Karlos Vémola

Karel "Karlos" Vémola (born July 1, 1985) is a Czech former professional mixed martial artist, bodybuilder, wrestler and member of Sokol. He competed in the Light Heavyweight division of OKTAGON MMA, where he was the current OKTAGON MMA Light Heavyweight Champion. A professional competitor from 2008 to 2024, he became historically the first UFC fighter from the Czech Republic, and has also competed for UCMMA.

Background
Vémola began training in Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of six under the leadership of his father Karel Vémola and Vojtěch Smolák in Olomouc Sokol of which he is still a member. From the ages of 10 until 16, Vemola won six national wrestling titles and is also a one-time winner of the Czech Republic Wrestling Team Championship as a youth team member of the Krnov wrestling team.

After his parents divorced he moved with his mother from Hanakia to the Bohemia. He resided in the Litice nad Orlicí and he started to train in the gym in Žamberk and he became a classic bodybuilder.

Early MMA and bodybuilding career
Karlos Vémola moved to England to pursue bodybuilding.

There he became a bouncer in Tottenham. He worked as a bouncer in nightclub, which is next to the Tottenham police Station.

At a qualification tournament for British Championship of Bodybuilding he attempted to compete in the Junior Division but because he registered too late he had to compete in the Senior Division which he ended up winning. Because of this victory he was not allowed to compete at the Junior level of the championship so he refused to participate.

While working at his job as a bouncer he threw two men out of the nightclub who turned out to be MMA fighters. This led to his being asked by Alan Mortlock to fight in the Cage Fighters mixed martial arts organization. Karlos Vémola began unofficial and underground fighting at age of 21. Vémola made his professional MMA debut in 2008 when his weight was 255 lbs. Previously he fought in various street fights and underground fighting events.

Vémola won his first seven professional fights all via opening round stoppages in fights held in England by the Cage Fighters Championships and Ultimate Challenge MMA organizations. In the Cage Fighters Championship Karlos Vémola was the European Heavyweight Champion and World Heavyweight Champion.

He currently trains with the London Shootfighters team alongside MMA notables Alex Reid, John Hathaway and Michael Page.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
In April 2010, Karlos Vémola signed with the UFC. Vémola made his debut at UFC 116 against Jon Madsen. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Following his first professional loss, Vémola decided to drop down to the Light Heavyweight division. He faced Seth Petruzelli on November 13, 2010, at UFC 122 and won the fight via TKO in the first round, picking up his first victory in the UFC, becoming the first man to defeat Petruzelli by strikes, and also earning Knockout of the Night Honors.

Vémola was expected to face Brazilian Luiz Cane on March 19, 2011, at UFC 128. However, Vémola was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Eliot Marshall.

Vémola was expected to face Stephan Bonnar on August 14, 2011, at UFC on Versus 5. However, an injury has forced Bonnar to withdraw from the bout. Newcomer Ronny Markes stepped in for the injured Bonnar to face Vémola. Vémola lost the fight via unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards).

Vémola was expected to face promotional newcomer Ryan Jimmo on January 20, 2012, at UFC on FX 1. However, Jimmo was forced from the bout with an injury and the bout was scrapped.

Vémola faced Mike Massenzio in his Middleweight debut on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox 3. Vémola won by second round submission via rear-naked choke.

Vémola quickly returned to face Francis Carmont at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Vémola was expected to face former WEC Middleweight Champion Chris Leben on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155. However, Vémola was forced out of the bout and replaced by promotional newcomer Derek Brunson.

Vémola faced Caio Magalhães on June 8, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 10. Despite a dominant first round, Vémola lost the fight via rear naked choke submission in the second round and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Ultimate Challenge MMA
In his first fight after being released by the UFC, Karlos Vémola won the UCMMA Middleweight Champion by defeating then-champion Denniston Sutherland via unanimous decision on August 3, 2013.

Vémola was to fight against Mahmoud "Steel Man" Salama on February 1, 2014, at UCMMA 38. However, Salama announced that he was withdrawing from his fight against Vémola and replaced by Marvin Campbell. Moreover, Campbell did not attend the official Weigh-In and weighed shortly before the start of the event. It should be a light heavyweight bout but Campbell weighed 215 lb. Vémola defeated Campbell in the first round via submission.

Return to the Czech Republic
After he became UCMMA champion, Vémola decided he should fight in his homeland.

Karlos Vémola signed a contract for two fights with Czech MMA Association and for one fight with Gladiator Championship Fighting. One of the owners of GCF is famous Czech mixed martial artist Michal Hamršmíd.

Czech MMA artist and trainer Petr "Monster" Kníže insulted Karlos Vémola on social network and called him out. Some parts of Kníže martial arts career are unknown and his official MMA record by Sherdog is 3-0 (before fight with Karlos Vémola) but Czech MMA Association promoted his record as 21–0. Karlos Vémola accepted and both would face on November 10, 2013, at MMMA Arena 2 for middleweight title. Vémola won in third round by technical submission.

His next fight was in Prague. He fought longtime GCF Middleweight Champion Tomáš "Thor" Kužela for the GFC Middleweight Championship on December 7, 2013, at GCF 26: Fight Night. Vémola won in the first round by submission.

His next fight in Bohemia was with Polish MMA artist, Sanda and Muay Thai kickboxer Piotr Strus at MMAA Arena 3. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Vémola faced Henrique da Silva at OKTAGON 13 on July 27, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

He then faced Attila Vegh at OKTAGON 15 on November 9, 2019. He lost the fight via knockout, halting his 11-fight winning streak.

Vémola was expected to face Václav Mikulášek at OKTAGON 17 on October 17, 2020. However, Mikulášek was unable to make weight (185 lbs) and was replaced by Thomas Robertsen, whom Vémola faced in catchweight bout. Vémola won the fight via third-round submission.

The fight with Mikulášek was rebooked to take place at OKTAGON 19 on December 5, 2020. Vémola won the fight via first-round submission.

Vémola faced Alex Lohoré at OKTAGON 20 on December 30, 2020. He won the fight via unanimous decision and became OKTAGON MMA Middleweight Champion.

Vémola was scheduled to defend his title against Milan Ďatelinka at OKTAGON 22 on March 27, 2021. However, he missed weight and was stripped of the title; the bout proceeded without the championship on the line. Vémola won the fight via first-round submission.

Vémola faced Michał Pasternak on June 4, 2022, at OKTAGON 33. He won the bout via arm-triangle choke in the first round.

Vémola faced Aleksandar Ilić on July 23, 2022, at OKTAGON 34. He won the bout via arm-triangle choke in the first round.

Vémola attempted to regain his Oktagon MMA Middleweight Championship against Patrik Kincl on May 20, 2023 at OKTAGON 43, losing the bout via unanimous decision.

Vémola faced Lucas Alsina on July 29, 2023 at OKTAGON 45, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Vémola defended the Oktagon MMA Light Heavyweight Championship against Pavol Langer on October 7, 2023 at OKTAGON 47, knocking out Langer seven seconds into the bout.

Vémola faced Samuel Krištofič on December 29, 2023 at OKTAGON 51, getting knocked out in the first round.

Vémola defended the Oktagon MMA Light Heavyweight Championship against Attila Végh on June 8, 2024 at Oktagon 58, winning the fight via arm-triangle choke in the second round. After the fight Vémola end his career.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Seth Petruzelli
 * OKTAGON MMA
 * OKTAGON MMA Middleweight Champion (One time; former)
 * OKTAGON MMA Light Heavyweight Champion (One time)
 * Two successful title defence
 * Cage Fighters Championship
 * Cage Fighters Championship World Heavyweight Champion (One time)
 * Cage Fighters Championship European Heavyweight Champion (One time)
 * Ultimate Challenge MMA
 * Ultimate Challenge MMA Middleweight Champion
 * Ultimate Challenge MMA Light Heavyweight Champion
 * Gladiator Championship Fighting
 * Gladiator Championship Fighting Middleweight Champion
 * Czech MMA Association
 * Czech MMA Association Middleweight Champion
 * Night of Warriors
 * WASO -96 kg MMA World Champion
 * X Fight Nights
 * XFN Light Heavyweight Champion

Personal life
In July 2022, Vémola married his long-time girlfriend, Slovak Playboy model Lela Vémola (née Lenka Ceterová). The couple had been dating since 2017 and got engaged in 2020. They have two children together, a daughter named Lili (b. 2019) and son Rocky (b. 2021). Vémola also has two children from his previous relationship, son Karlos (b. 2010) and stepdaughter Sky (b. 2007). The family alternates between living in Prague and in London.

Media appearances
In 2010, he appeared as a fictionalised version of himself in the controversial movie Killer Bitch.