Mixed martial arts fighter Denis Frimpong is set to compete at Oktagon 85 on March 7th, but not against his originally scheduled opponent, Elias Jakobi. Due to Jakobi’s withdrawal, Tomáš Cigánik has stepped in on short notice. Frimpong shared his perspective on the recent turn of events, acknowledging the challenges but finding optimism in the new matchup.
Frimpong admitted to a turbulent few days leading up to the fight, humorously recalling a conversation with a teammate where he’d mentioned never having an opponent pull out during a training camp – only for it to happen the very next day. Despite the initial disruption, Frimpong believes the opponent change is for the best, seeing Cigánik as a “better fight” and one he had desired previously. He optimistically stated, “God’s the best of planners,” noting that the bout promises to be “a striker’s delight, a fan friendly fight.”
He elaborated on the stressful 48-hour period, detailing the difficulties of finding a replacement fighter on just 12-13 days’ notice. Several potential opponents declined due to various reasons, including weight issues, lack of readiness, or visa complications. There was even consideration of moving Frimpong to a different card five weeks later, which he declined due to family commitments. Throughout this uncertainty, he continued his rigorous training, acknowledging the mental toll of preparing for a fight that might not happen while grappling with opponent changes.
Ultimately, Frimpong expressed satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting a long-standing familiarity with Tomáš Cigánik. He noted that they both share similar professional records of 7-3 and have previously fought two of the same opponents (Peter Gabal and George Stains). Frimpong also revealed Cigánik’s history in the Irish amateur scene, where he was winning titles when Frimpong was making his amateur debut. This shared background, Frimpong suggested, makes their upcoming bout a highly anticipated and fitting matchup.
Denis Frimpong: “I’m going to be the first man to finish Tomáš Cigánik”
Frimpong delved deeper into the narrative surrounding his new opponent. He described Cigánik as a “gangster” for accepting the fight with only ten days’ notice, a challenge many fighters would shy away from even with eight weeks’ preparation. While acknowledging Cigánik’s bravery and predicting a hard-hitting contest where Cigánik has “nothing to lose” coming in on short notice, Frimpong firmly believes he holds a significant advantage.
“I do believe that I’m levels ahead of him as I am levels ahead of everyone else,” Frimpong asserted. He plans to demonstrate this superiority by becoming the first fighter to professionally finish Cigánik, who has only lost by decision in his career. Frimpong aims to deliver a definitive performance and “make a statement once again.”