The MMA world raised its collective eyebrows a little when the UFC decided to not bring Martin Buday back into the heavyweight fold earlier this year.
For a promotion going through as many issues in the division as the UFC has been through lately, the choice to not give Buday (16-2) a new contract after he went 7-1 there was an odd one, many thought.
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Buday said he made no outlandish demands to stay with the UFC, and when the promotion didn’t want him back he quickly was picked up by OKTAGON MMA, where he fought in 2018-2019 and became heavyweight champion. He vacated the belt when he signed with the UFC
Sunday, several months after his return was announced at OKTAGON 74 and he faced off with heavyweight champion Will Fleury, a former Bellator fighter, Fleury (16-3) tore through him for a TKO in just 100 seconds. The win was the biggest of Fleury’s career, and against his most accomplished opponent yet.
It also gave some credence to the theory the UFC’s matchmakers were on the right path when they let Buday go.
Check out Fleury’s fast and furious finish below.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Will Fleury destroys Martin Buday in OKTAGON 81 heavyweight title bout
