Oktagon Champ Jonas Magard is done waiting: ‘I just know I’m better than him’

Former Octagonal MMA the bantamweight champion hasn’t fought in nine months and can’t afford to wait any longer for a shot at his old crown. He’s ready to hunt, but his bloodlust has taken him into hostile territory and into a new weight division.

Magard, 34, will make his featherweight debut on Saturday when he meets the hometown hero Radek Rousal at
Octagon 93live from the Winning Group Arena in Brno, Czech Republic. Magard (19-7) will be hoping to get the cold shoulder from the Brno fans hoping to see Rousal (7-2) suffer a fourth straight knockout, but the Danish veteran intends to leave the crowd speechless.

Former Octagon champion Jonas Magard explains why he’s moving down to featherweight to face Radek Rousal

“I’ve always been an outside guy,” Magard told Sherdog.com. “I’ve always been the guy who has to come and prove himself. But to be honest, I like fighting the home crowd because I don’t feel the pressure. I’m against him and everything else is white noise. Although I like to silence the crowd. I’ve done it many times.” Before Magard cemented his reputation as a card stealer, the Copenhagen native had an early start in the sport. Two years into his martial arts journey, he had already lost three of his first four fights, but did not lose faith in his fledgling career.

Magard was just a guppy in the sport before he decided he needed to train in a bigger pond. His camp didn’t give him the looks or opportunities he needed, so Magard packed his bags and moved to England to train with Carl Prince and the full Manchester Top Team roster.

Immediately after the exchange, Magard began to recognize his potential as a future champion. He rattled off victory after victory, however he had to.

“I’m very stubborn,” Magard admitted. “I may not be the most talented fighter, but I’ve always been the hardest working fighter and I’ve never thought about giving up. I’m very grateful for the losses I’ve had in my career because they built my character.”

Magard’s character helped lead him to the Octagon’s bantamweight title in 2023. The former champion is itching to get his belt back, but despite his two-fight winning streak, Magard believes that taking a risky fight against a dangerous opponent in a new division is better than sitting on the sidelines.

Moving up to featherweight, Magard fully expects to face some heavy hitters. He’s always been a heavyweight, so the cut isn’t a concern, but Rousal’s string of TKO finishes should be on his radar. Rousal is a skilled muay thi specialist and Magard is not interested in fighting in the bigger man’s wheelhouse.

“I’m not a good fit for him and I’m going to go in there and show him a whole new game,” Magard boasted. “Everything is different and I know how to mix everything up. The guys he’s fought come with only one style and I have opportunities to finish the fight anywhere.”

“Look at his opponents and what they bring. Most of them are babies, while this is my fifth main event in the Octagon. It’s not my first five-round fight and all those things are going to happen. I just know I’m better than him.”

If all goes according to Magard’s plans on Saturday, the former champion hopes to return to bantamweight, but is open to wherever that opportunity presents itself. Like a shark, he wants to stay on the hunt.

“A shark is like one big muscle; it has to keep moving or it dies,” he said. “I wasn’t the biggest fan of the name at first, but it’s definitely growing on me.”