Ateba Gautier “could become champion within the next two or three years,” according to Oktagon MMA champion | BJPenn.com

Ateba Gautier is set to return to action later this month, and a two-division Oktagon MMA champion sparring with the rising UFC middleweight has done his part in that fight.

Gautier clashes with Andrey Pulyaev at UFC 324 on Jan. 24, and Will Fleury has given his thoughts on the middleweight bout. Fleury has aspirations of becoming a three-division champion with light heavyweight and heavyweight belts in Oktagon MMA. Fleury spoke about the broader, legacy-related goals for 185-pound Hardware and referenced his work with the UFC middleweight. [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Well, look, I was sparring with Ateba Gautier in Manchester a few weeks ago and Ateba was 220 pounds and I was 106. He’s going to fight at middleweight at the end of January. So, like I wouldn’t plan on fighting at middleweight so soon. But it shows me that if you’re willing to work, this is definitely possible. But like you said, right now, number one goal, to beat Martin Buday on December 28th.”

Ateba Gautier will “just shed a tear,” says Will Fleury

Indeed, Fleury sent the ex-Oktagon MMA champion and former UFC vet with a winning octagon record to face Martin Buday to close out 2025. Shifting the focus to how he sees his sparring partner Gautier performing in this UFC 324 clash, Fleury said. [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Yeah. I’ve been watching the other guy a little bit, just because we were sparring a lot that week and he’s holding his head really high. Ateba, he said; man, Ateba is really good. Like the fact that he hasn’t been in the sport that long.” [a] Very smart fighter you know. As you notice, the second time you spar with him, he will have read things from the first time. Like he’s a sharp guy, he’s smart.

“It’s really hard to completely trick him into things, and especially for a guy who’s just new to the sport. I honestly think he’s just going to burst into tears. Like I have a feeling he’s going to knock that guy out in the first round. But even after that, it’s hard to see with the physical specimen that he is and the level of preparation and thought process that he puts around it.”

“Even if you have Carl Prince as a coach, the sky’s the limit for that guy, man. You know, I really think he can be a champion within the next two or three years. It’s like it depends on the path he’s given to get there. But with the right path and with the right timing and the right fight, the guy could easily become a champion in the next two or three years.”