Igor Severino tells Max Holzer “I'm going to kill you” before OKTAGON 97 title fight

Unbeaten Holzer, fighting at home in Hannover, vowed to “flatten” the champion as both men made the 61.2kg bantamweight limit.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Fri 6 Nov, 08:57 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Igor Severino and Max Holzer face off at the OKTAGON 97 weigh-in in Hannover — Photo: OKTAGON MMA

Severino's threat came in OKTAGON's build-up video for Saturday's bantamweight title fight, shown at Friday's official OKTAGON 97 weigh-in in Hannover, where both men made the 61.2kg championship limit.

Holzer came in at 61.2kg on the money. Severino, the champion, also made championship weight.

Speaking in Portuguese in the video, shown with OKTAGON's English subtitles, Severino said: “Max, I'm going to show you what a champion looks like. I'm going to kill you, I mean it.”

On stage at the weigh-in, Holzer said: “I'm better in the stand-up, I'm better in the grappling, and I will show this tomorrow.” Asked to speak to the German fans, he said in German: “Tomorrow you'll see the first German champion. Whatever he does, I'll beat him... watch me flatten him.” The host then introduced him as the challenger looking to become the first male German champion.

Severino said at the weigh-in: “Max is good, but I am the better, and the belt coming back to Brazil.” Asked how he would get the job done in Holzer's backyard, he said: “Saturday night, I'm gonna win.”

Holzer, 24, is 12-0 and fights out of Fight School Hannover. Severino, 23, is 10-1 with one no contest. The Brazilian won the vacant OKTAGON bantamweight title at OKTAGON 85 in Hamburg in March, stopping Khurshed Kakhorov in the second round.

The sold-out card at the ZAG Arena starts at 5pm UK time on Saturday and streams on OKTAGON.TV. The title fight is the main event.