For the first time since returning to Oktagon MMA following her second stint in the UFC, Lucie Pudilova is not fighting Cecilie Bolander.
Across a pair of fights in 2024, Pudilova and Bolander fought to a pair of split decisions, Pudlova winning the first, and Bolander evening the series in the second. While a trilogy fight feels likely, for now, Pudilova has been paired up with the well-traveled Brittney Cloudy, who has competed for King of the Cage, LFA, Invicta FC, and even Karate Combat.
“I think Brittney’s a good boxer, so I think this fight will be very, very good, very good for fans, because I think we will show good technique,” Pudilova (15-11) told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview ahead of the fight. “So I’m excited for this.”
While she wasn’t prepared to give away any secrets about her game plan, Pudilova is hoping to be able to finish the fight. “I hope for this, I have in my mind a few ways to finish this fight.”
As for Cloudy’s experience- she’s shared the cage with UFC women’s flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield, and is coming off two straight wins in MMA, Pudilova downplayed it. Despite being the more experienced fighter of the two.
“I feel like experience, it’s not helpful. I feel like helpful is patience, who wants to win more, something like this,” she suggested. “Who will want it more, wins.”
Despite getting a fresh face at Oktagon 69 this Saturday, Pudilova still expects the trilogy fight with Bolander to come in the near future. “I think so, we will fight soon again,” she said, suggesting it would be “bad for her.”
Lucie Pudilova does believe she won that second fight with Bolander, which was for the Oktagon MMA women’s flyweight title. “I feel like winner, and also many people, like good people, big MMA persons, text me [saying] they think the same about this.”
Alluding to family issues before that second fight, Pudilova admits she wasn’t hungry enough. “Now I feel like, every day I work on my mind. I try to be stronger, so I feel more stronger, more hungry.”
Watch our full interview with Oktagon 69’s Lucie Pudilova above.
