A monumental heavyweight clash is set to electrify OKTAGON 89 in Bratislava, as Lazar Todev and Martin Buday prepare to collide in a bout with significant implications for the division’s top contenders. This three-round contest, scheduled for Saturday, June 6th, at the Tipos Aréna – Ondrej Nepela Winter Stadium, forms a key part of OKTAGON MMA’s ten-year anniversary celebrations in Slovakia.
Pivotal Heavyweight Encounter: Todev vs. Buday at OKTAGON 89
OKTAGON 89 takes place on June 6, 2026, in Bratislava, Slovakia, a city that frequently hosts major OKTAGON events. Confirmed as a flagship event for the promotion’s tenth-anniversary tour, it promises a strong presence of home-nation talent and compelling divisional narratives. The heavyweight showdown pits Bulgaria’s Lazar Todev (13-7) against Slovakia’s Martin Buday (16-3) in a 265-pound bout. This matchup has been officially designated as a battle between the promotion’s #1 and #2 ranked heavyweights, underscoring its critical role in determining future title challengers.
Beyond the highly anticipated heavyweight main event, OKTAGON 89 is also slated to showcase a wealth of Slovak talent. Middleweights Vlasto Čepo, Robert Pukač, and Marek Mazúch are all confirmed to appear on the card. Given Bratislava’s history as a host city for major OKTAGON events, a robust home crowd is expected to passionately support former champion Buday, while also acknowledging Todev’s recent impressive string of victories.
Lazar Todev: The Bulgarian Knockout Artist’s Ascent
Lazar Todev, hailing from Bulgaria, arrives in Bratislava with a professional record of 13 wins and 7 losses, widely recognized as one of OKTAGON’s most formidable heavyweights. His striking prowess is evident with nine of his victories coming by knockout, highlighting his preference for standing exchanges and his capability to swiftly end fights once he finds his rhythm. Todev’s standing in the division significantly grew following a memorable title bout against current two-division champion Will Fleury. Despite a decision loss, the highly competitive nature of the fight significantly elevated his profile and solidified his position among the elite in OKTAGON’s heaviest weight class.
Following that championship defeat, Todev has bounced back impressively with consecutive victories over UFC veterans Luis Henrique Barbosa and Josh Parisian. In their 2025 OKTAGON encounter, Todev outworked Henrique Barbosa with relentless pressure and output to secure the win, effectively putting his title aspirations back on track. He then faced Parisian, a familiar name to UFC fans from his Contender Series appearances and Octagon run, securing a second consecutive victory against a former UFC fighter. Todev has openly stated that these wins are crucial steps on his path back to a title shot, acknowledging that defeating multiple ex-UFC opponents strengthens his claim in the eyes of fans and matchmakers.
Todev has previously challenged for the OKTAGON heavyweight belt twice – once after former champion Hatef Moeil’s departure, and again in his clash with Fleury. This invaluable championship-level experience, combined with his recent winning streak against seasoned UFC veterans, sets the stage for his fight with Buday as a potential final eliminator. Should he extend his run to three straight victories over former UFC heavyweights by defeating Buday in his opponent’s home country, Todev will undoubtedly present a compelling argument for another shot at Fleury and the coveted title.
Martin Buday: The Former Champion’s Quest for Redemption
Slovakia’s Martin Buday returns to Bratislava with a singular focus: to reclaim his prominent position in the heavyweight title conversation. Buday was the inaugural OKTAGON heavyweight champion before departing the promotion to sign with the UFC several years ago. During his tenure in the UFC, he amassed an impressive 7-1 record, including a notable victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, and climbed as high as #12 in the official UFC heavyweight rankings. Despite this strong record, the UFC surprisingly chose not to re-sign him following a decision victory over Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida in July 2025, a decision that puzzled many observers given the division’s ongoing depth challenges.
After his unexpected UFC exit, Buday swiftly re-signed with OKTAGON and was immediately matched against Will Fleury for the heavyweight title at OKTAGON 81 in late December 2025. That night, however, did not unfold as planned for the Slovakian contender, as Fleury stopped him via TKO in just 100 seconds to retain the belt. This result marked only the second loss of Buday’s career and his first since returning to the promotion. The outcome solidified Fleury’s status as a dominant champion and created an immediate rebuilding scenario for Buday, who had entered the bout on a significant UFC win streak and with immense expectations from his home crowd.
Buday’s professional record still stands at 16-3, featuring seven knockouts and two submissions, underscoring his experience as one of the most seasoned heavyweights on the OKTAGON roster. The upcoming matchup with Todev now offers him a crucial opportunity to erase the memory of his defeat to Fleury in front of a supportive home crowd. A victory over the Bulgarian contender would be instrumental in re-establishing him as the leading challenger for the belt he once held.
OKTAGON has aptly framed Todev vs. Buday as a clash between the #1 and #2 ranked heavyweights on its roster, a label that accurately reflects the high stakes in Bratislava. On one side stands Todev, the Bulgarian knockout artist who has refined his skills through challenging title fights and consecutive wins over former UFC talent, openly targeting another shot at Fleury after learning from their initial encounter. On the other side is Buday, the former OKTAGON champion and ex-UFC top-15 contender, returning to his home market determined to prove that his setback against Fleury was an anomaly rather than a sign of decline.
A compelling performance from either fighter will undoubtedly exert significant influence on matchmaking discussions for the remainder of 2026, particularly if Fleury continues his successful championship reign. Whether the outcome is a decisive statement from Todev on enemy territory or a triumphant comeback from Buday at home, the OKTAGON 89 heavyweight showdown is poised to play a central role in shaping the next chapter of the division’s elite.