Will Fleury is venturing into unfamiliar territory once more, this time bringing two championship belts and a determined attitude to Berlin.
OKTAGON MMA is set to make 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 premier MMA brand in Europe. The fight card is anticipated to be one of the most robust ever presented by the organization in Germany. The main event will feature the double champion, Will Fleury, defending his heavyweight title against the local contender, Kasim Aras.
Will Fleury to Defend Heavyweight Title Against Kasim Aras at OKTAGON 90 in Berlin
Fleury, who also holds the light heavyweight championship, arrives in Berlin following a victory that could redefine his career. In December, he achieved a decisive first-round knockout against former UFC heavyweight Martin Buday in under two minutes, successfully retaining his belt. This performance garnered significant attention from Irish media and the European MMA circuit, positioning him as one of OKTAGON’s standout champions.
Following this impressive win, Fleury received offers from various international promotions. However, he opted to re-sign with OKTAGON, committing to a new six-fight contract. He has publicly expressed his desire to build a lasting legacy with the organization rather than pursuing short-term financial gains. His upcoming bout in Berlin marks the beginning of this new contract, and it will take place on Aras’s home turf, against an opponent who has actively sought this matchup.
Aras is among the few heavyweights who openly campaigned for 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 made his mark in OKTAGON with a commanding debut at OKTAGON 73 in Hamburg, where he defeated Adam Pałasz on the main card, significantly boosting his profile with the German audience.
He continued his momentum with a victory over Simon Biyong at OKTAGON 78 in Cologne. Following that win, Aras used his post-fight interview to directly challenge the champion, a move that aligns with OKTAGON’s strategy of rewarding fighters who effectively promote fights in their home markets. For Aras, OKTAGON 90 represents the most significant opportunity of his career, offering him a chance to become the face of the promotion in Germany should he succeed in unseating the visiting champion.
The promotion is bolstering the event with strong German representation across 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 performance at OKTAGON 83.
Former featherweight title challenger Niko Samsonidse, who fought 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 and provide the German audience with a blend of established fighters and emerging talents in the European rankings.
For Fleury, the fight in Berlin is an opportunity to defend his championship in an opponent’s territory. For Aras, it’s a hometown chance to reshape the heavyweight division in a single night. Regardless of the outcome, OKTAGON’s inaugural trip to the German capital is poised to be a pivotal moment in the promotion’s efforts to establish Berlin as a regular fixture on its European schedule.
