The event sees the promotion return to the open-air tennis stadium on the island of Stvanice, which has served as a memorable venue for previous summer OKTAGON shows. And Bolander, who seems to thrive in front of big, enthusiastic crowds, said she cannot wait to star in the main event of the evening.
“I’m so excited!” she said during an OKTAGON MMA Q&A.
“I hope it will meet all the expectations. I’m an athlete who loves the fans, I love the noise, the crazy music, the lights – basically everything. I love that part of the game, so I’m really excited.”
A former IMMAF amateur standout, Bolander is now making her mark in the professional ranks, and captured OKTAGON championship gold in only her fifth professional fight at OKTAGON 65.
Her promotional debut came at OKTAGON 61 against Czech former UFC veteran Lucie Pudilova in a fight she lost out via split decision. Such was the closeness of their first encounter, the pair were booked to rematch again, with the bantamweight belt on the line.
This time it was Bolander who claimed the split-decision victory as she emerged from a bloody war with championship gold around her waist.
Despite her victory, and the knowledge that she’d captured her first major professional title, Bolander didn’t go overboard during her post-fight celebrations.
“I celebrated with close friends and family. When we flew home, we were greeted with flowers and cake, then we went to a club and that was it. We just enjoyed life for a bit,” she said.
“Personally, it’s not that big of a deal for me. I just want to have good fights, and I want to see myself evolve. Honestly, I’m not that proud of the last fight, so I didn’t feel the need to celebrate too much.”
That last comment suggests there’s much more to come from the Norwegian, who’s fun-loving personality and willingness to engage with the fans has made her a popular addition to the OKTAGON roster.
While some fighters are all business, all the time, during fight week. Bolander admits that she likes to keep things light and enjoy the interactions that take place along the way, and said that she thoroughly enjoyed being in the stands at OKTAGON’s huge stadium show in Prague earlier this summer, where she got to meet the OKTAGON fans and be a part of the atmosphere without the pressure of having to actually fight.
“It was so much fun!” she enthused.
“I love the connection with the fans, and I love it when even just one person moves to my song or just vibes with it. I love it, and seeing others enjoy it too – that’s probably the closest I get to pure happiness and bliss.”
While the markets OKTAGON predominantly operates in – Czechia, Slovakia and Germany – have huge MMA fanbases, things are somewhat different back home in Bolander’s native Norway, where the sport of MMA remains banned.
But Bolander hopes that her wholesome, more fan-accessible image will serve as a positive example for the lawmakers in Norway to eventually turn the page and legalise the sport.
“I think that change will happen slowly, and hopefully, one day it will be legalised,” she explained.
“I feel like I’m playing my part in it. We need someone who doesn’t represent the ‘gangster’ style, I would say.
“I’m just me, and I represent myself. I don’t want to act like something I’m not. So I think just being myself and constantly improving is the best way to get people to focus on it, so eventually, it gets legalised in Norway.”
For now, though, Bolander’s focus is on Saturday night in Stvanice, where she’ll take on undefeated 9-0 Lucia Szabova as she looks to register the first defence of her 135-pound title.
It’s a matchup Bolander is excited for, and she’s looking forward to her fight week interactions with her opponent, and then the fight itself, where she says she has the key advantages in the bout.
“I’m super excited to meet her,” she said.
“I wouldn’t say I’m threatened. I think it’s a really good matchup. I think both of us have roughly the same skill levels, and then I would say I’m way stronger and probably in better condition, so I just can’t wait to get in there and prove it.”
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The fight card in Prague features a plethora of exciting matchups, including the four middleweight Tipsport Gamechanger quarter-final bouts as the €1 million tournament moves towards its conclusion.
Whoever the fans are travelling to Prague to support on fight night, Bolander said she hopes everyone goes home thoroughly entertained, and says she hopes to play her part in making that happen.
“It doesn’t really matter if you cheer for me or not. I just really hope you enjoy the event, and that I will satisfy every need you have when it comes to watching MMA,” she said.
“And I’m not letting you leave the arena not entertained. That will never happen as long as I’m on the card. I’m really excited to see everyone, and I can’t wait!”
