After taking the promotion by storm this year, number one ranked Oktagon MMA light heavyweight Will Fleury(13-3) is determined to defeat Karlos Vemola(37-8) in his backyard and take his gold in the process at Oktagon 65.
Speaking with World In Sport combat sports reporter Dan Kelly ahead of his Oktagon MMA light heavyweight title fight with UFC veteran Vemola, Irishman Fleury declared war on the Czech MMA legend. He is adamant that he will finish the contest inside the first round and will be ‘very disappointed’ if that doesn’t happen.
When asked if he’s looking forward to the big occasion,he said, “Yeah, buzzing man, I’ve been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this, so I’m delighted it’s finally happening” After working his way through the major European promotions Fleury feels he has finally found his home with the Czech/Slovak organization and a recent video has circulated of the SBG Ireland fighter signing his first contract with the promotion at the start of 2024 and stating on camera “Karlos, we all know this ends with you, let’s do this, I’m here to do business!”
Time To Settle An Old Score…
From day one, the title challenger declared his desire to fight Vemola because of an old incident at Karlos’ gym when the pair sparred regularly over several weeks. On one of those occasions, the host injured Fleury, and the latter claimed there was no apology or reaction to the incident. All these years later, the Czechoslovakian says he has no recollection of the incident but now apologises.
“He’s got a genuinely terrible memory if he doesn’t remember me being there because we sparred a few times, it wasn’t just that one time, but maybe he doesn’t[remember] maybe he’s just that f*****g thick” he explained, he went onto say “I will be very disappointed if I don’t knock him out in the first round, genuinely, that’s not me being blustery or cocky, I see the holes so there shouldn’t be any reason I can’t exploit that.”
Since arriving in the promotion earlier this year, Fleury, 35, has steamrolled both opponents. Whilst having a broken hand, he defeated Daniel Skvor by an arm triangle choke on his debut at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on April 20th at Oktagon 56. He followed that up six months later with a spectacular 71-second knockout of Pavol Langer at Oktagon 62 inside Eintracht Frankfurt stadium.
It was there that he officially called out ‘The Terminator’ , who was sat in his eyeline on commentary duty for the Oktagon.tv stream and initially seemed reluctant to accept the challenge set. When speaking on this, Fleury says “Even at the face off, I felt his body language was very defensive, look, you can watch it and see for yourselves to make up your own mind but I’m surprised he even took the fight because on that night I knocked Pavol Langer out, it didn’t feel like he wanted it at all!”
WATCH HERE: Vemola vs. Fleury | FACE 2 FACE
Does Vemola Still Have The Hunger To Keep Going?
Earlier this year, Oktagon MMA held their 58th event at the home of Slavia Prague FC, with Karlos Vemola vs Atilla Vegh 2 as the headline event. This match-up should have happened years ago, but for the latter’s inactivity, Vemola ultimately walked away the victor after an arm-triangle choke finish in the second round.
The event was dubbed ‘the last dance’ as it was set to be Karlos’ last outing. Factor that into him being 38 years of age with 45 fights under his belt, and naturally, the question is being asked whether he still wants to compete with the much fresher man in Will Fleury.
Find out who will walk away as Oktagon light heavyweight champion LIVE on DAZN from 6 pm on 29th December. Keep your eyes peeled for the full World In Sport preview on Oktagon 65, which includes the TipSport gamechanger final between Ronald Paradeiser and Losene Keita for the lightweight crown.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH WILL FLEURY AHEAD OF OKTAGON 65:“DEEP DOWN HE DOESN’T F****N WANT IT AT ALL” – Will Fleury on Karlos Vemola ahead of #Oktagon65
