Akonne Wanliss to face Sweden’s Sahil Siraj in Oktagon’s Tipsport Gamechanger

England’s sole competitor in Oktagon MMA’s €1 million Tipsport Gamechanger tournament now has a confirmed opponent for his first round matchup.

Akonne Wanliss was named in the provisional lineup for the tournament late last year, but the identity of his opponent was not confirmed at that early stage.

That has now changed, with Wanliss officially booked to face Swedish contender Sahil Siraj in the first round of the 16-man year-long lightweight tournament, which will see the winner bank a cool €300,000.

Wanliss, known as “The Jedi,” has made an instant impact since joining the promotion last year. A blistering first-round TKO victory on his Oktagon debut in July was followed by an unfortunate no contest after a flying knee landed south of the border against opponent Jakub Bahnik in November.

In between those fights, Wanliss featured as one of the coaches for Team England in Oktagon Challenge: England vs. Ireland, which only helped build his profile within the European promotion.

Now he has the chance to gatecrash Oktagon’s lightweight elite in a tournament that includes lightweight champion Ronald Paradeiser, featherweight champion Losene Keita and former UFC featherweight Makwan Amirkhani.

Most importantly for Wanliss was the fact that his targets can no longer opt not to face him.

“I am super, super excited about the Tipsport Gamechanger,” he said.

“It’s been a crazy year, trying to get fights, having so many ranked fighters refuse to fight me, but now I am in this tournament – something I was pushing for anyway – these guys can’t run from me anymore.

“See you at the top of the mountain.”

Wanliss will take on Siraj at Oktagon 54, which takes place on March 2 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The entire first round of the tournament will be in action during the event.