defeated James Hendin in spectacular fashion. Months later in Hannover, he stopped Wanderley Junior to secure his shot at the vacant title.
At OKTAGON 83, Machaev left no doubt about his championship pedigree, knocking out Niko Samsonidse in less than two minutes to capture the featherweight belt. The Austrian standout has recently sharpened his finishing instincts, earning a reputation as a dangerous and explosive finisher.
Now, “The Beast” heads into enemy territory for his first title defense — and he’s not intimidated.
“Gjoni is coming off a good win streak so I am excited to test this guy,” states Machaev. “I hope the crowd is excited as I am going to leave it all out there! It’s going to be a short fight – I will get this done in the first round!”
Palokaj’s Homecoming Opportunity
For Hannover native Gjoni Palokaj, this fight represents the opportunity of a lifetime. Currently riding an impressive eight-fight winning streak, Palokaj has been dominant throughout his OKTAGON tenure.
Training out of Fight School Hannover, Palokaj has earned victories over Jakub Batfalský and James Hendin and remains the only man to defeat rising UFC talent Islam Dulatov.
Known for his well-rounded skill set and relentless pressure, Palokaj believes the hometown advantage will play a key role as he challenges for gold.
“This is a great opportunity for me to fight in my hometown for the title,” says Palokaj. “I know people are underestimating me but after the first round they will see how strong I am. I will drag him into deep waters. In Hannover, it will be ‘And New’! I will be the first Albanian champion in OKTAGON history.”
With the crowd behind him at ZAG Arena, Palokaj is aiming to make history and become the promotion’s first Albanian champion.
Stacked Card in Hannover
OKTAGON 88 won’t just be about the main event. Rising prospect ‘The German Tarzan’ Hugo Vach (7-1) is also scheduled to compete, while former GLORY kickboxer Arian Sadiković (2-0) continues his transition into mixed martial arts.
With elite European talent across the card and a championship bout headlining the event, OKTAGON 88 is shaping up to be one of the promotion’s most anticipated shows of 2026.
Will it be “And Still” for Machaev, or will Hannover witness an unforgettable “And New” moment for Palokaj?
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, and Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and is also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer. He’s also the main photographer for the 4CornersMafia Car Club.
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