The first fight on the UFC Fight Night card from Abu Dhabi on Saturday will be a heavyweight matchup between Martin Buday and Marcus Buchecha. Both fighters have used very different approaches to get to where they are today. They will meet in the middle of the octagon to determine which of those approaches works best against one another. Here, I break down this heavyweight fight and make my Martin Buday vs Marcus Buchecha prediction.
Our Martin Buday vs Marcus Buchecha Pick
- Pick: Marcus Buchecha by Decision
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Tale of the Tape
| Martin Buday | Marcus Buchecha | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 33 | 35 |
| Reach | 77″ | 80″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 15-2-0 | 5-1-0 |
Martin Buday vs Marcus Buchecha Preview
Martin Buday has proven his striking credentials since joining the UFC. His seven career knockout wins have demonstrated his heavy power and precision in the pocket. But Buday’s only stoppage win in UFC came by submission and he will look to change that with a knockout win here. Buday has won two fights in a row. Both of those wins came by decision and he will look to show off his gas tank in this matchup against Buchecha.
Marcus Buchecha comes from a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu background. He has transitioned to MMA with immediate success. Four of his five victories have come by way of submission and he has showcased elite grappling and submission hunting abilities. Buchecha also has a TKO win to his name. Training at one of the premier camps in American Top Team has sharpened his takedown setups and ground control. Now the question is how Buchecha will perform in his first UFC fight.
Betting Insights
- Moneyline: Buchecha is favored at -310 while Buday sits at +250.
- The over/under for total rounds is set at 1.5 rounds with both sides near -115.
- Buchecha submission prop offers extra value given his four submission wins in five victories.
- Buday by knockout remains a live underdog play at plus odds given his striking power.
Martin Buday vs Marcus Buchecha Prediction
I expect Buchecha to pursue takedowns early and to wear Buday down on the mat. Buday will test his gas tank and look for standing exchanges but Buchecha’s ground game should prevail. I am going to take Buchecha to win this fight via decision instead of his typical method of submission. My reasoning for doing so is that he could struggle more than usual against tougher competition in UFC. In any case I expect the Brazilian to win his debut in Abu Dhabi.
