Just two days out from OKTAGON MMA’s first event of 2025, the promotion’s top two fights will be reshuffled after the two French fighters set for action in the main and co-main events were removed from the card on Thursday.
The main event was scheduled to feature a Tipsport Gamechanger first round bout between OKTAGON middleweight champion Kerim Engizek and French newcomer Anthony Salamone, while German lightweight contender Lom-Ali Eskiev was set to face off against French veteran Damien Lapilus.
However, those plans all changed on Thursday when the promotion was made aware of the two French fighters’ respective doping violations and subsequent suspensions by the French Anti-Doping Agency, AFLD.
As a result, both Salamone and Lapilus were removed from the fight card, and replacements for both fighters will be confirmed by the promotion in the coming hours.
The development was communicated by the promotion via a written statement on social media.
“Based on information received this week, culminating on Wednesday evening, French fighters Damien Lapilus and Anthony Salamone will not participate in the OKTAGON 66 tournament,” the statement began.
“According to reports from AFLD, IMMAF, and GEMMAF—of which we were previously unaware and which the fighters did not disclose—these athletes are ineligible to compete due to prior doping violations and subsequent sanctions under articles 10.14 and 15.1.1.2 of the WADA code.
“Consequently, they have been suspended by the French federation AFLD. Although IMMAF has not issued any recommendations regarding this situation, we have decided to respect this suspension.
“Kerim Engizek will face an opponent from a prepared reserve bout, and we will announce a replacement for Lom-Ali Eskiev soon.”
