Yahoo News Hull-born George Staines crowned OKTAGON MMA champion after final fight
Hull-born Mixed Martial Arts fighter George Staines has been crowned the winner of the first-ever OKTAGON challenge, winning his professional debut on Saturday night at Manchester’s AO Arena as part of OKTAGON 48.
Facing off against Ireland's Denis Frimpong, Staines dominated the fight from the first bell before submitting him in the fourth round thanks to a guillotine choke. He has been awarded a £25,000 OKTAGON MMA contract after winning the reality TV series, which has captured the attention of MMA fans across the country in recent weeks.
The series, showcasing up-and-coming fighters from England and Ireland, has been an intense competition that has tested eight athletes to their limits as they fought their way through a tournament bracket with the ultimate aim of becoming the winner of the show and, subsequently, one of the best prospects in Europe.
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Commenting on his final win, Staines said: "This has been a life-changing experience. To come out at the AO Arena and to hear all of the support from Hull was absolutely incredible; it’s what I’ve dreamt of for years, and I am so happy to have won this belt for all of the fans and my family.
"It’s been a dream come true. All the hard work I have put in for years has paid off, and the amount of messages I've been getting has been phenomenal. I've had loads of new followers, even people I haven't spoken to in ages have popped up from college and high school, and they've all been so positive."
He continued: "Being from Hull, it’s not the biggest of cities, but I am proud of where I am from. You can tell how much Hull means to me and my family from the show, and it's not even just that, I want to help put Hull on the map."
OKTAGON MMA is Europe’s premier MMA promotion, with the highest yearly attendance figures of any MMA organisation in Europe. They have previously drawn in crowds of over 20,000 people and hope to elevate their brand to the international stage. Fans can watch all eight episodes of the OKTAGON challenge on Channel 4 Sport.
