Shem Rock on re-signing with Oktagon MMA: ‘It’s where I want to be’

Towards the end of 2023, it looked like Shem Rock’s time in Oktagon MMA could be over, but now he’s back in the fold, and ready to make an impact in 2024.

The Liverpudlian made a splash with the European promotion, but appeared to have hit a contractual impasse in mid-December, with a tweet highlighting his non-involvement in upcoming shows, and a mention that he had new management, in the form of Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan, as he hinted that he could be set to hit the free agency market.

Been receiving a lot of messages regarding up coming fights and let’s say a lack of my presence
Those asking what’s next for me contact my new management @GrahamBoylan
I’m busy sharpening my tools 👀⚔️🖕🏾 pic.twitter.com/hEK2suoToA

— @ShemRockBJJ (@shemrockmma) December 13, 2023

Many assumed that meant Rock would soon be donning the yellow gloves of Boylan’s promotion, but Rock was a notable presence in Newcastle during fight week for Oktagon 52. Rock helped corner his friend, Irish fighter Denis Frimpong, to victory over Jan Siroky, and was also on hand to lend his support to his Next Generation MMA teammate Jake McHugh, who picked up a win over Armand Herczeg.

But Rock wasn’t just at the Utilita Arena to support others. He also had some business of his own to attend to, and he stepped into the cage to join fellow rising star George Staines and Oktagon commentator Bryan Lacey, who announced that Rock had re-signed with the promotion and would be competing, on the same card as Staines, at Oktagon 56 in Birmingham, England, on April 20.

🇮🇪 Shem Rock is back! 🇮🇪

The rising star has signed a new contract with Europe’s leading promotion and will perform at OKTAGON 56 in Birmingham, UK.

Who would you like to see him face on April 20?

Register for ticket presale now👇🏼
🎫 https://t.co/Qut4sw47di pic.twitter.com/Hl7jbQb3yO

— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) January 31, 2024

Chatting to me after the announcement, Rock was grinning from ear to ear after finally being able to talk about his good news, and said that staying with Oktagon represented the perfect outcome for his career.

“Is he going? Is he staying? Is he going?” he laughed, before paying tribute to the promotion and thanking the co-founders, Ondrej Novotny and Pavol Neruda, for getting a deal done.

“I’m more than happy to be with Oktagon. Oktagon gave me such a great push, they’re such a great platform. And there’s so many people on the roster that I still want to fight.

“So, I’m glad that I never had to go away and do a PFL, or a Cage Warriors. I’m happy here. It’s where I want to be. Thanks to Ondrej, thanks to Pavol.”

Rock’s last scheduled matchup, set for Oktagon 48 in Manchester last November, was supposed to see him face Czech police officer Jaroslav Pokorny, but after a heated faceoff during the official weigh-ins, a kick from Rock left his opponent hurt to the body and unable to be medically cleared to fight.

It meant that Rock missed out on the opportunity to fight close to home, but he’s already amped up for the chance to compete in Birmingham, where he said he’d happily rekindle the rivalry with Pokorny, or alternatively, face Swedish finisher Samuel Bark.

“Yeah, I’ll take either, or. Whoever wants it,” he said.

“Samuel Bark’s gonna come and fight. He’s got a bit of a name. Pokorny’s the f*****g bad blood. I’d take a good fight, or a f*****g bad blood fight. Let’s go! And I’m just ready to go!”