Athletes
Dennis Buzukja Writing His Own Crazy Story
Staten Island Native Ready To Show What He's Capable Of Saturday At Madison Square Garden
If a fighter has a devastating left hook, an unstoppable double leg takedown, or the sneakiest choke set-up in the business, that’s a clear recipe for success. But often, the one who makes it to the UFC is the one who is more stubborn than most.
Meet featherweight Dennis Buzukja, a Staten Island native who now makes his home in Long Island, where he trains with the renowned Serra-Longo fight team.
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You may have heard of him, especially since he’s fighting this Saturday in Madison Square Garden against Jamall Emmers.
But while he has all the physical tools to compete at the elite level of the sport, his secret power is the fact that when it comes to fighting, he doesn’t take no for an answer.
“I swear that's really the only word for me,” said the proud Albanian with a laugh when asked if he was stubborn. “Even my fight style, I'll take some shots and I'll get hit. It's hard to break me mentally and physically, so I'm definitely stubborn. I think that comes from the Albanian thing. We're just hardheaded. If we set a goal, if I say I'm going to break this brick wall with my head, I'll break it with my head. That's just how we are. It's either our way or no way. And sometimes it's bad and we need to calm down a little bit. But when we put it into the work ethic, I think that's a positive for us. We are stubborn with what we say, and we believe in ourselves, and I take that with me into the Octagon and with fighting. It's in the blood. The people have suffered for so long, and I think it's just genetic at this point. We're just stubborn and proud and hardheaded people, and I'm proud of that in a way.”
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So when Buzukja’s first fight on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 against Melsik Baghdasaryan resulted in a decision loss, he simply won three fights on the regional scene and got another invite to the APEX. This time, in July of 2022, he got his hand raised against Kaleio Romero. But there would be no UFC contract. Back to the regionals and three more wins, and then a short notice call against the most nightmarish matchup for anyone at 145 pounds, the 6-2 ½ Sean Woodson. Buzukja lost that fight via unanimous decision, but here he is, fighting at MSG and looking only forward. It’s old school grit and determination, something only a select few 26-year-olds have like Buzukja does.
“Ever since I was a kid, I always loved, anytime I go to have a coffee or something, or anytime I'm in family settings, I would always stay with the elders and just ask them questions about their life and listen to their stories,” he said. “And because they have their experience through wisdom, through living things instead of books like younger kids, and especially the type of life they've lived, I've always loved staying with older people. Even now, if I go to cafes, which I love to do in the Bronx or Queens, I go to have coffee and I'll go sit with an old man, I'll pay for his coffee and just talk to him and ask him questions. Just strike up a conversation. There's something about learning through things that other people have experienced. And that's one of my joys in life, really listening to people and getting their stories and their history. Everyone has crazy stories, and a lot of people know their history and they tell me their history, and it's amazing to know.”
If you haven’t noticed already, Buzukja is writing quite a crazy story of his own, but it’s one he’s plotted out in his head since he was a child who loved martial arts.
“Ever since I was a young kid - five, six years old - I always was fascinated with martial arts and kind of controlling other people and just being dominant. Not in a bully type of way, but just the mastery of it, the art behind it. I just always thought it was beautiful. And then I got into martial arts because of that type of fascination, and really fell in love with it. And then once I found out I can actually make a living out of this and people would love me for getting into fights instead of getting arrested or something, it's a lot better.”
A lot better. We both agree and laugh, and after all the ups and downs that come with any fight career, but especially his, there’s got to be a satisfaction that comes with knowing that by staying committed and refusing to let any setbacks deter him, he’s fighting in “the world’s most famous arena” in less than 24 hours.
“It's crazy, because over the years, I've always manifested it this way, and I've said that my debut will be at MSG on a big card in my hometown where I grew up,” said Buzukja. “And this does feel like my debut because I have a camp now, I have preparation, and I can show my real skills and the real Dennis Buzukja that my team believes in and they see in the gym every day. Thank God, this one I prepared so well, and I'm making sure I'm defending my hometown. That's been the motto after every training session, me, Naz (Sadykhov), and (Matt) Frevola were just screaming, ‘Not in our house!’ It's a sick energy in the gym right now.”
UFC 295 COUNTDOWN: Full Episode | Jiří Procházka vs Alex Pereira | Sergei Pavlovich vs Tom Aspinall
Now it’s time to bring it to MSG. You don’t have to tell Buzukja twice.
“I'm just motivated by my potential and how far I feel like I could take it in this game,” he said. “My goal was never to be in the UFC; I just thought that was a milestone. My goal was to become champion. And until I do that and defend it multiple times and I'm considered as one of the greats, then that's when I feel like I can take my foot off the gas. But until then, it's just full steam ahead, go to work as much as we can, and not stop until we get there.”
UFC 295: Procházka vs Pereira took place live from Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 11, 2023. See the Final Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!