Will Fleury is venturing into hostile territory once more, this time bringing both of his championship belts and a determined mindset to Berlin.
OKTAGON MMA is making its debut in the German capital with OKTAGON 90, scheduled for Saturday, June 20th, at the Uber Arena. This event marks a significant milestone for the Czech-Slovak promotion, which has rapidly ascended to become a prominent force in European MMA. The fight card is anticipated to showcase one of the organization’s most impressive lineups in Germany, headlined by the double-champion Will Fleury defending his heavyweight crown against the hometown favorite, Kasim Aras.
Will Fleury faces Kasim Aras for heavyweight title at OKTAGON 90 in Berlin
Fleury, who also holds the light heavyweight championship, arrives in Berlin fresh off a victory that could redefine his career. In December, he secured a dominant first-round knockout against former UFC heavyweight Martin Buday, defending his belt in under two minutes. This impressive performance quickly propelled him into the spotlight, with Irish media and European MMA outlets hailing him as one of OKTAGON’s standout champions.
Following this decisive win, Fleury received numerous offers from promotions worldwide. 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 bout in Berlin represents the first step in this new contract, taking place on enemy soil against a fighter who has actively sought this matchup.
Aras enters the fight as one of the few heavyweights who openly campaigned for a shot at Fleury. The German fighter is a former LFL champion and a Bellator veteran with a professional record of 11 wins and 5 losses. He quickly established his presence in OKTAGON with a memorable debut in Hamburg at OKTAGON 73, where he defeated Adam Pałasz on the main card, significantly boosting his profile among German fans.
He followed this victory with a win over Simon Biyong at OKTAGON 78 in Cologne. After the fight, Aras used his post-match interview to directly challenge the champion, a strategy that aligns with OKTAGON’s approach to rewarding fighters who actively promote bouts in their home markets. For Aras, OKTAGON 90 presents the most significant opportunity of his career, a chance to become the face of the promotion in Germany should he succeed in dethroning the visiting champion.
The promotion is reinforcing the event with strong German representation across the entire card. Rising bantamweight prospect Alina Dalaslan, an undefeated 25-year-old from Germany with a 4-0 professional record and recent knockout victories over Karolina Sobek and Kamila Simkova, is set to compete in Berlin following a standout performance 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 considerable local interest and offer the German audience a blend of established fighters and rising contenders in the European rankings.
For Fleury, Berlin signifies an attempt to defend his championship gold in an opponent’s backyard. For Aras, it’s a hometown opportunity to potentially reshape the heavyweight division in a single night. Regardless of the outcome, OKTAGON’s inaugural event in the German capital holds the potential to be a pivotal moment in the promotion’s efforts to establish Berlin as a regular fixture on its European schedule.