Pudilova Says She's Not Scared Of Szabova

Lucie Pudilova has waited six years for her shot at Oktagon bantamweight champion Lucia Szabova. Twice the fight fell apart. Saturday night in Prague, she gets her third and best chance.

Pudilova told Sherdog she has no fear heading into the Oktagon 92 main event at Stvanice Stadium, even though Szabova remains unbeaten and has stopped her last three opponents. "Her opponents come in and they don't look like they actually want to win," the former UFC veteran said. "They see her film and they come into the fight scared. But this will not happen to me. I'm not scared of her."

Injuries and Setbacks Fueled Pudilova's Fire

The matchup was first scheduled in December 2024, when Szabova withdrew with the flu days before the bell. A rescheduled summer date fell through after Pudilova tore her meniscus and multiple knee ligaments in training. She watched from the sidelines as Szabova added a second belt and climbed the European rankings. The two-time UFC Fight of the Night recipient said the layoff and rehab work only hardened her resolve.

Pudilova acknowledged the pressure of headlining at home but welcomed it. "I feel really excited to fight in front of a home crowd," she said, per Sherdog. "I want to feel pressure before the fight. It's not good to like feel nothing." The veteran bantamweight has never been stopped in 28 pro fights, absorbing losses to Liz Carmouche, Ailin Perez, and Joselyn Edwards without being finished.

Szabova enters 9-0 and holds both the Oktagon flyweight and bantamweight straps. Both fighters made weight Friday, Szabova at 135 pounds and Pudilova coming in half a pound lighter. The bout airs Saturday on Oktagon's streaming platform and select European broadcast partners.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Lucie Pudilova has no fear ahead of Oktagon 92 title fight