Career Averages - Martin Buday
Career Averages - Marcus Buchecha
Martin Buday
Marcus Buchecha
Martin Buday - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 41 of 86 | 47% | 92 of 150 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 2 | 2:51 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 24 of 60 | 40% | 80 of 140 | 1 of 11 | 9% | 0 | 1 | 5:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 19 of 44 | 43% | 38 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 19 of 42 | 45% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 0 | 9 of 12 | 75% | 23 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:50 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 45 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 0 | 13 of 30 | 43% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:18 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 14 of 32 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 41 of 86 | 47% | 30 of 74 | 5 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 36 of 74 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 6 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 24 of 60 | 40% | 14 of 46 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 50 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 19 of 44 | 43% | 14 of 38 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 15 of 38 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 19 of 42 | 45% | 10 of 31 | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 34 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 9 of 12 | 75% | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 3 of 8 | 37% | 2 of 6 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 13 of 30 | 43% | 12 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 2 of 10 | 20% | 2 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Almeida (-210); Buday (+175)
Round 1
A couple weeks removed from the dramatic conclusion of the heavyweight decision streak, the promotion opens up its event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with big men kicking things off. The massive Buday (15-2, 6-1 UFC), who cuts a significant amount of weight to get to the 266-pound limit, will have some serious poundage in his favor when he faces Almeida (5-1, 0-0 UFC). The latter recently came over from One Championship, and he will be making a short-notice debut while looking to keep his 100% finish rate intact. The big fellas meet in the middle without a glove touch as referee Marc Goddard clocks them in, and it’s on with the show.
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Buday opts against the glove touch so he can sprint at his opponent, and he is quick to prepare himself to defend against the takedown. “Buchecha” tries for a single-leg takedown, and Buday’s sheer size allows him to squash Almeida and push him down to the mat. Buday backs off, smacks his foe’s lead leg a few times with kicks, and Goddard has the newcomer stand up. Buday jabs his way forward, and he stops another single in its tracks. Buday fights off a third by pushing Almeida to his back, landing a hammerfist or two before getting the heck out of dodge and not playing in the guard of the BJJ wiz. Goddard has Almeida stand up again, and the fighters both launch single punches at one another. Almeida scores an overhand right in an effort to set up a takedown, but he runs into a Slovakian stone wall once more.
Buday is unconcerned with the wrestling of his adversary, allowing him to open up with heavy punches including a right hand over the top that makes Almeida’s eyes go wide. Almeida shoots for a single, and Buday stops it with ease and dings his man with an uppercut. Almeida goes to the well with another single, and there is nothing to it as he gets clocked with a right hand on the break. Almeida wobbles back and tries to recover, even probing Buday with a right hand of his own, but Buday hits harder and more frequently. Buday gets right in Almeida’s face to slug with him, and Almeida wants nothing to do with mindless brawling. “Buchecha” circles around the outside to drive a knee to the midsection, and the two tie up and knee one another repeatedly. Almeida gets Buday’s attention while they trade, but his subsequent takedown is stood up without much effort. The round ends in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Round 2
Buday ambles awkwardly out of his corner to engage without any interest in touching gloves, engaging quickly with the grappler with long punches and low kicks. Almeida bobs to fake takedowns, and Buday does not bite as he punches Almeida square in the face. His leg kick is starting to do some damage as well, as he mixes it in every so often. When “Buchecha” tosses out a naked front kick, he gets smacked with a right hand over the top. Almeida rushes forward for a single, and he decides to just tackle Buday to the floor without any further technique to it. He succeeds this time, where he lands in half guard and revs up his jitz engine. Almeida softens Buday up with punches and elbows to the midsection, and Buday holds onto Almeida’s face with both hands.
Buday keeps his hands on Almeida’s face to stop him from high-amplitude strikes or a submission setup, but Almeida still wants Buday’s left arm. Almeida grips hold of a two-on-one wrist lock to set up a kimura, but Buday twist and turns his way out of it. As Buday scrambles, he inadvertently gives up his back while on his knees, and Almeida pounces like a hungry animal to finish his hunt for his prey. Almeida opts to shell Buday on both sides of the head rather than going for a sub, and some of his blows land on the back of the head. Buday scoots his way to the fencing in hopes of standing, and he takes advantage of a mistake from the grappler by hurling Almeida to his back. Almeida appears to be fading fast, laying flat on his back taking deep breaths. Buday lays on top of him, hanging out in the guard away from submission danger so he can rattle off some ground-and-pound before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 3
There is a glove touch between the heavyweights, and they start talking to one another. Buday reintroduces himself with punches and a calf kick, and Almeida has no immediate answer. Buday meanders forward, ignoring what comes his way so he can clip the newcomer with a right hand behind the ear. Almeida wobbles back, struggling to keep his composure, and Buday slowly walks him down and cracks him again with a left. Almeida shoots in for a takedown that is telegraphed, and he blows past his opponent. Buday loops a left hand up top, and it is one-and-done as he has to defend from a takedown. The Slovakian pushes his weight on the back of Almeida’s neck to hold him down, and he stops another shot and misses a knee by a matter of inches. Almeida is a dog with a bone looking for takedowns, but while the spirit is willing, the flesh is spongy and weak. Buday nails Almeida at any open opportunity when not shutting down the takedown, and he decides that it is time to wade into the guard at the midpoint of the round.
Buday lowers himself down and starts beating down the grappler with elbows, with Almeida nearly pulling guard to get him there. As Buday keeps striking, he gets a bit reckless and sits up, and this allows “Buchecha” to explode and swirl around to take Buday’s back. Buday turns, and in the process, Almeida gets both hooks in and secures back control. Buday flails and forces Almeida off of his back, allowing Almeida to stand up and hover behind him smacking him with short shots on the side of the head. Buday stands, and Almeida rolls to set up a crucifix but winds up on his back. Buday starts raining down Donkey Kong-esque punches while Almeida keeps his knee up as an additional blocking mechanism. The close, messy fight comes to a close as both big men fall to their back in exhaustion after three rounds of MMA without a stoppage.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Buday)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Almeida)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Almeida)
The Official Result
Martin Buday def. Marcus Almeida via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Martin Buday, noting he is the more well-rounded fighter with decent wrestling, takedown defense, and striking. He considers Marcus Buchecha one-dimensional, a BJJ specialist, and believes Buday can out-technique him and win a boring decision. He is surprised Buday is the underdog and will not bet on this fight.
Big Brady picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite BJJ and the massive grappling gap. He notes Buchecha's striking is a work in progress but believes his takedowns and top control will be too much for Budai, who has poor defensive grappling. He predicts an early finish, likely by ground and pound or submission in round one.
Buday is expected to keep the fight upright, utilize his striking and cardio advantage, and break down Buchecha for a round three TKO. Buchecha is a high-level BJJ specialist but his wrestling is not good, so Buday should avoid the ground.
The MMA Guru picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite jiu-jitsu credentials as a multiple-time world champion and ADCC champion. He acknowledges Buchecha's MMA transition and toughness shown in the Rugrug fight, despite the loss. He believes Buchecha's takedown ability and top pressure will be too much for Martin Buday, who he calls a 'plotter' but notes Buday's solid UFC record. He predicts an early submission, specifically round one.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 58 of 107 | 54% | 142 of 211 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 5:06 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 0 | 36 of 141 | 25% | 45 of 154 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 17 of 39 | 43% | 41 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:10 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 0 | 14 of 51 | 27% | 16 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 0 | 28 of 44 | 63% | 44 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 0 | 12 of 47 | 25% | 13 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 57 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:32 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 0 | 10 of 43 | 23% | 16 of 51 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 58 of 107 | 54% | 29 of 72 | 3 of 4 | 26 of 31 | 49 of 93 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 36 of 141 | 25% | 19 of 120 | 6 of 6 | 11 of 15 | 32 of 137 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 17 of 39 | 43% | 7 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 13 | 17 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 14 of 51 | 27% | 6 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 10 | 13 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 28 of 44 | 63% | 13 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 13 of 15 | 22 of 35 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 12 of 47 | 25% | 8 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 13 of 24 | 54% | 9 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 19 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Uran Satybaldiev | 10 of 43 | 23% | 5 of 38 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 40 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo initially wanted to pick Martin Buday but changed his mind after rewatching Buday's fight against Andre Arlovski, where Buday struggled to outwork a 45-year-old. He notes Kennedy Nzechukwu has power and takedown defense, and despite being gun-shy at times, he can turn fights around. Angelo picks Kennedy but suggests a prop bet for better value due to the steep odds.
Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu despite acknowledging his inconsistency. He believes Martin Buday's game is limited to cage pushing and that Nzechukwu is the much better striker with more power and cardio. He expects a late finish, possibly a third-round KO.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Nzechukwu. He shares concerns about Nzechukwu's mental fragility but thinks Buday is not the fighter to exploit it. Connor notes that Buday's record is unimpressive and he hasn't faced killers, while Nzechukwu is a good athlete for his size. He warns that Nzechukwu starts slow, which could allow Buday to get comfortable, but ultimately sees Nzechukwu's skills prevailing.
Buday will make the fight close by engaging in the clinch, but Nzechukwu's athleticism advantage and damage once back in space will cause problems. Nzechukwu is expected to win on the scorecards.
The Guru is confident in Kennedy Nzechukwu, mocking Martin Buday's poor physique and calling him out of shape. He believes Nzechukwu's reach and dynamism will be too much for Buday, and predicts a first-round TKO via big shots. He notes Buday's training with Tom Aspinall but doesn't think it will help.
Zane picks Nzechukwu, noting he is more technical, diverse, and athletic than Buday. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's confidence issues and tendency to get scared off by aggression, but believes Buday's slow, steady pressure won't overwhelm him. Zane points out that Buday is durable but not powerful, and Nzechukwu has many options to win, though he could still lose if Buday just leans on him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 74 of 119 | 62% | 98 of 147 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4:58 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 0 | 54 of 84 | 64% | 165 of 199 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:40 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 14 of 25 | 56% | 16 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 55 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:18 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 0 | 27 of 46 | 58% | 32 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:09 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 0 | 22 of 32 | 68% | 45 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 0 | 33 of 48 | 68% | 50 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:01 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 0 | 24 of 31 | 77% | 65 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 74 of 119 | 62% | 34 of 69 | 26 of 33 | 14 of 17 | 54 of 97 | 20 of 22 | 0 of 0 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 54 of 84 | 64% | 24 of 51 | 25 of 27 | 5 of 6 | 23 of 48 | 31 of 36 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 14 of 25 | 56% | 8 of 17 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 12 of 22 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 8 of 21 | 38% | 5 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 16 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 27 of 46 | 58% | 14 of 29 | 8 of 12 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 37 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 22 of 32 | 68% | 8 of 16 | 11 of 12 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 14 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 33 of 48 | 68% | 12 of 23 | 14 of 16 | 7 of 9 | 23 of 38 | 10 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 24 of 31 | 77% | 11 of 18 | 13 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 18 | 13 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Cody picks Arlovski, citing his experience and tendency to win close decisions. He notes that Buday has low output and poor wrestling, and that Arlovski is a fan favorite who often gets the nod in close fights. Cody believes Arlovski can outpoint Buday in a low-volume affair, but admits it's a risky pick.
Daniel thinks Buday will win the fight by pinning Arlovski against the fence and wearing him down with dirty boxing. However, he is hesitant to lay the price because similar prospects like Tanner Boser and Philipe Lins failed to finish Arlovski. He notes that Aspen Ladd did his job at a similar price, so he expects Buday to win but is not interested in the bet.
The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.
The host picks Buday, expecting him to be pissed off after his last loss and to pressure Arlovski. He thinks Buday's clinch work and forward pressure will wear on Arlovski, and hopes Buday goes for takedowns to finish easily. He recommends Buday inside the distance at +150.
Paul leans toward Arlovski, noting that Buday has been out struck in recent fights and that Arlovski has a history of winning split decisions. He believes Arlovski's durability and experience will be key, and that Buday lacks the power to finish him. Paul expects a boring decision win for Arlovski.
The Guru picks Martin Buday over Andrei Arlovski. He notes Arlovski's age and recent KO losses. He likes Buday's pressure game plan and training with Tom Aspinall. He believes Buday will lean on Arlovski in the clinch and break him down with body shots.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamil Gaziev | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Martin Buday | 0 | 49 of 98 | 50% | 60 of 114 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shamil Gaziev | 0 | 7 of 17 | 41% | 12 of 23 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Martin Buday | 0 | 36 of 73 | 49% | 45 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:08 | |
| 2 | Shamil Gaziev | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Martin Buday | 0 | 13 of 25 | 52% | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamil Gaziev | 8 of 20 | 40% | 8 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Martin Buday | 49 of 98 | 50% | 35 of 79 | 14 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 35 of 73 | 5 of 10 | 9 of 15 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shamil Gaziev | 7 of 17 | 41% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 15 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Martin Buday | 36 of 73 | 49% | 27 of 59 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 49 | 4 of 9 | 9 of 15 | |
| 2 | Shamil Gaziev | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Martin Buday | 13 of 25 | 52% | 8 of 20 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Buday (-148), Gaziev (+124)
Round 1
The year-ending UFC pay-per-view is upon us, and with a record number of fights for the organization, it has been one heck of a 2023 calendar. Before fans receive a much-needed respite over the holidays, a dozen matchups of high intrigue will play out in Las Vegas. It may not start with 12 drummers drumming, but when the heavyweights open up the billing, the thumps of the two big men laying into one another might sound like percussion. Getting things started will be once-beaten, surging Buday (13-1, 4-0 UFC) and the undefeated Gaziev (11-0, 0-0 UFC). Despite their heft, the knockout rates of these burly gentlemen that will combine for 525 mighty pounds—not counting any weight cut—are not through the roof. Referee Mark Smith will nevertheless be on his A-game for the card opener, one that begins with a bump of large fists. Gaziev takes the center of the cage, and he sets up immediate counters when Buday lumbers towards him. Gaziev cuts off his foe with a two-hook combo, making Buday take a second look at coming in. Gaziev sticks out a sharp jab, and he flashes a mean grin while stalking after Buday. Gaziev marks up Buday’s nose with combinations, and he follows a few punches with a knee up the middle. Buday grabs hold of him after absorbing the flush knee to the breadbasket to slow down the surging offense of the UFC debutant. Gaziev pushes off, and he loads on power punches while further busting Buday up. Buday circles away, and he gets backed up to the fence and takes a knee that partially bounces off his guard. Buday escapes, and Gaziev walks him down and blasts him in the face with a shovel uppercut that makes Buday’s nose leak blood. Buday starts blinking and brings his hands up to cover his face, and he backs off in dire trouble. Smith recognizes that there is a nasty cut opened up either under his left eyebrow or on his eyelid, and he pauses the round and brings in the doctor to check on his condition. Buday is cleared to continue, and he thanks Smith by shooting in for a takedown. Gaziev steamrolls him over and pushes Buday to his back, where he proceeds to target the bloodied eye with punches and elbows. Gaziev moves to half guard, and he grinds his elbow mercilessly on Buday’s mouth and throat. Gaziev sits up and busts Buday in the face with a few left hands, and blood continues to leak out of Buday’s eye. Buday turns over as he continues to take punishment, and he fights to a knee but is wrenched down by the undefeated fighter. Gaziev drills a knee to the posterior, and when Buday stands up, Gaziev follows him with a knee on the jaw right before the bell sounds.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Round 2
Smith brings in the doctor to again take a look at Buday’s eye, who checks on Buday’s vision and condition. The physician informs Smith that Buday can still continue, and the second round begins. Gaziev wants to waste little time as he searches for a finish, marching Buday down and slugging him in the face with ruthless right hands and elbows. Buday shells up, his back against the cage wall, and Gaziev lays into him with powerful blows.
Smith implores Buday to fight back, and Gaziev drills his foe in the body with a right hand that makes Buday double over. Gaziev continues hurling punches as Buday wilts but does not go down, and Smith recognizes that Buday has nothing left to offer and waves off the match.
That makes it a perfect 12 up with none down for the debuting Gaziev, who has notched 11 of his 12 victories inside the distance.
The Official Result
Shamil Gaziev def. Martin Badys R2 0:56 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Shamil Gaziev, impressed by his power, cardio, and toughness. He notes that Buday has faced weaker competition and that Gaziev's power is a different level. He has a quarter-unit bet on Gaziev at +155.
Big Brady picks Martin Buday to win by second-round TKO, favoring Buday's cardio and size. He notes Gaziev's early finish power but poor cardio, and believes if Buday survives the first round, he will break Gaziev in deep waters. Brady highlights Buday's brown belt in BJJ and volume striking (over 5 significant strikes per minute). He expects Buday to wear on Gaziev against the cage, take him down, and finish with ground and pound.
Cody picks Buday, arguing that Gaziev has poor cardio and will fade after the first round. He notes that Gaziev's wrestling is not elite and his striking is bad, while Buday has good cardio and can push a pace. Cody believes Buday will survive the early onslaught and take over in later rounds, winning by TKO or decision. He sees Buday as the safer pick.
Jeff Fox picks Shamil Gaziev by knockout, stating that he likes Gaziev's straight punches and the way he attacks. He believes Gaziev will land one to Martin Buday's big skull and finish him. The prop is at plus 250.
Lucrative James picks Shamil Gaziev as an underdog. He believes Gaziev has more finishing upside early, is more athletic, and hits harder. He criticizes Martin Buday's plodding style and porous striking defense, noting Buday has been cracked by lesser fighters. He says it's Gaziev or pass, and that laying minus 200 on Buday is not advisable.
The host picks Buday, praising his pace, pressure, durability, and cardio. He expects Buday to stuff Gaziev's early takedown attempts, then take over in rounds two and three, breaking Gaziev in the clinch and finding a late finish. He notes that Gaziev's cardio looks sketchy and that Buday will be the better striker and more durable. He predicts a third-round stoppage for Buday.
Paul picks Gaziev as an underdog, noting that Buday has struggled against bottom-level heavyweights and that Gaziev has a wrestling advantage. He acknowledges that Gaziev's cardio is a concern but believes if Gaziev can get early takedowns, he can control the fight. Paul is not fully confident but sees value at +135, especially since Buday has not faced many wrestlers.
The Guru picks Shamil Gaziev over Martin Buday, criticizing Buday as an out-of-shape heavyweight with no grappling or striking skills. He highlights Gaziev's regional credentials and finishing ability. He predicts Gaziev will get a takedown and submit Buday with an arm triangle in round one.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 26 of 61 | 42% | 27 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Josh Parisian | 0 | 42 of 67 | 62% | 62 of 91 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:56 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 26 of 61 | 42% | 27 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Josh Parisian | 0 | 42 of 67 | 62% | 62 of 91 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:56 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 26 of 61 | 42% | 15 of 49 | 6 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 20 of 47 | 6 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Josh Parisian | 42 of 67 | 62% | 35 of 60 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 28 of 49 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 26 of 61 | 42% | 15 of 49 | 6 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 20 of 47 | 6 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Josh Parisian | 42 of 67 | 62% | 35 of 60 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 28 of 49 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Buday fairly confidently, noting Buday has power, solid footwork, and better cardio. He thinks Buday should be the better striker and have takedown defense to keep it standing. He expects a decision win and suggests looking at round lines, possibly over 2.5 rounds.
Big Brady picks Martin Buday to win by decision, but is very hesitant. He notes Buday's skills (brown belt in BJJ, good top game) but criticizes his game plan of holding opponents against the cage and not using takedowns. He points out that Buday has attempted zero takedowns in his three UFC fights. He believes Buday could easily win if he wrestles, but doubts he will. He calls the fight 'disgusting' and says he wants nothing to do with it.
Cody picks Buday, expecting a boring decision. He notes Buday's style of clinching and controlling against the cage, and that Parisian has poor cardio and has been taken down easily. He thinks Buday will win by volume and control, and recommends the over 2.5 rounds and Buday by decision. He also mentions Buday over 56.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks.
James sees value on Parisian at +180, calling Buday a 'cage push or bust' fighter who gassed against Jake Collier. He thinks Parisian might not gas as badly and the fight is closer than the odds suggest. However, he is not confident due to the volatility and may not bet it.
Buday is on an 11-fight winning streak and wears on opponents in the clinch, taking them down and doing damage from top. Parisian is an average heavyweight with one speed and alternating wins and losses. Buday's hard-nosed approach and tight striking defense should allow him to pull away late and win by decision. However, the line at -200 is a bit wide as Parisian could have grappling success.
Paul picks Buday, agreeing it will be a slow heavyweight fight. He notes Parisian's poor performances and that Buday is younger and more effective in the clinch. He thinks Buday by decision is likely and likes the over 2.5 rounds. He also mentions Buday over 56.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks.
The MMA Guru picks Martin Buday over Josh Parisian, stating that Parisian is dangerous but Buday has better conditioning, clinch work, and cardio for a heavyweight. He notes Buday's controversial win over Lukasz Brzeski and his performance against Jake Collier. He expects Buday to outwork Parisian against the cage and in the clinch, leading to a decision or late finish.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 98 of 177 | 55% | 145 of 229 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:45 |
| Jake Collier | 0 | 94 of 207 | 45% | 107 of 226 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 27 of 51 | 52% | 30 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Jake Collier | 0 | 45 of 99 | 45% | 48 of 107 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:57 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 0 | 38 of 65 | 58% | 51 of 79 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Jake Collier | 0 | 27 of 55 | 49% | 29 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:20 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 0 | 33 of 61 | 54% | 64 of 96 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:17 |
| Jake Collier | 0 | 22 of 53 | 41% | 30 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 98 of 177 | 55% | 66 of 142 | 24 of 27 | 8 of 8 | 72 of 143 | 19 of 27 | 7 of 7 |
| Jake Collier | 94 of 207 | 45% | 63 of 175 | 22 of 23 | 9 of 9 | 77 of 185 | 15 of 17 | 2 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 27 of 51 | 52% | 20 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 5 | 26 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jake Collier | 45 of 99 | 45% | 32 of 85 | 7 of 8 | 6 of 6 | 43 of 93 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 5 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 38 of 65 | 58% | 22 of 48 | 14 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 24 of 46 | 14 of 19 | 0 of 0 |
| Jake Collier | 27 of 55 | 49% | 20 of 48 | 6 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 46 | 9 of 9 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 33 of 61 | 54% | 24 of 51 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 22 of 48 | 4 of 6 | 7 of 7 |
| Jake Collier | 22 of 53 | 41% | 11 of 42 | 9 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 46 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Cody picks Buday at plus money, noting that both fighters have poor recent performances. He believes if Buday uses his size and grappling to lean on Collier and push him against the cage, he can win. He is concerned about Collier's cardio after his last fight and thinks Buday's path to victory is through control and wearing Collier down.
Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Collier's path to victory is either instant or leads to slow disaster. He points out that Collier was a middleweight who moved up and lacks the fitness to carry the weight, whereas Buday is a solid heavyweight who can fight into shape. Connor emphasizes that Collier's best wins are against fighters who couldn't match his pace, but Buday can sustain his own pace.
Paul picks Collier, citing his volume and cardio advantage. He notes that Collier can land over 100 significant strikes and Buday has low volume. He predicts Collier wins by decision, as Buday is not likely to finish. He also mentions a prop on Buday under 65.5 significant strikes for PrizePicks.
Zane picks Buday because he has the durability and patience to weather Collier's early storm, and Collier historically fades after a strong start. He notes that Buday is a competent heavyweight who can sustain a patient pace, while Collier's lack of fitness and tendency to gas out make him unreliable. Zane is surprised the odds are even, as he sees Buday as a clear favorite.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 66 of 188 | 35% | 66 of 188 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 0 | 118 of 273 | 43% | 124 of 280 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 25 of 63 | 39% | 25 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 0 | 41 of 104 | 39% | 47 of 111 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 0 | 19 of 55 | 34% | 19 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 0 | 43 of 89 | 48% | 43 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 0 | 22 of 70 | 31% | 22 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 0 | 34 of 80 | 42% | 34 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 66 of 188 | 35% | 50 of 169 | 3 of 6 | 13 of 13 | 65 of 187 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 118 of 273 | 43% | 49 of 182 | 51 of 69 | 18 of 22 | 116 of 268 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 25 of 63 | 39% | 20 of 56 | 0 of 2 | 5 of 5 | 24 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 41 of 104 | 39% | 19 of 74 | 16 of 21 | 6 of 9 | 39 of 99 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 19 of 55 | 34% | 14 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 55 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 43 of 89 | 48% | 18 of 59 | 15 of 20 | 10 of 10 | 43 of 89 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 22 of 70 | 31% | 16 of 63 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 22 of 70 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Łukasz Brzeski | 34 of 80 | 42% | 12 of 49 | 20 of 28 | 2 of 3 | 34 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Martin Buday due to his power, noting that Brzeski doesn't like getting hit and may cower. However, he doesn't like the odds at 2-to-1, so he won't bet the moneyline but will use Buday in knockout kings daily fantasy.
Big Brady picks Martin Buday to win by second-round finish. He notes that Brzeski has terrible cardio, gassing within the first two minutes, and is undersized. Buday uses his size well, pushing opponents against the cage and wearing them down. Brady expects Buday to eventually finish Brzeski, possibly by knockout or ground and pound.
Cody picks Martin Buday, citing his size advantage (30+ lbs) and clinch-heavy style. He notes Brzeski is smaller, may not be on PEDs anymore, and has a limited gas tank. Cody expects Buday to wear him down and finish late in the second or third round.
Daniel Levi picks Martin Buday, describing him as a real heavyweight who imposes his size and will. He notes that Buday weighs 265 pounds and uses brutal knees and elbows against the fence. In contrast, Brzeski is lighter and has a failed drug test, so Levi expects Buday to dominate.
The host likes Buday, mentioning he has power and volume. He also notes that Brzeski doesn't look good on the skills. He mentions a bet on Buday inside the distance at -110 and round two at +550.
Paul picks Martin Buday, agreeing with Cody's analysis. He notes the over 1.5 rounds line has moved to -175, but he prefers to look for an over 2.5 or fight goes to decision prop, as Buday tends to grind out wins late.
The host picks Martin Buday, citing a 35-pound weight advantage and expecting him to wear out Łukasz Brzeski against the cage for a third-round TKO. He notes Brzeski's positive steroid test and questions his technique, suggesting he looked better on regional shows than on the Contender Series.
Marcus Buchecha - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 8 of 13 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 1 | 0 | 1:09 |
| Ryan Spann | 1 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 20 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:56 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 1 | 0 | 1:05 |
| Ryan Spann | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:29 | |
| 2 | Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 4 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Ryan Spann | 1 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Buchecha | 8 of 13 | 61% | 4 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Ryan Spann | 15 of 27 | 55% | 11 of 22 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Buchecha | 4 of 6 | 66% | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Ryan Spann | 10 of 18 | 55% | 7 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 10 | |
| 2 | Marcus Buchecha | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ryan Spann | 5 of 9 | 55% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Almeida (-150); Spann (+125)
Round 1
From one all-time great grappler in Vieira to another in “Buchecha” Almeida (5-2-1, 0-1-1 UFC) we go. The big man from Brazil is still seeking his first UFC victory, and he will be given the opportunity to do so at the expense of massive ex-light heavyweight Spann (23-11, 9-6 UFC). The Texan once weighed 205 pounds, and he bulked up to a sleek, svelte 264 pounds for this one, or about 11 pounds higher than the established heavyweight he is battling now. To maintain control of the big fellas, referee Herb Dean may need maximum effort. Gloves are touched before they are traded.
Almeida slams a low kick home, which lands with a resounding thud. Spann bounces back and forth to swing a one-two, and Almeida pushes off his face as a finger scrapes Spann’s eye. Spann signals to Dean that he was fouled, and Dean tells him to fight on. From across the cage, Almeida sprints at Spann to take the fight down, and Spann counters with a brief guillotine choke before letting it go to scramble. With Almeida not quite taking the fight down, Spann hovers over him bludgeoning him with his fists. Almeida fights out of the worst of it and turns to his knees to power back to his feet, and he immediately searches for a level change. Almeida wrenches his foe to the floor, and Spann’s attempted guillotine falls apart seconds after he tries for it. Almeida threatens with an arm-triangle choke, and Spann pulls out of it and rips himself back up to his feet. Spann runs towards the cage to escape, not knowing if Almeida is hot on his heels, and he bounces off of it and takes a deep breath. Spann re-engages, and he pushes on the back of Almeida’s neck when Almeida pursues a takedown.
Spann drills his foe with an uppercut and controls Almeida to push him to his back for a moment, and when Almeida turns to his knees, Spann lets him flip over so he can knee him in the ribs. Spann backs away, and Almeida slowly lumbers his way back to his feet. Spann offers up a front kick on the jaw, and “Buchecha” drills his front leg with a kick that makes Spann take a very funny step. Almeida goes for a one-two to set up a double, and when Spann shoves him to the mat, the American turns to escape a sudden heel hook that came out of nowhere. Almeida scrambles to hunt for a takedown, and Spann uses a guillotine to threaten just long enough to bulldoze Almeida over. With Almeida on his knees, Spann connects with a strong knee to the side. Almeida pushes him off, and Spann stands up and just waits until the oddball round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Spann
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Spann
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Spann
Round 2
A glove touch kicks off the round, both men breathing a big hard after a frenetic five-round stretch. Almeida pushes out with his fingers outstretched, and Spann complains about a poke as Dean calls time and issues a very hard warning to “Buchecha.” They resume shortly thereafter, with Spann standing in the pocket ready to throw hands. Before he can, Almeida once more leads with his fingers out, and Dean shows him how to close his fist. Almeida swings after the break, aiming for a takedown after it. Spann is wise to it and uses his guillotine to not threaten the actual submission but control the posture well enough to force Almeida to think about another angle. Almeida turns his way out of it and works his way back to his feet, as Spann does not want to chill out in the guard. On his feet again, Almeida prods out a solid jab.
Spann works around the jab, swinging all his might behind a left hook and a follow-up straight right hand that smash about as cleanly on the jaw as one can. Almeida crumples to this back, eyes staring off into space and not remotely ready to defend anything else as he is all done.
Dean rushes between them to make sure Spann is not about to batter his doomed opponent further. Spann knows his work here is done and proceeds to dance around the cage, as he has now become the first fighter in MMA to finish “Buchecha.”
The Official Result
Ryan Spann def. Marcus Almeida R2 2:10 via KO (Punches)
Angelo picks Ryan Spann confidently, calling him the much better striker with better cage awareness and killer instinct. He notes that Marcus Buchecha needs to get the fight to the ground or pray that Spann fades, but Spann has power and takedown defense that should hold up. He dismisses Buchecha's UFC performances as unconvincing.
Big Brady picks Marcus Buchecha over Ryan Spann. He questions Spann's fight IQ and training habits, noting Spann is a light heavyweight moving up. He believes Buchecha's size and grappling will be too much, predicting a first-round submission as long as Buchecha fights smart.
The host is tempted to bet Spann as a slight underdog because Buchecha has terrible cardio and poor striking defense, while Spann has knockout power and better cardio. However, Spann has bad fight IQ, making it risky. He notes Buchecha is awful and he has made money betting against him before. He says if Spann wins, it will likely be inside the distance, so the moneyline is better than the fight spread.
James picks Buchecha, citing Spann's poor cardio and tendency to fade after round one. He believes Buchecha's durability, submission defense, and will to win will allow him to survive early danger and take over in later rounds.
Buchecha is a BJJ legend but has struggled to get takedowns and has poor striking. Spann has knockout power and a sneaky guillotine, but he has mental lapses and often gets finished early. Buchecha should be able to get Spann to the ground and submit him early, but the -145 price is not great value.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 24 of 48 | 50% | 58 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:37 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 27 of 44 | 61% | 47 of 66 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 0 | 0 | 6:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 9 of 18 | 50% | 23 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 3 of 10 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 | 0 | 2:22 | |
| 2 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 7 of 18 | 38% | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 25 of 35 | 71% | 40 of 52 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:39 | |
| 3 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 8 of 12 | 66% | 28 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:49 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 4 of 4 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | 24 of 48 | 50% | 21 of 43 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 14 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 27 of 44 | 61% | 23 of 38 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 12 | 2 of 4 | 23 of 28 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 9 of 18 | 50% | 7 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 of 5 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 7 of 18 | 38% | 6 of 15 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 25 of 35 | 71% | 23 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 3 | 23 of 28 | |
| 3 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 8 of 12 | 66% | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 11 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nzechukwu (-130); Almeida (+110)
Round 1
There is only one more heavyweight fight tonight, and it is as quintessential “striker vs. grappler” as it gets. Former light heavyweight power puncher Nzechukwu (14-6, 8-6 UFC) would like nothing more than to shut the lights out of ex-One Championship fighter Almeida (5-2, 0-0 UFC). Submission specialist “Buchecha” has recorded all of his wins in Round 1 while his two losses came on the scorecards, and he will hope he does not earn a third defeat tonight. The third man in the cage for this clash that could go anywhere will be referee Herb Dean. The big men bump fists.
Almeida strikes first with a body kick, and he uses it to close in on the Fortis MMA fighter to pursue a single. Nzechukwu sees it coming from a mile away and hops to the side to stop it. They feint and fake at one another, with Nzechukwu staying extremely low expecting another shot. It comes, and “Buchecha” wrangles Nzechukwu to his knees and slips around to briefly take his back standing. Nzechukwu rolls over the moment that Almeida drops down to pursue a leglock, and he gets his leg far enough out so that he is not in danger. While waiting for Almeida to knock it off, Nzechukwu hammers the back of his thigh with powerful elbows. Nzechukwu bursts back to his feet by rushing towards the wall and walking up it, and Almeida clings to him from behind for a possible mat return. Almeida transitions from a double to a single and gets it, stepping right into half guard. Nzechukwu scoots back upright again, only for Almeida to chuck him back to the mat like a side of beef.
This time, Almeida takes his back, and he hooks up a partial body triangle but lets it go to maintain control when Nzechukwu starts to scramble. Nzechukwu crawls to the fencing and back upright, and he keeps himself afloat while Almeida wrestles him from behind. With Nzechukwu’s back to the wall, Almeida leans on him until Nzechukwu turns him around. Nzechukwu plants a knee square on the groin, clacking off the cup with an audible popping sound as Dean instantly calls time. Almeida wanders to a neutral corner and drops to a crouch, grimacing as he massages his sore groin. He stands back up and drapes his arms over the cage to try to get his wind back. Jostling his cup around, he is good to go after about a minute. Dean tells Nzechukwu to keep it clean, and they get back to business. Nzechukwu drives home a right hand around the guard, backing Almeida up but getting his lead leg grabbed in the single attempt from “Buchecha.” Nzechukwu hops around and manages to get out of it, and Almeida sells out for a sacrifice throw and falls to his back. Nzechukwu drops down on top of his foe to land hammerfists until Almeida is about to scramble, so Nzechukwu abandons ship and stands back up. Nzechukwu times a crisp knee on the jaw, and he starts laying into Almeida with power punches. The Fortis MMA-trained athlete drops Almeida with his punch combination and opens a cut on the cheek, and as he is battering the former One athlete, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu
Round 2
The fighters clap hands, but as soon as they do, Nzechukwu grabs his opponent’s hand and jacks him in the jaw with his other. Almeida backs off, and he suddenly shoots in for a takedown. As he ducks in to change levels, Nzechukwu inadvertently pokes him in one if not both eyes. “Buchecha” falls over to his back, and the commentary booth quizzically wonders whether he injured himself during the shot. The replay shows Nzechukwu’s fingers jamming into both of his opponent’s eyes, and he needs the doctor to come in so he can wipe his eye out with a cloth. Almeida is clearly compromised from it and none too thrilled by the foul, and he blows his nose in frustration. While Almeida recovers, Dean sighs heavily and brings Nzechukwu to the center of the cage to deduct a point. After three minutes pass, the round resumes with less than 30 seconds gone on the timer. Nzechukwu reintroduces himself with a clubbing left hand on the temple, and he goes for another but misses the mark. When he tries a third, Almeida changes levels to shoot in on his hips. Nzechukwu backs off to lean on the fence to keep his balance, and Almeida circles around from behind to hold on and possibly wrest him to the mat. Almeida breaks off, gets off a right hand and then falls over lobbing a kick. Nzechukwu races after him and starts bombarding him when Almeida stands, and Almeida topples over to his back. Nzechukwu signals for him to get back up, so Almeida answers him and sprints forward to tackle Nzechukwu to the floor. During the ensuing scramble, “Buchecha” secures back control, and this time he hooks up a low body triangle.
Rather than attack from the back, Almeida attempts to slither over to get mount, all while searching for an arm-triangle setup. He manages to get into full mount and starts hammering his opponent with elbows and powerful punches. Nzechukwu shells up to defend his face, but “Buchecha” is slowly pummeling him. Almeida chooses his strikes carefully rather than blowing out his gas tank going for broke, but this means that Dean just watches on as Nzechukwu blocks the worst of the strikes. The impact is still noteworthy, and Almeida picks up on volume and intensity as he tries to drum Nzechukwu out of there. Before gassing himself, he transitions to an armbar with seconds left in the round. He falls to his back to lock the limb lock down, but time expires before he can land it completely.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Round 3
To pick up where he left off, Almeida sells out almost immediately out of the gate for a takedown. He manages to get the fight down, but Nzechukwu is on top of him sitting on his chest. Almeida tries to get hold of Nzechukwu’s ankle for a possible sub, but there is nothing there while a 250-pound man sits on him uncomfortably. Nzechukwu threatens with his own unusual foot lock, but he realizes that he has limbs and can hit the grappler with his elbows. He lands a few, and then tries for his toe hold again before stepping into full mount. Nzechukwu puts his fingers in the fence but pulls them out and apologizes to Dean, who signals that Nzechukwu did not actually grab on it and just pushed off.
Nzechukwu is seated while Almeida has him from behind, and he gets away with a cheeky fence grab while Almeida is looking to get top control. Both men stand, and Almeida pulls guard and gets elbowed square in the face for his effort. Nzechukwu starts pummeling Almeida with strikes until Almeida grabs hold of Nzechukwu’s leg for a leglock of some kind. Nzechukwu pulls his leg out of danger and the two result in an uncomfortable, strange position where Almeida cannot swirl around to get on top because Nzechukwu has his arm hooked around Almeida’s elbow. Almeida rolls over, and Nzechukwu takes his back. Nzechukwu beats down on Almeida until the final horn sounds, and a draw is very much in play because of the point deduction in Round 2.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu (28-28)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu (28-28)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-27 Almeida)
The Official Result
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Almeida is Scored a Unanimous Draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Cody picks Buchecha, believing his BJJ will be decisive. He notes Nzechukwu's poor grappling and Buchecha's improved conditioning. He expects Buchecha to get a takedown and submit Nzechukwu, liking the submission prop.
Lucrative James picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite grappling and the fact that Kennedy Nzechukwu has been submitted multiple times. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's striking advantage but believes Buchecha's takedown ability and submission threat are too strong to ignore. He projects Buchecha as a +120 underdog.
Paul also picks Buchecha, citing his world-class jiu-jitsu and the favorable matchup against a tall, lanky opponent. He thinks Buchecha's takedown ability and top control will be too much for Nzechukwu, and likes the submission prop.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 0 | 41 of 86 | 47% | 92 of 150 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 2 | 2:51 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 24 of 60 | 40% | 80 of 140 | 1 of 11 | 9% | 0 | 1 | 5:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 0 | 19 of 44 | 43% | 38 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 19 of 42 | 45% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 0 | 9 of 12 | 75% | 23 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:50 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 45 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 0 | 13 of 30 | 43% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:18 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 0 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 14 of 32 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Buday | 41 of 86 | 47% | 30 of 74 | 5 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 36 of 74 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 6 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 24 of 60 | 40% | 14 of 46 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 50 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Buday | 19 of 44 | 43% | 14 of 38 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 15 of 38 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 19 of 42 | 45% | 10 of 31 | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 34 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Martin Buday | 9 of 12 | 75% | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 3 of 8 | 37% | 2 of 6 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Martin Buday | 13 of 30 | 43% | 12 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 |
| Marcus Buchecha | 2 of 10 | 20% | 2 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Almeida (-210); Buday (+175)
Round 1
A couple weeks removed from the dramatic conclusion of the heavyweight decision streak, the promotion opens up its event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with big men kicking things off. The massive Buday (15-2, 6-1 UFC), who cuts a significant amount of weight to get to the 266-pound limit, will have some serious poundage in his favor when he faces Almeida (5-1, 0-0 UFC). The latter recently came over from One Championship, and he will be making a short-notice debut while looking to keep his 100% finish rate intact. The big fellas meet in the middle without a glove touch as referee Marc Goddard clocks them in, and it’s on with the show.
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Buday opts against the glove touch so he can sprint at his opponent, and he is quick to prepare himself to defend against the takedown. “Buchecha” tries for a single-leg takedown, and Buday’s sheer size allows him to squash Almeida and push him down to the mat. Buday backs off, smacks his foe’s lead leg a few times with kicks, and Goddard has the newcomer stand up. Buday jabs his way forward, and he stops another single in its tracks. Buday fights off a third by pushing Almeida to his back, landing a hammerfist or two before getting the heck out of dodge and not playing in the guard of the BJJ wiz. Goddard has Almeida stand up again, and the fighters both launch single punches at one another. Almeida scores an overhand right in an effort to set up a takedown, but he runs into a Slovakian stone wall once more.
Buday is unconcerned with the wrestling of his adversary, allowing him to open up with heavy punches including a right hand over the top that makes Almeida’s eyes go wide. Almeida shoots for a single, and Buday stops it with ease and dings his man with an uppercut. Almeida goes to the well with another single, and there is nothing to it as he gets clocked with a right hand on the break. Almeida wobbles back and tries to recover, even probing Buday with a right hand of his own, but Buday hits harder and more frequently. Buday gets right in Almeida’s face to slug with him, and Almeida wants nothing to do with mindless brawling. “Buchecha” circles around the outside to drive a knee to the midsection, and the two tie up and knee one another repeatedly. Almeida gets Buday’s attention while they trade, but his subsequent takedown is stood up without much effort. The round ends in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Round 2
Buday ambles awkwardly out of his corner to engage without any interest in touching gloves, engaging quickly with the grappler with long punches and low kicks. Almeida bobs to fake takedowns, and Buday does not bite as he punches Almeida square in the face. His leg kick is starting to do some damage as well, as he mixes it in every so often. When “Buchecha” tosses out a naked front kick, he gets smacked with a right hand over the top. Almeida rushes forward for a single, and he decides to just tackle Buday to the floor without any further technique to it. He succeeds this time, where he lands in half guard and revs up his jitz engine. Almeida softens Buday up with punches and elbows to the midsection, and Buday holds onto Almeida’s face with both hands.
Buday keeps his hands on Almeida’s face to stop him from high-amplitude strikes or a submission setup, but Almeida still wants Buday’s left arm. Almeida grips hold of a two-on-one wrist lock to set up a kimura, but Buday twist and turns his way out of it. As Buday scrambles, he inadvertently gives up his back while on his knees, and Almeida pounces like a hungry animal to finish his hunt for his prey. Almeida opts to shell Buday on both sides of the head rather than going for a sub, and some of his blows land on the back of the head. Buday scoots his way to the fencing in hopes of standing, and he takes advantage of a mistake from the grappler by hurling Almeida to his back. Almeida appears to be fading fast, laying flat on his back taking deep breaths. Buday lays on top of him, hanging out in the guard away from submission danger so he can rattle off some ground-and-pound before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buday
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 3
There is a glove touch between the heavyweights, and they start talking to one another. Buday reintroduces himself with punches and a calf kick, and Almeida has no immediate answer. Buday meanders forward, ignoring what comes his way so he can clip the newcomer with a right hand behind the ear. Almeida wobbles back, struggling to keep his composure, and Buday slowly walks him down and cracks him again with a left. Almeida shoots in for a takedown that is telegraphed, and he blows past his opponent. Buday loops a left hand up top, and it is one-and-done as he has to defend from a takedown. The Slovakian pushes his weight on the back of Almeida’s neck to hold him down, and he stops another shot and misses a knee by a matter of inches. Almeida is a dog with a bone looking for takedowns, but while the spirit is willing, the flesh is spongy and weak. Buday nails Almeida at any open opportunity when not shutting down the takedown, and he decides that it is time to wade into the guard at the midpoint of the round.
Buday lowers himself down and starts beating down the grappler with elbows, with Almeida nearly pulling guard to get him there. As Buday keeps striking, he gets a bit reckless and sits up, and this allows “Buchecha” to explode and swirl around to take Buday’s back. Buday turns, and in the process, Almeida gets both hooks in and secures back control. Buday flails and forces Almeida off of his back, allowing Almeida to stand up and hover behind him smacking him with short shots on the side of the head. Buday stands, and Almeida rolls to set up a crucifix but winds up on his back. Buday starts raining down Donkey Kong-esque punches while Almeida keeps his knee up as an additional blocking mechanism. The close, messy fight comes to a close as both big men fall to their back in exhaustion after three rounds of MMA without a stoppage.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Buday)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Almeida)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Almeida)
The Official Result
Martin Buday def. Marcus Almeida via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Martin Buday, noting he is the more well-rounded fighter with decent wrestling, takedown defense, and striking. He considers Marcus Buchecha one-dimensional, a BJJ specialist, and believes Buday can out-technique him and win a boring decision. He is surprised Buday is the underdog and will not bet on this fight.
Big Brady picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite BJJ and the massive grappling gap. He notes Buchecha's striking is a work in progress but believes his takedowns and top control will be too much for Budai, who has poor defensive grappling. He predicts an early finish, likely by ground and pound or submission in round one.
Buday is expected to keep the fight upright, utilize his striking and cardio advantage, and break down Buchecha for a round three TKO. Buchecha is a high-level BJJ specialist but his wrestling is not good, so Buday should avoid the ground.
The MMA Guru picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite jiu-jitsu credentials as a multiple-time world champion and ADCC champion. He acknowledges Buchecha's MMA transition and toughness shown in the Rugrug fight, despite the loss. He believes Buchecha's takedown ability and top pressure will be too much for Martin Buday, who he calls a 'plotter' but notes Buday's solid UFC record. He predicts an early submission, specifically round one.
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo picks Martin Buday, noting he is the more well-rounded fighter with decent wrestling, takedown defense, and striking. He considers Marcus Buchecha one-dimensional, a BJJ specialist, and believes Buday can out-technique him and win a boring decision. He is surprised Buday is the underdog and will not bet on this fight.
Big Brady picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite BJJ and the massive grappling gap. He notes Buchecha's striking is a work in progress but believes his takedowns and top control will be too much for Budai, who has poor defensive grappling. He predicts an early finish, likely by ground and pound or submission in round one.
Buday is expected to keep the fight upright, utilize his striking and cardio advantage, and break down Buchecha for a round three TKO. Buchecha is a high-level BJJ specialist but his wrestling is not good, so Buday should avoid the ground.
The MMA Guru picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite jiu-jitsu credentials as a multiple-time world champion and ADCC champion. He acknowledges Buchecha's MMA transition and toughness shown in the Rugrug fight, despite the loss. He believes Buchecha's takedown ability and top pressure will be too much for Martin Buday, who he calls a 'plotter' but notes Buday's solid UFC record. He predicts an early submission, specifically round one.
Comments (2)
265 too much for Marcus
Buday weighing in a 266
265 too much for Marcus
Buday weighing in a 266