The UFC’s latest release has left fans scratching their heads.
The UFC heavyweight division isn’t the best it’s been, far from it, with the weight class in a bit of a transitional period following Jon Jones’ MMA retirement in June.
Tom Aspinall is now the reigning, defending undisputed heavyweight champion, who is in need of new contenders. But the new champion will settle instead for former interim champion Ciryl Gane, who cashes in on his fourth title opportunity at UFC 321 on Oct. 25.
Ranked several spots below them, the UFC recently said goodbye to a heavyweight contender who wasn’t that far off from a title fight with a few more wins.
UFC parts ways with Martin Buday after latest decision win
On Thursday, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck reported the UFC has chosen not to re-sign Martin Buday, parting ways with the #12-ranked heavyweight
Buday (16-2) recently completed the final fight of his contract at UFC Abu Dhabi earlier this month, spoiling the debut of BJJ champion and former ONE Championship star Marcus Buchecha by decision.
This was Buday’s third win in a row.
Buday went 7-1 in the UFC, with all but one of his victories coming by decision. Buday handed former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski a split decision loss last summer.
“Cutting 7-1 heavyweights. The division is already thin enough. I don’t get it,” one fan said of Buday’s UFC departure.
The 33-year-old from Slovakia’s only loss in the Octagon was a standing TKO result to Shamil Gaziev in 2023. Buday was riding an eight-fight finish streak prior to signing to the UFC.
Yeah its true, yesterday we got a call that @ufc is not resigning us for the moment,” Buday confirmed on X on Thursday.
“Well it is what it is at least im leaving with my head up. Thank you.”
Renato Moicano says UFC isn’t about being good, it’s about entertainment
Despite Buday’s solid resume of wins, there wasn’t much name value behind ‘Badys’.
Buday wasn’t a finisher in the UFC nor was he was a fan-favorite, and what’s former title challenger Renato Moicano thinks the premier promotion is all about.
“UFC’s not about being good,” Moicano said on the Show Me The Money Podcast.
“It’s about people tuning in to watch,” Moicano continued.
“Remember Tony Ferguson? Eight [fight] losing streak and he [was] still in the UFC, everybody [loves him]…
“This is not a sport. This is entertainment…
“If you’re very good, but nobody knows you, people don’t [watch],” Moicano said, refusing to watch the UFC 319 co-main event between former Bellator fighter Aaron Pico and Lerone Murphy.