In the high-stakes environment of professional Mixed Martial Arts, rivalries often define careers. Less common, however, is the visible reconciliation of bad blood, particularly when political disagreements spill over into public view. This dynamic played out recently between two prominent Irish fighters from SBG Dublin: former UFC double champion Conor McGregor and rising European star, Will Fleury.
Fleury, having recently solidified his dominance in the OKTAGON promotion by capturing titles in both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions, received an unexpected nod of approval from ‘The Notorious’. What made this simple social media praise notable was the recent and acrimonious public feud between the two athletes.
The Unexpected Détente: Professional Respect vs. Political Conflict
Late in 2023, McGregor and Fleury engaged in a high-profile verbal skirmish online, fueled by divergent political viewpoints. The exchange was pointed, featuring the kind of sharp rhetoric McGregor often employs. Given this history, Fleury admitted he was genuinely taken aback when his stablemate offered kudos for achieving double-champ status in OKTAGON.
Fleury, in an exclusive interview, acknowledged the surprise but also highlighted the underlying, often unspoken code of mutual respect within Irish MMA.
“We hadn’t really talked. We don’t really talk to be honest,” Fleury stated. “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 interaction serves as a micro-study in professional boundaries. While their personal and political relationship remains distant—Fleury confirmed they are “not besties”—the respect for athletic accomplishment appears to operate on a separate channel. The success of one Irish fighter, irrespective of past quarrels, remains a source of collective pride for the nation’s fighting community.
The Double-Champ Benchmark: Spectacle vs. Substance
Conor McGregor’s triumph at UFC 205 in 2016, where he dismantled Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight champion, is arguably the pinnacle of spectacle in modern MMA history. While visually iconic, that double-champ legacy remains functionally incomplete, as McGregor never successfully defended either the Featherweight or Lightweight title.
Fleury’s identical achievement in OKTAGON—winning the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight belts in rapid succession—sets him up for an opportunity that McGregor, due to pursuing the lucrative boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, never seized: title defense.
The transition from a `champ-champ` spectacle to a reigning, defending champion defines the legitimacy of dominance. Fleury is now poised to take that critical, technical step.
The Test of Defense: OKTAGON 81 vs. Martin Buday
Fleury’s upcoming challenge is not merely a defense; it is a full-circle narrative with significant competitive weight. On December 28 at OKTAGON 81, he is scheduled to defend his heavyweight title against Martin Buday.
Buday is a fighter with significant pedigree, having recently parted ways controversially with the UFC despite a strong 7-1 record in the promotion. Irony dictates that Buday is challenging for the very same OKTAGON heavyweight title he vacated in 2021 when he signed with the UFC. This matchup is not just a standard title fight; it is a clash between the established dominance of Fleury and the proven, returning quality of Buday, who seeks to reclaim his former property.
While the history between McGregor and Fleury may be permanently marked by their political differences, the mutual acknowledgment of athletic success is a necessary component of the sport. McGregor’s professional recognition, though surprising, underscores the fact that even the most volatile figures in MMA maintain a line of respect for competitive excellence. Now, the technical focus shifts entirely to Fleury, who must prove his double-champ status is built on defensible substance, a path few double-champions ever fully embark upon.
