When Will Fleury took home his second title at Oktagon, he had plans in mind to become an active champion in both divisions. However, that has been far from the case. After capturing the vacant heavyweight title against Lazar Todev in March, he healed up and then attempted to defend the 205-pound strap. Unfortunately for him, there was simply no one to defend himself against.
“Unfortunately, in the light heavyweight division right now, not a lot of guys want to fight,” Fleury explained. “I beat three of the top five guys and the other two now want to move up in the weight class. So in that sense it was a little bit frustrating.”
The frustration was highlighted by a chance for another big fight in Germany. With a light heavyweight from Germany appearing to be closing in on a title shot, Fleury and the matchmakers wanted to stage another stunner in November. However, that was not the intention.
“Alex Poppeck got a shot at the title in his hometown and he turned it down to fight on the undercard at a catchweight,” he said. “That would have been a main event. It would have been a huge fight in Munich. I didn’t want that, and obviously it’s crazy to me. I don’t understand that.”
While he doesn’t mind defending the heavyweight title next, which he will do this weekend at Oktagon 81, he hates the idea of a division at a standstill. He knows from his point of view, and also from a promotional point of view, that it doesn’t look good.
“I don’t want to be a guy who holds the light heavyweight title for two years without even defending it or anything, you know? To me, it’s like the division is stagnant. It’s not good for anyone,” Fleury said. “Even from a promotion perspective, I think if they push these guys into situations where they need to challenge, which is what they should want in the first place, it’s crazy not to have a shot at the title.”
One person who wants a shot at the title is Martin Buday. Fleury will go down with the UFC veteran in the main event on Sunday. And the Irish fighter is prepared to do what no one has done to Buday in years.
“I think I can get it done in three hours. Some of that depends on Martin and how hard he comes,” he said. “In his last two fights he’s tried to attack the guy a little bit earlier. I think he’ll probably sit back a little bit more here. If he does that, it’ll take me about three rounds. If he comes hard early, it could be over in one round.”
You can watch that fight as the main event of Oktagon 81 on oktagon.tv. The card starts this Sunday at 12pm EST.
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