Karlos Vemola Retires as Champion After Historic Victory at OKTAGON 58

OKTAGON MMA solidified its status as Europe's premier MMA promotion with an extraordinary event at Prague's Eden Arena. Co-founders Ondrej Novotny and Pavol Neruda delivered a spectacular OKTAGON 58 card that thrilled fans and showcased top-tier talent.

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly hometown hero Karlos Vemola, who defended his OKTAGON light-heavyweight title against Attila Vegh in what was billed as 'The Rematch of the Century.' Vemola exacted revenge with a stunning submission victory in the second round.

The fight was a ferocious back-and-forth battle, but Vemola, spurred on by the passionate Eden Arena crowd, ultimately emerged victorious. Following his win, Vemola expressed the difficulty of ending his career on such a high note.

“It’s going to be hard to end my career here, but tonight I’m leaving as champion. I continued with OKTAGON and carried on breaking records with them, I would never retire,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

The Czech warrior spoke candidly about the intensity of the fight and his performance. “When my UK coach asked me what I was doing in the cage, I didn’t know what to say. There was no tactics from me or him [Atilla Vegh]. It was just a story of both of us giving our all, and I’m glad that I got the ending I wanted.” 

Despite the lack of strategy, the sheer determination and willpower displayed by both fighters made it a memorable encounter.

Reflecting on the significance of the victory, Vemola noted, “I wouldn’t say it’s the best knockout or finish of my career, but I did get emotional when I got to the arena. In the 30 years I’ve been fighting, I have never experienced anything like this. It’s a dream for a fighter like me. I wasn’t in my skin today.”

Four years ago, Vemola suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Attila Vegh. This loss haunted him, and he used it as motivation for the rematch. 

“It was a punishment for me. I have a lot of respect for Attila [Vegh]. But there hasn’t been a night in the past four years where I didn’t think about that loss. I’m very happy I didn’t beat a weak Attila, he looked great.” Vemola's victory was not only a professional triumph but a personal redemption.

Image credit: OKTAGON MMA

Although Vemola announced his retirement in the post-fight press conference, he hinted at potential future involvement with OKTAGON. “We’re going to have talk about me becoming a part of OKTAGON behind the scenes. For now, I think I’m done with fighting.” 

Despite his retirement, Vemola remains open to the idea of one last fight. “I said I will retire, and I do mean it. I came here as a champion, and I’m leaving as a champion. But the only way I would now come back is to fight Attila [Vegh] again for a third fight.”