Exclusive | Doctors Doubted His Return: Niko Samsonidse Now Competing For Oktagon Championship
German featherweight Niko Samsonidse will challenge for the vacant Oktagon MMA featherweight championship on January 31, 2026, at Oktagon 83 in Stuttgart, facing Austrian contender Mochamed Machaev at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. The title bout represents a career-defining moment for the 31-year-old black belt grappler who nearly lost his fighting career to a catastrophic leg injury in 2021.
Niko Samsonidse Prepares for Oktagon Gold After Leg Break Nearly Ended His Career
Samsonidse suffered a devastating broken leg during a title fight at National Fighting Championship 3 on May 23, 2021, when his left leg snapped during a kick attempt against Mohammed Sadok Trabelsi in the second round. The injury, which occurred during competition for the interim NFC featherweight championship, forced an immediate stoppage and hospital transport. Medical professionals warned the Georgian-born fighter he might never compete again, with doctors repeatedly suggesting another operation might be necessary as the bone initially refused to heal properly.
“Well, first of all, I’m more than grateful that something like this is possible. For me it’s like a dream come true after everything I’ve been through. I had a fight, also for a title, where I broke my leg in half, and it took some time because it didn’t heal up well,” Samsonidse said in an exclusive interview with LowKick MMA. “The doctors kept telling me maybe it wouldn’t grow back together, and breaking your leg in a fight is the worst-case scenario, the fear every fighter actually has.”
The recovery period extended nearly 18 months before Samsonidse could resume full training. Metal hardware was removed from his leg in October 2022, allowing him to gradually return to throwing kicks. Despite medical uncertainty, Samsonidse maintained an optimistic outlook throughout rehabilitation, describing himself as someone who always held hope of returning to competition. His social support system proved critical during the recovery process.
“It was ups and downs, but there’s some fire in me, I couldn’t let the sport go. I was still coaching a lot, I was on the mat on the side watching,” Samsonidse explained. “Especially in this sport, there are the highest highs and the lowest lows, and it’s so important to focus on the positive side and also on what you have apart from the sport just to be stable. I’m really lucky to have proper social support, good friends, good family, which helped me through that time.”
Samsonidse returned to action in April 2023 at Oktagon 42, defeating Roman Paulus by unanimous decision in his comeback fight. The bout served as a critical test for his rebuilt leg, as he threw kicks frequently to prove the injury had fully healed. “The first fight was the perfect test for me, because I threw the leg, the kicks quite often my first comeback fight,” Samsonidse said in December 2023. “That proved to me everything was fine, being good. I’m not even thinking about my leg, about the injury itself when I’m fighting or when I’m kicking.”
Following his return, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt compiled a four-fight winning streak in Oktagon, which includes victories over Nicolae Hantea by triangle choke, Daniel Torres by rear-naked choke, and Edgar Delgado by leg kick TKO. His only loss during this period came against Losene Keita in a December 2023 title fight at Oktagon 50, where he was knocked out in the second round. Keita subsequently vacated the featherweight championship after signing with the UFC in August 2025, opening the door for Samsonidse’s second title opportunity.
Samsonidse now holds a professional record of 12-3 and ranks as the number one featherweight contender in Oktagon and 62nd in global rankings. His opponent Machaev enters the contest with a 16-2 record and is ranked 74th globally. The 25-year-old Austrian fighter trains out of Soma Fight Club and has secured notable victories over James Hendin and Makwan Amirkhani during his Oktagon tenure.
When asked about visualizing victory, Samsonidse responded with confidence about his preparation. “Yeah, that’s the dream. First I have a proper challenge, but I already visualize it and I have it in my mind,” he said.
The championship bout headlines Oktagon 83, marking the third time the European promotion stages an event in Stuttgart.
