Oktagon 81: Two massive titles battle to end 2025

Top European promotion Oktagon returns for one last event before the new year, as Oktagon 81 takes place in Prague this Sunday.

A huge heavyweight battle tops the agenda at Prague’s O2 Arena as two-time champion Will Fleury defends the heavyweight title against returning king of Oktagon Martin Buday. The co-main event pits two UFC veterans against each other for the flyweight championship. Kazakhstan’s own Zhalgas Zhumagulov defends his title for the first time against David Dvořák who returns to the promotion in his home country of the Czech Republic.

Will Fleury vs. Martin Buday at Oktagon 81

At 36 years old, Will Fleury still feels in the prime of his career and is ready to show that against the returning Martin Buday. The Slovak left Oktagon in 2021 and earned a UFC contract with a Contender Series win over Dana White. While in the elite organization, he performed very well, reaching a 7-1 record before his mysterious departure earlier this year. Many fans were stunned by the Slovakian leaving the UFC, especially since the heavyweight division was noticeably weak compared to the rest of the roster.

He returns to fight an excited Irishman eager to fight after hand surgery kept him out for most of the year. Fleury is a double Oktagon champion with both light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. He won the vacant heavyweight title against Lazar Todev in March and will now defend it for the first time in Prague. Fleury has recently expressed his frustrations with the lack of activity and has been fit to fight since September, but has felt no desire to fight at Oktagon.

“I’m 36 years old and I’m clearly in my prime. Let’s make the most of this window. And on behalf of Oktagon, I felt no desire to make the most of that window.” Fleury stated that he would speak further Brandon talks about fighting YouTube channel.

Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. David Dvořák and octagon 81

Zhalgas Zhumagulov joined Oktagon last year after a turbulent stint in the UFC that ended in 2023. Before joining the UFC, Zhumagulov was 12-3 with big wins over the likes of Tagir Ulanbekov and Shajidul Haque, but could not gain momentum in the top organization. He went a disappointing 1-6 in his seven UFC fights. Now in Oktagon, he returned to winning ways with a debut win against Aaron Aby before winning the title against Beno Adamia in June.

His opponent David Dvořák fought six times within the UFC, but suffered a three-fight skid and left the promotion in 2023. The Czech will fight in front of a home crowd for the first time since 2019 this weekend, when he fought at the Oktagon 13 event headlined by organizing legend Karlos Vémola. Dvořák hopes to revive his career with a victory over another former UFC fighter in his home country at Oktagon 81.