Martin Buday

Martin Buday (born November 11, 1991) is a Slovak mixed martial artist. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Oktagon MMA, where he is a former Oktagon Heavyweight Champion. He previously competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background Buday was born in Nitra, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). He started martial arts at the age of eighteen to lose weight. He started his first practiced as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he trained at the Gracie Barra Pitbull club in Nitra. He was successful in this sport and placed in various European tournaments, with his greatest achievement being two gold medals from the European IBJJF Championships at the blue and purple belt levels. He later switched to MMA, which he began training under former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Attila Végh at Spartakus Fight Gym.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Buday started in professional career in 2015, he fought exclusively regional Slovakia promotion and Oktagon MMA, where he acquired a 8–1 record and Won his the Oktagon Heavyweight Championship before his fight at Dana White's Contender Series.

Dana White's Contender Series In June 2021, it was reported that Buday had received an invitation to Dana White's Contender Series, which fighters compete for a chance to earn a UFC contract. His fight took place on October 12, 2021, and he was originally supposed to face Hugo Cunha, but he withdrew and was replaced by Lorenzo Hood. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one and he was awarded a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In his promotional debut, Buday faced Chris Barnett on April 16, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 34. He won the fight via technical unanimous decision after Barnett rendered unable to continue due to an unintentional elbow to the back of the head in the third round.

Buday faced Łukasz Brzeski on August 13, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 41. He won the fight via split decision. 12 out of 13 media outlets scored the bout for Brzeski.

Buday was scheduled to face Jake Collier on April 15, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 44. However, the bout was moved to UFC on ESPN 45 on April 29, 2023, for unknown reasons. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Buday faced Josh Parisian on August 12, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 51. He won the fight via a kimura in round one.

Buday faced Shamil Gaziev on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buday faced Andrei Arlovski on June 15, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 58. However, the bout was moved to UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, for unknown reasons. He won the fight via split decision. 7 out of 12 media outlets scored the fight for Arlovski.

Buday was scheduled to face Rizvan Kuniev on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310. However, Buday withdrew due to an injury and the bout was removed from the card.

Buday was scheduled to face Kennedy Nzechukwu on April 5, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 65. However, Nzechukwu was removed from the event due to injury and replaced by Uran Satybaldiev. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Buday faced Marcus Buchecha on July 26, 2025, at UFC on ABC 9. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

On July 31, 2025, it was reported that Buday was removed from the UFC roster after completing the final bout of his contract and was not renewed.

Return to Oktagon MMA On August 9, 2025, during Oktagon 74, Buday announced that he'd re-signed with Oktagon MMA.

Buday was reportedly to face Will Fleury for the Oktagon Heavyweight Championship on October 4, 2025, at Oktagon 77, but it never materialized due to Fleury had been announced in advance that his cousin would be holding a wedding ceremony that day. The bout with Fleury is scheduled to take place on December 28, 2025, at Oktagon 81.

Personal life Buday's father died in late June 2024, a few days prior to Buday's bout with Andre Arlovski.

Championships and accomplishments Oktagon MMA Oktagon Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Lazar Todev Decision (unanimous) Oktagon 89

Bratislava, Slovakia Loss

Will Fleury TKO (punches) Oktagon 81

Prague, Czech Republic Win

Marcus Buchecha Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Uran Satybaldiev Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Emmett vs. Murphy

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Andrei Arlovski Decision (split) UFC 303

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Shamil Gaziev TKO (punches) UFC 296

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Josh Parisian Submission (kimura) UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jake Collier Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Łukasz Brzeski Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz

San Diego, California, United States Win

Chris Barnett Technical Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Lorenzo Hood TKO (knee) Dana White's Contender Series 43

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kamil Minda KO (punches) Oktagon 25

Brno, Czech Republic Win

Daniel Dittrich Submission (kimura) Oktagon 14

Bratislava, Slovakia Win

Yevhen Orlov TKO (punches) Oktagon Prime 1

Košice, Slovakia Win

José Rodrigo Guelke TKO (retirement) Spartakus Fight Gym: Night of Champions 5

Trnava, Slovakia Win

Łukasz Łysoniewski TKO (punches) Oktagon 9

Bratislava, Slovakia Win

Dzhangir Nasibov TKO (retirement) Oktagon 6

Košice, Slovakia Win

Milan Vrbić TKO (submission to punchea) X Fight Nights 9

Nitra, Slovakia Loss

Juan Espino Decision (unanimous) FECALUMA: MMA-K1-BJJ

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Win

Uroš Stefanović Decision (unanimous) Fight of Gladiators: Night of Champions 2

Trnava, Slovakia