MMA Fighter Ejected from Cage After Provocative Celebration Sparks Chaos at Oktagon 69
By Ahmed Elashry
SME News Europe.A featherweight bout at Oktagon 69 in Dortmund, Germany spiraled into chaos on Saturday night when a post-fight celebration turned into a physical altercation between two fighters.
Max Holzer emerged victorious over Deniz Ilbay, securing a win via rear-naked choke in the fourth round. However, what followed the submission finish shocked spectators and triggered an intense post-fight brawl.
After feeling Ilbay tap, Holzer celebrated in a controversial and provocative manner—appearing to kiss and then simulate a lewd act over his grounded opponent. The taunt immediately enraged Ilbay, who jumped to his feet and began chasing Holzer around the cage, throwing wild punches.
Ilbay eventually caught up to Holzer and tackled him through the cage, sending both fighters tumbling out onto the arena floor. Footage from the event shows Holzer standing outside the cage, yelling back at Ilbay following the altercation.
The heated exchange overshadowed Holzer’s clean victory, which improved his professional record to 11-0, marking his ninth career stoppage. Ilbay’s loss drops his record to 8-2, ending his three-fight win streak.
This isn’t the first time MMA celebrations have drawn criticism. UFC star Israel Adesanya faced backlash in 2020 for a similar gesture following his win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253, likening the act to in-game taunts in video games like Call of Duty.
As of now, neither fighter has commented on the incident, and it’s unclear whether Oktagon officials will pursue disciplinary action.
