Shem Rock delivered a virtuoso performance to finish Stefano Catacoli in the first round at Oktagon 56, then issued a direct callout to his old rival, Jaroslav Pokorny.
Rock claimed a statement victory over Catacoli, with the Next Generation-trained fighter needing less than two minutes to finish his man with a rear-naked choke and claim the 10th win of his professional MMA career.
The win was a long time coming for Rock, who had seen a planned fight with Pokorny scrapped on the day of the event after his kick to the Czech featherweight leaving him with injured ribs and unable to face Rock at Oktagon 48 in Newcastle.
That event was Oktagon’s first in the UK, and Rock was expected to play a starring role. Instead, he had to watch from the stands. Then, after a change of management, there were question marks over where Rock would fight next, with his contract up for negotiation. Eventually a deal was thrashed out for Rock to stay with Oktagon, and the Liverpudlian, who fights under the Irish Tricolour, produced a memorable performance on his return to action.
“It feels good to be back in here after a year, standing next to Bryan Lacey, getting my hand raised with another first-round submission. F*****g hell, I’m made up!” he said after his victory.
“Thank you for all of the fans who come out to support me, I love you all! My brother looks like he’s having a fight over there, so I might have to go and jump in and help!”
Rock’s larger-than-life personality and exciting grappling-first fighting style has made him one of the most entertaining fighters to follow, and now he says he’s ready to step into the main event spotlight and fulfil his full potential.
“Listen, I’m 10-1 now. The biggest star in the UK outside of the UFC – no one can f*****g deny me. I want these main event slots,” he said, before turning his attention to his old rival, Czech police officer Pokorny, and a potential showdown at Oktagon 58 at Prague’s Eden Stadium.
“First, there’s a bit of unfinished business with me and ‘Jarda the Garda’ Pokorny,” he continued.
“I’m hearing in six weeks from now, there’s a 50,000-seater stadium right in his back garden. Look, this is your last chance, ‘Porky Pig.’ Sign the contract, or your chance has gone forever!”
