Oktagon 81 Preview: Fluery vs Buday

It is time for Oktagon’s annual big end of year spectacular. Sunday night will see the O2 Arena in Prague open its doors for Oktagon 81. Eleven bouts will take place under the bright lights, including two for Oktagon gold.

In the main event, Tipperary’s finest Will Fleury (15-3) will defend his OKMMA Heavyweight Championship on the line for the first time, and he’s also the OKMMA Light Heavyweight Champion. The 36-year-old won the 265lb strap in March with a decision win over Lazar Todov. The Irishman is known as a “raw bastard” due to his strength and grit, and is a big unflinching personality. He’s won his last nine in-a-row and hasn’t tasted defeat since 2020, an ill-advised decision to move up a weight at the last minute during COVID. The former PFL and Bellator man is a strong wrestler who likes to wear you down and make your life miserable. Seven wins have come within the distance, and he’s shown great improvement in the striking exchanges in recent years and has a big left hand to be careful of. Martin Buday (16-2) is a world class heavyweight who recently parted ways with the UFC, going 7-1 in the promotion. The Slovakian has won his last three bouts and was undefeated in Oktagon prior to going to the world’s top promotion. The 34-year-old is the more natural heavyweight of the two, and along with that comes huge power in his punches, with six wins coming from knockout. “Badys” has always been a capable grappler and likes to play around with armlocks when in grounded situations.

Zhalgas Zhumagulov (18-9) won the OKMMA Flyweight Championship last June against Beno Adamia via decision and will defend for the first time on Sunday. The Kazakh has won his last four MMA bouts and is a UFC veteran. The 37-year-old is a great striker who likes to dominate across the fifteen minutes, and he’s one of the more powerful punchers in the division. “Zhako” is quick and keeps a high pace. David Dvořák (22-6) is another UFC veteran and has won his last two bouts. The “Undertaker” is an action fighter and is comfortable wherever the battle goes. The Czech is great at getting rear naked chokes, and he’s got the knockout touch in kickboxing ranges. Seventeen wins have come via finish, highlighting his danger. You won’t find two higher level flyweights on the European scene.

Next up we have a heated rivalry matchup. Patrick Kincl (28-12) is a former OKMMA champion and KSW title challenger. “The Inspector” is used to these big occasions and came through the old XFN extravaganzas in years past. The 36-year-old is one of the top strikers on the scene, scoring thirteen knockout wins over his storied career, mostly with punches and elbows. The Czech is also an accomplished grappler with a submission threat, with seven tap outs on his record. Robert Pukač (20-13-1) makes the sixteenth appearance for the promotion and is on his best run of form for the company with four wins on the hop. The Slovakian has a big knockout punch on him, and will rarely go for a submission. The 33-year-old often finds himself going to a decision. His last two wins have been over national legends Christian Eckerlin from Germany and David Kozma from Czechia, some big, big names.

Patrick Vespaziani (6-2) has been a big pick-up for Oktagon and has had a hat trick of wins since joining last December. The German heavyweight has won all of his victories by knockout, whether that’s on the feet with his big ham hocks or with the dreaded ground and pound on the mat. The 33-year-old brings pain and misfortune in the early minutes of contests. Daniel Škvor (10-4) has won three in-a-row after defeat to Will Fleury, and should both win, we could see a rematch next. The 36-year-old is well loved on the scene, and was a common name on the exhibition COVID shows and also competed in Glory kickboxing before then. The Czech has six MMA knockouts on his record, and the biggest threat is from a big left hand.

One of the bravest competitors of the year makes their first appearance in an MMA cage this Sunday. Pavel Tóth (debut) is known as Spicy Pája, a big name reality star in his native Czechia. He is involved with fitness and worked as a personal trainer before starring in Survivor on TV Nova. The Czech specifically requested to fight a real MMA fighter. Ondřej Raška (11-9) is the man who answered the call and will have a massive experience advantage. The Brno man has had ten promotional fights already and is a decent Jiu Jitsu player, racking up five tap outs. He’s also capable on the feet. There are ways to beat him, and all his losses have been within the distance.

Miloš Petrášek (13-8) appears for the tenth time in Oktagon and trains out of Reinders MMA. The Czech is a submission player and loves to attack kimuras every chance he gets. The choke game is another area of expertise, with the ability to put you to sleep in any position. He’s competed in pro boxing in the past and has used his fists to get four knockouts. Mateusz Strzelczyk (15-15-1) is a man who rarely needs the judges and is the type to kill or be killed. The Pole is a wildman in there and he will be winging punches looking for a big knockout. The 34-year-old will also instigate scrambles to try and find something to lock onto and get the tap. Aggression is key, and it’s a coin flip if he comes out on the right side of it.

Jonas Mågård (18-7) is a former OKMMA bantamweight champ, repeating a feat from his FEN days. The Dane trains out of Manchester Top Team, one of the UK’s top gyms. The 33-year-old is one of the sport’s premier Japanese Necktie specialists, pulling off five in pro competition. The 33-year-old is also a very capable boxer alongside his great grappling game, and can use it to dominate a decision. Elvis Silva (15-8) was victorious on his promotional debut in March, a split win over Roman Paulus. The Brazilian is a former Shooto champion and is capable wherever the fight goes. Striking is his main weapon, scoring four knockouts in his career to date. The 36-year-old mostly goes to decisions.

Veronika Smolkova (7-3) is one of Oktagon’s favourites on the women’s roster. “Sweetheart” has won her last four bouts and is developing into a great martial artist. The Slovakian is a kickboxer who loves to use knees and punches to make your life miserable. She has three knockout wins so far. Marta Sós (2-0) has shown a lot of promise in her fledgling pro career. The Pole is an arm collector, winning countless times across the codes with her patented armbar. The Czerwony Smok Poznań prospect showed striking ability last time out with a second round knockout win on the regional scene last month.

Vojtěch Khol (3-0) is one of his country’s brightest prospects coming through. The Czech had a lovely win on his Oktagon debut with a third round guillotine win. The IMMAF veteran is another who likes to implement armbars into his game, however that’s a low success technique in the men’s game at this stage. His pro debut saw him win via knockout. Hugo Vach (6-1) also one in his first promotional appearance with a decision victory. The “German Tarzan” likes to come out and trade on the feet, using his kickboxing to lamp you with punches and utilise knees and punches in the clinch. His game is all about damage.

Alex Hutyra (2-0) is another hot prospect coming through. The 21-year-old steps up to the big leagues for the first time after winning both of his pro bouts by rear naked choke so far. Grappling has been his speciality in his career to date and it will be interesting to see some of his striking. Viktor Kováč (1-1) is an IMMAF veteran and came up short on his Oktagon debut in February. The Slovakian picked up a quick knockout win elsewhere since then. Striking is his bread and butter, with massive power in his fists.

Ivan Klevets (3-3) trains out of Ankos MMA in Poznań and is looking for third time lucky in Oktagon. The Ukrainian has good wrestling skills, however it’s the striking where he comes alive most. He’s a very competent kickboxer with a knockout threat. Bartłomiej Skowyra (5-3) is on the Nemesis Fight Team in Warsaw, training with top names such as Damian Janikowski and Marian Ziółkowski. The Pole is predominantly a grappler so far, finding most joy with his rear naked choke. His gym is known for its striking, so he won’t be shy there, however he’s still way more comfortable on the mat.

Oktagon 81 is live from Prague on Sunday night from 17:00 Irish time on Oktagon.tv.