Buday Defeats Satybaldiev After Nzechukwu Withdraws
Martin Buday defeated Uran Satybaldiev by unanimous decision in their heavyweight bout on April 5, 2025, at the APEX in Las Vegas. All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Buday. The decision came after three competitive rounds, with Satybaldiev making a strong debut on short notice and Buday using his size and experience to edge the close contest. The official event scorecards confirm the result and scores.
A late opponent change
Buday was originally scheduled to face Kennedy Nzechukwu. Two days before the event, the promotion announced that Nzechukwu had withdrawn because of an injury and that Uran Satybaldiev would step in. The replacement was an undefeated heavyweight debutant who had recently won the LFA light heavyweight title. The official card update records the change and identifies Satybaldiev as 9-0 at the time.
The weigh-in added another unusual dimension. Buday came in at the heavyweight limit of 266 pounds, while Satybaldiev weighed 222.5 pounds—a difference of 43.5 pounds. Satybaldiev had little time to prepare and was giving up considerable size, but the fight went ahead as a heavyweight contest. Those details appear in the official weigh-in results.
Three rounds of pressure and counters
Satybaldiev opened with volume, throwing combinations and showing no hesitation despite the opponent change. Buday pressed forward, looked to close distance and used leg kicks as he tried to make his physical advantage count. He had periods of success near the fence, but Satybaldiev broke away and answered with quick combinations. The opening round was close, with Buday landing the more impactful strikes, according to the round-by-round report.
The pace remained lively in the second. Satybaldiev pushed Buday backward and attacked upstairs, then Buday worked back into close range and used the clinch, jabs and low kicks. The two traded positions along the fence, and neither fighter was able to make the round one-sided. Buday’s steady forward pressure helped him finish strongly, a key moment in a fight where each round mattered.
Satybaldiev started the final round with urgency and connected with a right hand that briefly stunned Buday. He then tried to take the fight to the ground, but Buday stopped the attempt and recovered in the clinch. After the referee separated them, Buday landed the cleaner offense in the final minute. The closing stretch helped secure a narrow decision for the Slovak heavyweight.
Buday gets the decision
The official verdict was unanimous, with each judge returning a 29-28 scorecard. The promotion’s event recap described Buday as relying on his experience, closing distance and making Satybaldiev carry his weight in close exchanges. It also noted that the newcomer gave him all he could handle. Buday earned his sixth promotional win in seven appearances, while Satybaldiev left his debut with a competitive performance despite the short preparation window.
The heavyweight’s win came through consistent pressure rather than a finish, while Satybaldiev showed he could trouble an experienced opponent with his speed and bursts of offense. The official preliminary-card recap and scorecards document the result.
Buday discussed the fight after the final bell, including his respect for an opponent who accepted the late call. His post-fight interview is embedded below.
Sources
Tags: MMA
