Rony Paradeiser returns to action at Oktagon 84 this weekend, where he has a shot at welterweight gold opposite Kaik Brito.
The title currently sits vacant.
Slovakia’s Paradeiser (23-9) is now a veteran of the sport as well as a veteran of Oktagon MMA, Europe’s leading MMA promotion, with 22 fights under their banner to date. The 23rd will be the biggest, and not just in the sense that your next fight is always your biggest. After earning lightweight gold in 2023, Paradeiser made his return to 170lbs last year, and will now look to claim the title in his new home at welterweight.
Ahead of this Oktagon 84 main event, Paradeiser took time to answer some questions for Cageside Press as he looks to make history in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Cageside Press: Thank you kindly for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Very much appreciate it. First, how has camp been ahead of Oktagon 84, and who have you been working with in terms of training partners for this title fight?
Rony Paradeiser: It was the second time I had camp in my homeland Slovakia. Training partners come to fight with me. First and main one was Ion Surdu, he had been training whole three weeks and it was helpful a lot. And many others fighters from Slovakia and Czech.
Cageside: Kaik Brito is, like yourself, a former champion in Oktagon – when you moved to welterweight, did you expect to be fighting him someday, regardless of when and whether it was for a title?
Rony: Sure, I want to fight with the best fighters and Kaik was one of the option. Everybody from the top of welterweight. Except Ion. And I didn’t think about the title fight. Cause Ion was welterweight champion and I would not fight with him.
Cageside: Obviously there’s lots of tape on Brito so what is your take on him as an opponent, and have you seen any significant changes or improvements in his game of late?
Rony: He is still a heavy puncher and great fighter.
Cageside: After so many years at lightweight, what made you decide to move back to the welterweight division? Was it a matter of hard weight cuts and lack of energy, or did you see more opportunity there?
Rony: During the gamechanger [Tipsport Gamechanger Tournament], I was a whole year in calorie deficit. I had lack of energy, cause the whole of my focus was on diet. Any improvements on strength or power or other skills. It’s different when you are in your early twenties, the metabolism, muscles etc. Every year it was harder and harder to keep in lightweight. So the move to welterweight was some kind of logical next step.
Cageside: Is this move to welterweight permanent, or would there ever be a chance you dropped back down?
Rony: Yes, it’s absolutely permanent. I cant imagine to be in lightweight again.
Cageside: Having held gold before, what lessons did you learn from your first experience as a champion in Oktagon?
Rony: To get a championship title is hard, but to keep it is harder.
Cageside: What lessons did you learn from your fights with Losene Keita? Do you think he can go far in the UFC?
Rony: Yes sure. He is great fighter and he is actually the top 15. He can achieve a lot in UFC.
Cageside: You fought four times in 2024, just twice last year – are you hoping for another busy year in 2026? Is there a number of fights that, for you, works best?
Rony: Four times as combination with lightweight were pretty hard year. Last year only two fight, but it was mainly due to moving to welterweight. I think three fights per year are great.
Cageside: What’s your prediction to this fight?
Rony: Be smart and clever, go through first round and the belt is at home. And last but not least, I would like to say hi to all MMA fans and say thank you for your support. And also thank you for interview.
Our thanks to Rony Paradeiser, who headlines Oktagon 84 this Saturday, February 14, 2026 at the Ostravar Aréna in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
