Will Fleury Alleges Makhmud Muradov's Rematch Avoidance, Raises Concerns Over Oktagon's Role

Irish mixed martial artist Will Fleury has publicly accused Makhmud Muradov of backtracking on an agreed immediate rematch for the Oktagon light heavyweight title, further expressing apprehension that the promotion, Oktagon, may be inadvertently facilitating Muradov’s perceived reluctance. The two fighters previously clashed in a highly anticipated bout for the light heavyweight championship in August, a contest that concluded controversially and has since fueled calls for a second encounter.

The initial encounter between Fleury, who then held the 205-pound belt, and Muradov was a dramatic affair. The first round saw Fleury land significant strikes, leaving Muradov in a precarious position that was only saved by the bell. However, the momentum shifted abruptly in the second round when Muradov clipped Fleury early, leading to a knockout stoppage just 19 seconds into the round. Fleury, a veteran with a pre-fight 11-fight unbeaten streak that included stints in PFL and Bellator, subsequently lost his light heavyweight title but retains his heavyweight championship within the promotion. Post-fight, Fleury was notably gracious in defeat, praising Muradov’s composure and effective strike. Both fighters, during the subsequent press conference, expressed a clear willingness to engage in an immediate rematch, with a potential December date being discussed.

However, according to Fleury, this initial consensus swiftly unraveled. "At the press conference, I gave him massive credit," Fleury recounted in an interview with MMA Fighting. "He composed himself really well between the first and second round. He landed a beautiful shot. You can argue it’s an early stoppage. On the night I said, he won this fight. The reason the referee was able to stop the fight early is I allowed myself to get caught. That’s all still true. But on that night, he said, ‘Look, I’ll fight anyone, anytime. I’m here to fight with the best people.’ And I said, cool, mate, would you do a rematch in December? And he said, ‘No problem.’ And I was like, fair play to you. Because we both know, it’s a tough fight, this could have gone either way. And I respected him immensely."

The narrative, Fleury claims, shifted dramatically just four days later. He alleges that Oktagon owner Ondrej Novotny contacted him to convey Muradov’s altered stance. Muradov, Fleury states, had reportedly decided against a light heavyweight title rematch. Instead, he proposed either a heavyweight title bout against Fleury or a move down to middleweight, where Muradov holds an interim championship.

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Fleury voiced strong objections to Muradov’s new proposals. "So I was like, that’s not what he said on Saturday," Fleury stated. "And I was like, listen, that’s baseless. He’s never fought at heavyweight. I gave him his first title shot at light heavyweight. He hasn’t even beaten any contenders, he’s never defended the belt." Fleury highlighted his own journey to his titles, emphasizing that he had cleared out contenders before claiming the vacant heavyweight title. "I’d beaten the No. 1 contender and I’d beaten the No. 5 contender and I’d smashed those two. I’d finished both fights pretty convincingly. And then I got in and smashed the champion very convincingly. You’ve had one fight, a very controversial fight where you got dropped at the end of the first round, and you came back and clipped the guy but got an early stoppage at the start of the second round."

In an attempt to salvage a fight, Fleury offered a compromise: a heavyweight title fight, but with the condition that if he were victorious, Muradov would be obligated to grant a light heavyweight rematch within three months. This, Fleury argued, was a "very fair condition" given his standing as the No. 1 contender at light heavyweight. However, Muradov reportedly rejected this proposal, asserting his autonomy as champion. "Who are you to tell me what I can do? I’ll do whatever I want," Fleury quoted Muradov, signaling the end of their direct communication on the matter.

Fleury believes Muradov possesses significant leverage within Oktagon, attributing this to a perceived desire within the promotion for a "Czech-speaking champion." Muradov, a former UFC fighter with a record of two defeats in seven appearances in the premier promotion (losses to Gerald Meerschaert and Caio Borralho), holds considerable market appeal in the region. Fleury expressed frustration that despite his own superior résumé and consistent performance, he feels the promotion is more inclined to support Muradov. "My résumé is a lot better than his, but unfortunately I feel like they’ll back him above and beyond and it’s very, very frustrating in a way," Fleury lamented.

Adding to the complexity, days after Fleury’s interview with MMA Fighting, Oktagon announced that the main event for Oktagon 100, scheduled for December 29 in Prague, Czech Republic, would be decided by a public poll. The options presented were Muradov challenging Krzysztof Jotko for the middleweight belt or Muradov facing Fleury at heavyweight. This development further underscores the promotional intricacies Fleury has highlighted.

Fleury also reflected on his conduct immediately following the August fight, suggesting that his sportsmanship might have inadvertently weakened his negotiating position. He speculates that a more contentious, "unsportsmanlike" reaction, complete with complaints about the referee’s stoppage, might have garnered him a better standing for a rematch. "And that’s sad because we don’t want more of that crap in sport," Fleury stated, emphasizing his commitment to "good martial arts" and respect for opponents. He contrasted his approach with other fighters who "stole the belt back" through complaints, asserting that his integrity is paramount.

Looking ahead, Fleury expressed uncertainty about his future within Oktagon given the "extremely frustrating" negotiations. While acknowledging Oktagon’s status as a leading European promotion with professional operations and a growing fanbase, he conveyed disillusionment over the perceived lack of support for his contributions. "They’re doing really good things in a lot of ways… Everything is very well organized. It’s a well-run professional company more so than anyone else I’ve ever worked with," he admitted, but quickly added, "But then when things like this happen, and even like just the constant vibe of like, ‘You’re never going to be one of the guys that we’re looking to get behind,’ that is really disheartening."

Fleury, currently with four fights remaining on his contract until the end of 2027, remains confident in his fighting abilities and market value, noting that other promotions have shown interest. He also criticized what he sees as Oktagon’s short-sighted focus on "Czech stars" and "German stars" or "celebrity" over genuine talent, citing the example of Frederic Vosgrone whose social media popularity didn’t translate into consistent in-cage performance. "Actually, lads, if you go for internet, people respect talent. And as long as you promote people and you tell the story the right way, talented people have more interesting stories and they’re going to be more interesting human beings overall," Fleury argued.

Despite the ongoing frustrations, Fleury remains determined. If the rematch with Muradov were to materialize, he sees clear pathways to victory. "I have power. When I touch guys, like I showed it in the first round when I clapped him, he was basically gone," Fleury asserted, expressing confidence in his ability to exploit openings. "I hope… I get this fight and I can just go in and absolutely smash it and put this whole thing to rest and then move on with my career. But we’ll see. It feels like this whole thing is going to be a saga and really drag itself out because he doesn’t want to do it. I’m not letting it go. I’m not just gonna back off and go out into the wilderness like, or fight other contenders. No, I’m the champion. Give me my belt back." The dispute continues to unfold, leaving the resolution of the light heavyweight title picture uncertain as Oktagon 100 approaches.

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