The world of professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is perpetually rife with drama, but few stories encapsulate the sport’s shifting relationships quite like the dynamic between Irish stars Conor McGregor and Will Fleury. Despite a publicly documented and acrimonious feud, the former UFC double champion recently extended an unexpected gesture of professional praise toward his fellow SBG Dublin teammate. For Fleury, who had previously been the subject of McGregor’s “scathing remarks,” the acknowledgment was genuinely surprising, illuminating a deeper, unspoken code of respect within the national fighting circuit.
The Rise of the OKTAGON Champ-Champ
Will Fleury has rapidly established himself as a dominant force in the European promotion OKTAGON MMA. His trajectory mirrors the spectacular path of his famous teammate, culminating earlier this year in Fleury becoming a simultaneous two-weight champion—a feat often reserved for the elite in combat sports. Starting his run in April 2024 at light heavyweight, Fleury achieved four consecutive victories, concluding with him securing the vacant heavyweight title. This ascension solidified his status as a true “Champ-Champ,” echoing the iconic moment McGregor achieved the same status in the UFC back at UFC 205 in 2016.
While Fleury’s professional accomplishments garnered mainstream attention, the source of some of the subsequent praise was utterly unforeseen.
Feud and Respect: Navigating the Political Divide
The relationship between Fleury and McGregor has been, to put it mildly, complicated. In late 2023, the two fighters engaged in a heated public dispute on social media, primarily centered on stark political differences. This conflict resulted in McGregor directing intensely critical comments towards Fleury, creating a rift within the shared gym structure of SBG Dublin.
Given this strained history, Fleury admitted he was taken aback when the former UFC icon publicly commended his recent dual-title victory. In a recent interview, Fleury detailed the current state of their interaction:
“We hadn’t really talked. We don’t really talk to be honest. I was surprised by that and I respect that. As a fighter, and as an Irish fighter, you want to see other Irish fighters doing well and I think he has that as well.”
This statement cuts through the typical bravado of MMA talk, revealing a fundamental separation of personal differences from professional kinship. Fleury emphasized that while he maintains strong disagreements with McGregor on numerous topics, the core desire for national athletic success remains intact.
“I want that guy doing well at the end of the day. I want him to go out there and represent Irish MMA in the best way possible and I know he still feels the same way about me.”
The acknowledgement, according to Fleury, was a sign of mutual respect, not reconciliation. “That was nice but we still don’t really talk to each other or anything. We’re not besties but that’s what it is.” In the competitive, often brutal, landscape of professional fighting, such a reserved, pragmatic expression of solidarity is a powerful indicator that professional recognition sometimes transcends personal politics.
Defining a Unique Legacy: The Defense
While the visual of Conor McGregor holding two UFC belts remains one of the most indelible images in combat sports history, his reign as a dual champion was notoriously short-lived. McGregor famously pursued the boxing spectacle against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and consequently, never defended either of the UFC titles he held.
Will Fleury now stands at a unique professional crossroads that offers him the opportunity to achieve something McGregor did not: a title defense. This is a technical distinction that elevates the status of any championship run.
Fleury`s challenge comes on December 28th at OKTAGON 81, where he is scheduled to defend his heavyweight title against a highly motivated opponent, Martin Buday. Buday, a former OKTAGON champion himself, recently parted ways with the UFC despite an impressive 7-1 promotional record. The stakes are clear: Buday vacated the OKTAGON title in 2021 to chase the UFC dream and is now returning to reclaim his former championship status.
For Fleury, successfully defending his belt against a fighter of Buday’s caliber would not only cement his status as a legitimate, actively defending two-division champion but would also offer a quiet, professional rebuttal to the narrative surrounding “Champ-Champ” reigns that are won but never defended. The path to a lasting legacy is often paved with defenses, and on December 28th, Will Fleury will seek to build upon the foundation of respect he shares with his most famous, yet distant, teammate.
Gareth Pendleton