Krzysztof Jotko will return to the cage at Bratislava at Oktagon 77 on October 4, 2025 to meet Hojat Khajevand in the semi-finals of the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament.
Octagon 77
The European MMA Champions League is backed by a 1 million euro prize pool and advanced to the final four following the quarter-finals held at Octagon 74 in Prague. Jotko, a former UFC veteran who won 11 wins under that banner, aims to secure a place in the GameChanger final and take him a step closer to paying for the tournament.
The Oktagon 77 marks the second stop in the middleweight pyramid that began earlier this year. Sixteen fighters entered the bracket. He made eighth advancements from the quarterfinals, including Jotko’s victory over Malekumazuch in August. The event on October 4th will feature two GameChanger semi-finals, with Jotko winning Khajevand in one, and defending champion Kerim Engizek facing Dominik Humburger. The winner of Jotko vs. Khajevand will compete for the six-figure wallet and tournament title at a later date.
Hojat Khajevand will be appearing in his semi-finals, bringing a professional record of 8-4. The Iranian middleweight claimed his place by submitting Piotr Waldiniak at the Octagon 74, showing his ability to end the battle on earth. Since his debut in 2017, Khajevand has participated in various European promotions and has a reputation as a durable opponent with a balanced skill set of grappling.
Some Krzysztof
Krzysztof Jotko’s preparation includes training under the guidance of coach Artem Levin, a former top candidate who spent most of the camp with the American top team at Coconut Creek and worked with wrestlers, jiu-jitsu experts and kickboxers, defeating Alex Pereira twice. Jotko described the environment as “the best in the world, with Olympic-level wrestlers and world-class grapplers.” A few weeks before the night of the fight, he moves to Germany and trains him to adapt to changes in time and climate prior to European matches at Planet Eater under Peter Sabota.
In an exclusive interview with Tim Wheaton from Lowkick MMA, he explained:
“I’ve always lived in Florida, so I’m training for all the fights in the top teams in America, and come three weeks before the fight to Peter Sabotajim, two or three weeks before the fight, and then I’m gonna eat the planet. Yeah.
“This is why this gym is the best in the world. We are the best wrestlers, the best jiu-jitsu fighters, the best kickboxers, everyone is the best. Like Artem Levin, the best kickboxer, he is a coach.
Early in his UFC career, Giottoco had the opportunity to train with Georges St. Pierre and Lori MacDonald at the Tristar Gym in Montreal. He recalls the grappling round with the GSP as “very smart and safe,” noting that their session helped develop a measured approach to the MMA exchange. During the same camp, he worked lightly with McDonald. McDonald recovered from an ankle injury supported in his battle with Robbie Roller and was exposed to high-level game planning and training protocols.
“My second fight at the UFC, I was in Montreal for eight weeks. I trained with Rory MacDonald’s George St. Pierre and Faras Zajabi.
“The beginning of my career at the UFC, I’m going to do couple rounds like the couple rounds, the effort with George. George was such a smart and very safe partner that would break you. But there aren’t too many.”
The semi-final against Khajevand will test Jotko’s ability to manage distance and pace against opponents known for their wrestling foundation and submission threats. As the Tipsport GameChanger tournament moves into the semi-final stage, Jotko’s match against Khajevand has had a major impact on both the 1 million euro championship and Jotko’s own legacy.