Before the key match, not many people believed him, yet he trusted himself and his abilities, thanks to which he managed to win. Despite the win, he did not have a certain contract. Nevertheless, Martin Buday convinced the jury and the contract won not only that he fulfilled his dream, but also became the second Slovak representative in the UFC. In addition, the former heavyweight champion of the OKTAGON MMA organization suffered an injury from the last match, which limited him in preparation for some time. Now, however, he reports 100% readiness and is eagerly looking forward to the UFC premiere match!
It’s been about three months since you joined the UFC. How do you look back on this success?
It is definitely one of your dreams come true. I’m very glad I succeeded. In a moment, I think I will have the first UFC match ahead of me and I will want to show myself in the best possible light to confirm that I belong there.
In addition, you are historically the second Slovak wrestler who succeeded. And no one will take that from you anymore.
Anyway, it’s a great success and I’m really happy for it. They didn’t believe me before the match, but the important thing was that I trusted myself and that I trusted my abilities. Everything went well. I am ready to win the following matches as well.
You won the first round. Were you still unsure whether to get a contract?
I was nervous. Even though I won, I preferred not to rejoice prematurely. I also watched the other matches and they could easily get a contract, instead of me. I was nervous just because the others performed well. Fortunately, it turned out the way it did.
And how was you with nervousness?
Nervousness is before each match. It doesn’t matter if it was the first matches or the OKTAGON matches, I’m trying to work with that. There is such pressure because I want to win, I want to move in my career. It’s such a healthy nervousness that I win, that I don’t get hurt, that he succeeds.
Do you remember the immediate reaction and what was going through your mind when you won the contract?
I was overwhelmed by euphoria (laughs). I was very happy to hear from Dana White that she needed heavy weights and that I had a contract in my pocket. It made me happy. It worked out the way it should. As I imagined.
Can you reveal your tactics with which you entered the match?
The tactics were clear. Push your opponent on the mesh, gradually put pressure on him and get into a position to end. Of course, there were some mistakes I would try to avoid in the future. Looking back, I could have ended the match much earlier. I didn’t have to collect another volley of blows because of that. But the fact that I showed that I could accept blows also, in my opinion, played a role in winning the contract.
Do you think that the change of opponent also played a big role? Was Hood a more acceptable opponent for you?
It didn’t bother me at all. We followed a plan that we would use with the first announced opponent. But it’s never nice when your opponent changes at the last minute. It was maybe a week before the match. When we studied Hood, we were fine. Nothing changed in the tactics, we could stick to the plan we set. It’s hard to say whether Hood was an easier or harder opponent. The first opponent would, in my opinion, have better jiu-jitsu, more complex and maybe he would take it to the ground. Hood was more of an attender, ending most of the match in an attitude.
What does it currently look like? When could you premiere at the UFC?
Nothing has been confirmed yet, I can’t omit information that might not be true. There is speculation about April.
Have you been offered any opponents?
Not yet, but I’m really curious who it will be. I look forward to it. I’m looking forward to everything about it, the preparation, the camp and the flight to America.
How many matches do you think you could catch this year?
Hard to say, it depends on how that match by match will look like. I may be injured again. If I’m not hurt, I’d like to fight again as soon as possible. Maybe it will work out and no more injuries will come. That’s what I wish for.
So you’re not 100% right now?
I healed my injuries. I couldn’t train much because of that, I also had some other older injuries that stretched. I needed to solve these things, to finish my treatment. But at the moment I am fit and I am preparing for the match. We are currently waiting for a deadline to meet. So it looks more like April.
That was a grenade! Martin Buday grounded Pole Mindu and became a heavyweight championVideo: Oktagon TV
What is your goal for this year?
Win all the matches that await me. That would be ideal. And, of course, to serve my health, which is also very important.
You last lost four years ago. Can you admit defeat at all?
It’s MMA, one has to lose. It can happen, but I don’t think so. I go to every match and preparation with the proviso that I want to show the best I can. I’ll do 100 percent for it. I’m not in a fight that I want to lose, but when defeat comes, I won’t collapse. I’ll be sad about it, but that’s life.
Next week, the heavyweight title battle between Ngannoun and Gan is on the agenda. Who do you think will win?
Both are top wrestlers. It depends on who fits the other’s tactics better. Ngannou is known for his brutal strength and it will be important for his opponents how he manages to do it or if he gets hit. It’s really hard to guess, it can really turn out any way, even small details will probably decide. I’m very curious how it will turn out.
Can you imagine wrestling with one of them in the future?
(laughter). I don’t imagine such things yet, it’s still a long way off. At the moment, I want to win as many matches as possible so that I can gradually work my way into the TOP 15. This is my current goal and then we will see.
In addition, Nganna is threatened with leaving the MMA. Do you think something like that is real, or do you just want to talk about better pay conditions?
I read some interviews with him and I think that both variants are involved. He definitely wants to get better conditions, which he has said several times. But at the same time, he said that his dream was a boxing match. It depends on how it agrees or disagrees with the UFC. We’ll see what happens to him. Personally, I’m very interested in it, because it would be a shame if he left the world for MMA. He’s a really good wrestler.
So at least there would be less competition in the heavyweight, don’t you think?
Definitely yes (laughs). But I think there are other fighters who are very interesting. The competition there will still be a lot.
Martin Buday in a duel with Lorenzo Hood.Photo: UFC
Do you also follow the actions of other Czech and Slovak representatives in the UFC? What do you call it?
I’m excited about everyone, I’m a big fan of them. When some of them are struggling, I look at it and support him. I keep my fingers crossed that they will get as far as possible in their careers. In my opinion, it is a huge success. By the fact that MMA is flourishing in our country, I think that in the future the Czech-Slovak series in the UFC will expand even more. I am glad that our small countries have entered the world map.
Something like this was practically impossible a few years ago for the Czechia and Slovakia to have so many representatives.
I think it is a huge success. By the fact that MMA is flourishing in our country, I think that in the future the Czech-Slovak series in the UFC will expand even more. I am glad that our small countries have entered the world map.
.
