Beleaguered featherweights go head-to-head Saturday night, as Dennis Buzukja takes on Bogdan Grad at UFC Fight Night: Medic vs. Rodriguez in Belgrade, Serbia.
Buzukja (12–6, 1–4 UFC) has lost back-to-back bouts, capped by a first-round knockout loss to Marcio Barbosa in April. Grad (15–4, 1–2 UFC) has also dropped two straight, most recently getting stopped in the second round of his November clash with Luke Riley.
Grad enters as a -198 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Buzukja is a +164 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Buzukja vs. Grad Preview
Dennis Buzukja
- 12–6 (1–4 UFC)
- 5–2 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
Dennis “The Great” Buzukja has struggled to live up to his nickname since joining the UFC. The Staten Island native, 28, has recorded just one win in five trips to the Octagon, a treacherous run that features a pair of first-round knockout losses. That includes his latest bout earlier this year — his only fight over the past 700-plus days — when he got sent to the shadow realm by Marcio Barbosa.
Still, Buzukja is a formidable striker with some knockout power of his own, as evidenced by his lone UFC win: a third-round TKO against Connor Matthews in March 2024. On Saturday, likely down to his last chance in the Octagon, he’ll be looking to recapture that side of his game once again.
Bogdan Grad
- 15–4 (1–2 UFC)
- 9–2 (T)KO
- 3–0 SUB
Bogdan Grad is hungry to recover the momentum from his successful UFC debut in early 2025. The Austria-based contender, 30, went on to lose his next two fights — dropping a unanimous decision to Muhammad Naimov before getting stopped by surging prospect Luke Riley in November.
“The Unleashed” primarily leans on his suffocating grappling, averaging north of four takedowns per 15 minutes. Still, the Karate specialist enters with serious stoppage upside — an 80 percent finish rate, including nine career wins by knockout or TKO. In need of a statement performance, Grad could go for double digits on Saturday night.
Buzukja vs. Grad Pick, Best Bet
Both of these guys got pulverized in their previous bouts, making Saturday’s featherweight clash a matter of who can crack their opponent’s chin first. Bodgan Grad’s greater finishing upside and track record against stronger competition should give him a slight edge. But with neither him nor Dennis Buzukja on an impressive run of form, it seems likely that either one of them could get stopped for the second time in a row.
