There is almost no promotion that can go toe-to-toe with the UFC due to its high-level operating mechanism. Dana White’s promotion is almost everywhere, with the biggest fan base in the MMA space. However, former champion Jiri Prochazka believes that there is one aspect in which the UFC is lacking, and that is exactly where a rival promotion in Europe, worth a little above $260 million, is excelling.

Besides Bellator and PFL, there aren’t many promotions that have been labeled as a rival to Dana White and Co. But Oktagon MMA has been making a lot of noise outside the US. Since its inception in 2016, it’s become one of, if not the biggest, promotions in Europe. Jiri Prochazka believes that the UFC can learn a thing or two from Oktagon for their expansion plans in the continent.

Dana White told to learn from Oktagon MMA

It’s not like the UFC hasn’t been to Europe. After all, France and the United Kingdom have become important venues in Europe for the UFC, which hosts yearly events in these two nations. On occasion, there were visits to Ireland and even Russia. However, Jiri Prochazka, who wishes to fight in his native country, recently said, “Of course, man, [the UFC should come to Europe],” indicating that there is still room for Dana White and Co. to grow in Europe.

“They’re making events in England…in Paris… So, I think it’s essential for UFC to make some main events, like, really good events in Prague, [and] maybe in Germany,” Jiri Prochazka further stated in a backstage interview at Oktagon 79. The former light heavyweight champion believes that Oktagon MMA has made better moves than Dana White’s promotion in terms of growing the reach in Europe.

Countries like the Czech Republic and Germany have emerged as countries with great MMA fan bases in the past few years. Keeping that in mind, Jiri Prochazka insists that the UFC make its move to set up events in these regions as part of its European expansion. “[That’s] a big market and big audience here in Europe because Oktagon here made lot of fans here. We just showed that European audience is really hungry for good performances,” Prochazka added.

Oktagon may be a less popular promotion than the UFC, but they do have a roster of good fighters and have earned praise from MMA fans. However, when it comes to talent, fan sentiments tilt to promotions like the Cage Warriors and KSW, which often serve as feeder systems for the UFC. Where Oktagon has built a niche, however, is stadium shows.

UFC CEO Dana White is famously a hater of doing stadium shows. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Oktagon did three! And Dana White’s most lucrative gamble at the moment, Ilia Topuria, has been clamoring for a stadium show in Spain. Yet, the CEO remains unfazed.

Besides, during the late 2000s and early 2011s, Dana White and Co. bought out their competition. So maybe they can do the same with Oktagon MMA because the promoters there expressed openness to the possibility of getting bought out by the UFC.

Oktagon boss wants the UFC to buy them or compete against them

Last year, Oktagon MMA recorded its biggest attendance for a single event. Oktagon 62 had 59,148 fans in attendance at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany. In comparison, the UFC had its biggest attendance at UFC 243, when 57,127 people showed up to watch Robert Whittaker fight Israel Adesanya. Okatgon has surpassed the UFC in this aspect, and they want to continue to set up bigger events. Dana White could choose to compete with them, according to founder Ondřej Novotný, or they could buy them out.

“They either have to destroy us or acquire us… Oktagon is still our baby, which we can still equip for the future somehow. But the end is inevitable,” Ondřej Novotný told Czech Crunch. “Honestly, the best thing would be to build it up nicely, so then the UFC would come in and buy us. Unlike some other organizations in the UFC, they’re not cocky. They are the kings of our world.”

The UFC made its debut in various countries this year, such as Azerbaijan, and on November 22nd, it’ll be touching down in Qatar for the first time. But how long do you think it will take for Dana White and Co. to capture the entire European market? Drop your comments below.