When Will Fleury took home his second belt in Oktagon, he had plans on his mind to be an active champion in both divisions. However, that’s been far from the case. After taking the vacant heavyweight belt against Lazar Todev in March, he healed up and then looked to defend the 205lbs strap. Unfortunately for him, there just wasn’t anyone to defend it against.
“Unfortunately, light heavyweight division there at the moment, not many guys want to fight,” Fleury explained. “I’ve beat three of the guys in the top five and the other two want to move down to weight division now. So it’s been frustrating in that sense a little bit.”
The frustration was highlighted by a chance for another big fight in Germany. With a Germany light heavyweight seemingly nearing a title shot, Fleury and the matchmakers wanted to put on another banger in November. However, that was also not meant to be.
“Alex Poppeck was offered a chance at the title in his home city and he refused it 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. Didn’t want that, and obviously it’s crazy to me. I don’t understand that.”
While he doesn’t mind defending the heavyweight belt next, which is what he’ll do this weekend at Oktagon 81, he hates the idea of a division at a standstill. He knows from his standpoint, as well as a promotional one, it isn’t a good look.
“I don’t want to be a guy who holds the light heavyweight belt for two years without even defending it or something, you know? To me, it’s like the division becomes stagnant. It’s not good for anybody,” Fleury said. “Even from the promotions point of view, I think if they push these guys into situations where they have to go and challenge, which they should want to in the first place, it’s crazy to not want the shot at the title.”
One person who does want a shot at the title is Martin Buday. Fleury will throw down with the UFC veteran in the main event on Sunday. And the Irish fighter is ready to do what nobody has done to Buday in years.
“I think I’ll get it done within three. Part of it depends on Martin and how hard he comes,” he said. “His last two fights, he’s tried to go at the guy a bit earlier. I think he’ll probably sit back a little bit more on this one. If he does, it’ll take me about three rounds. If he comes hard early, it could be over in a round.”
You can catch that fight as the main event of Oktagon 81 on oktagon.tv. The card begins at noon EST this Sunday.
