Lucie Pudilova has no fear ahead of Oktagon 92 title fight

Lucie Pudilova is ready to dethrone unbeaten Oktagon bantamweight champion Lucia Szabova in a title clash that has been six years in the making. The fight will headline Oktagon 92 at Stvanice Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic, with Pudilova entering as an underdog against the two-time UFC Fight of the Night recipient Szabova.

Pudilova (17–11), a former UFC veteran, has pursued this matchup since 2020, but injuries and scheduling conflicts have derailed two previous attempts. Most notably, a severe knee injury—including a torn meniscus and multiple ligament damage—forced her to withdraw during rehabilitation while Szabova continued climbing the ranks. Now fully recovered, Pudilova is determined to become the first fighter to defeat Szabova.

Headlining her home event carries extra weight for Pudilova, who has never been knocked out despite losses to notable opponents such as Liz Carmouche and Ailin Perez. She told Sherdog.com that years of adversity have sharpened her resolve. "This is a great opportunity because her hype is high and mine is not, so I feel like I will head into this fight with a surprise," Pudilova said. She also dismissed any notion that she would enter intimidated by Szabova's undefeated record. "Her opponents come in and they don't look like they actually want to win. They see her film and they come into the fight scared. But this will not happen to me. I'm not scared of her."

Pudilova weighed 61.05 kg (135 lbs) at the official weigh-in, while Szabova came in at 61.15 kg (135 lbs). For Pudilova, this bout represents a career-defining moment after a journey marked by perseverance through injury and repeated delays.