Daniel Skvor Says Just a Few Fights Remain Before Retirement

Daniel Skvor says he has only two to four fights left in his career before he plans to retire, and the 37-year-old Czech veteran puts that clock on the line this Saturday against former KSW champion Tomasz Narkun at Oktagon 95 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

Skvor (11-4) was supposed to challenge Will Fleury for the Oktagon light heavyweight title earlier this year but withdrew due to injury. He avoided surgery and now returns against Narkun, a grappling-heavy opponent he expects to test his takedown defense. "His jiu-jitsu is very good," Skvor said of Narkun. "Maybe it's a problem for me." Despite that respect, Skvor is calling his shot, predicting a finish by elbow, knee or his preferred guillotine choke inside two rounds.

What Is Daniel Skvor's Path to a Title Shot?

Daniel Skvor's title picture got complicated when Fleury lost the Oktagon light heavyweight belt to Makhmud Muradov in August, since Muradov is Skvor's own training partner. Skvor says he's unsure how to proceed because of that conflict, floating three different options: wait on Muradov's situation to sort itself out, move up to heavyweight to chase Fleury, who still holds that belt, or pivot into Oktagon's new "Stand and Bang" ruleset, which strips out takedowns and kicks and essentially turns the fight into boxing with clinching allowed. As a former GLORY kickboxer, Skvor says that format suits him and called the idea "funny," a sign he's genuinely intrigued by it as a showcase for his hands.

A heavyweight move isn't the obvious fit it might look like on paper. Skvor says his natural weight is around 100 kilograms, making him undersized even at light heavyweight, let alone against the heavyweight division's bigger frames. He ruled out moving down to middleweight entirely, so his options effectively sit between light heavyweight, a jump to heavyweight against Fleury, or the standup-only format.

Why Skvor Is Talking Retirement Now

Skvor has been fighting for 21 years without an offseason, a grind he says has left him with arthritis and joint pain that make every camp harder than the last. That context matters for how fans should read Saturday's fight and whatever comes next. He's not treating Narkun as a tune-up or a step toward a guaranteed Fleury rematch narrative. He's framing his remaining run, by his own count two to four fights, around whatever path lets him finish on his terms, title shot or not.

Betting Angle

Skvor's kickboxing pedigree and striking preference make him a live underdog in any standup-heavy exchange, and his comments about wanting "Stand and Bang" bouts suggest he sees himself as live there against most of the Oktagon roster. Against Narkun, the matchup reads as a classic grappler-versus-striker puzzle. Bettors leaning Skvor are betting he can keep the fight upright long enough to land the finish he's calling, while anyone backing Narkun is banking on him forcing the Czech veteran into deep water on the mat, where Skvor himself admits he could be exposed. With no fixed line confirmed, the smart read is to watch how the market moves on ground-control metrics and finishing rates for both men heading into fight week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Daniel Skvor fighting at Oktagon 95?

Daniel Skvor faces former KSW champion Tomasz Narkun at Oktagon 95 on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Mattoni Arena in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

How many fights does Daniel Skvor have left in his career?

Daniel Skvor says he expects to have only two to four fights remaining before retiring, citing years of accumulated wear and arthritis.

Why can't Daniel Skvor fight for the Oktagon light heavyweight title right now?

The light heavyweight title is held by Makhmud Muradov, who is Daniel Skvor's own training partner, complicating a potential title shot at that weight.

What is Oktagon's 'Stand and Bang' ruleset?

Stand and Bang is a ruleset introduced by Oktagon MMA in 2025 that removes takedowns and kicks, leaving boxing-style striking with clinching allowed, a format Daniel Skvor says suits his kickboxing background.