Halloween Horror! Injury Bug Devastates Oktagon 96’s Top Two Fights

Oktagon 96 arrives this Saturday, October 31, but like a Jason Voorhees victim, it’s not exactly in one piece at this point.

The top two fights on the card were Felix Klinkhammer vs. Amiran Gogoladze, and Niko Samsonidse vs. Gokhan Aksu. However, the injury bug has taken a machete to both fights, with Oktagon officials confirming on Tuesday that both Klinkhammer and Samsonidse were out of their respective bouts.

That’s a tough break for lightweight Samsonidse, ranked #4 in the promotion and coming off a performance bonus-winning knockout of Denis Frimpong. With a lightweight title fight between Mateusz Legierski and Ivan Buchinger scheduled for next month, Samsonide was within striking distance of his own title shot.

Oktagon officials informed Cageside Press of the news Tuesday morning, and have now publicly announced that they are seeking a replacement.

Gogoladze, meanwhile, already has a new opponent. Saving the Oktagon 96 main event will be Jessin Ayari (19-6), who will now be fighting for welterweight gold. Ayari was originally booked opposite Ion Surdu, who was himself replaced by Kevin Pastran. Now, Ayari gets the upgrade (no word on whether Pastran will remain on the card).

Ayari competed in the UFC from 2016 to 2020, and has won his last three fights.

Oktagon MMA’s welterweight title currently sits vacant. The event takes place on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at the SAP Garden in Munich, Germany.

The post Halloween Horror! Injury Bug Devastates Oktagon 96’s Top Two Fights appeared first on Cageside Press.