Will Fleury is venturing into hostile territory once more, this time bringing two championship belts and a determined attitude to Berlin.
OKTAGON MMA is making its inaugural appearance in the German capital with OKTAGON 90, scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at the Uber Arena. This event is a significant milestone for the Czech-Slovak promotion, which has established itself as a prominent force in European MMA. The fight card is anticipated to be one of the most impressive the organization has presented in Germany, and it will be headlined by the double champion Will Fleury, who will be defending his heavyweight title against German contender Kasim Aras.
Will Fleury’s Championship Defense Against Kasim Aras at OKTAGON 90 in Berlin
Fleury, who also holds the light heavyweight championship, arrives in Berlin following a career-defining victory. In December, he defeated former UFC heavyweight Martin Buday in under two minutes to retain his belt. This first-round knockout garnered significant attention from Irish media and European MMA publications, highlighting him as one of OKTAGON’s standout champions.
This impressive performance led to offers from promotions worldwide. However, Fleury chose to re-sign with OKTAGON on a new six-fight contract, committing his prime fighting years to the organization and expressing his desire to build a lasting legacy rather than pursue short-term gains. OKTAGON 90 marks the beginning of this new contract, taking place on enemy ground against an opponent who has publicly challenged him.
Aras enters the bout as one of the few heavyweights who actively sought a title shot against Fleury. The German fighter is a former LFL champion and a Bellator veteran, boasting a professional record of 11 wins and 5 losses. He quickly built his reputation within OKTAGON with a dominant debut at OKTAGON 73 in Hamburg, where he stopped Adam Pałasz on the main card, significantly boosting his profile among the German audience.
Following his debut, Aras secured a victory over Simon Biyong at OKTAGON 78 in Cologne. He then utilized his post-fight interview to call out the champion directly, a strategy that aligns with OKTAGON’s practice of rewarding fighters who can generate excitement in their home markets. For Aras, OKTAGON 90 represents the most significant opportunity of his career, offering a chance to become the face of the promotion in Germany if he can dethrone the visiting champion.
The promotion is bolstering the event with a strong contingent of German talent throughout the card. Rising bantamweight prospect Alina Dalaslan, an undefeated 25-year-old from Germany with a 4-0 professional record and recent knockout wins over Karolina Sobek and Kamila Simkova, is scheduled to compete in Berlin following a breakout victory at OKTAGON 83.
Former featherweight title challenger Niko Samsonidse, who competed for the vacant belt against Mago Machaev at OKTAGON 83, is also slated for the event as he aims to rebound from his first-round knockout loss. Additionally, matchups such as Attila Korkmaz vs. Dawid Śmiełowski and Niklas Stolze vs. Tyrone Pfeifer are expected to generate local interest, providing the German audience with a blend of established fighters and those making their ascent in the European rankings.
For Fleury, Berlin is an opportunity to assert dominance in an opponent’s backyard and retain his championship status. For Aras, it is a hometown chance to reshape the heavyweight division’s hierarchy in a single night. Regardless of the outcome, OKTAGON’s inaugural trip to the German capital appears poised to be a pivotal moment in the promotion’s efforts to establish Berlin as a regular destination on its European circuit.
