Will Fleury Suffers Brutal Knockout Loss At Oktagon 92

Will Fleury's reign as Oktagon heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion ended in violent fashion when Makhmud Muradov stopped him 15 seconds into the second round at Oktagon 92 in Prague on Saturday.

Fleury controlled the opening frame, per MMA Mania, using the cage to grind down Muradov before dragging him to the mat for two minutes. The Irish fighter landed a sharp shot late in the round as Muradov climbed back to his feet, and appeared close to finishing the former UFC middleweight. But Muradov had already shown Fleury a counter right hand in the first that would come back to haunt him.

Muradov's Counter Right Hand Ends Fleury's Oktagon Run

That punch landed flush 15 seconds into round two. Muradov flattened the champion with the right hand, then pounced with follow-up shots before the referee waved it off. Fleury offered no excuses afterward and gave Muradov full credit. "I have total respect for him; he's a legit as fuck fighter," Fleury said during the post-fight press conference. "He's the best naturally talented fighter in Oktagon. He showed it tonight, kept his cool."

Fleury admitted he felt close to breaking Muradov at the start of the second round but acknowledged a lack of experience cost him. The loss snapped a six-fight win streak during which Fleury captured both the heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight and heavyweight titles, beating Kasim Aras, Martin Buday, and Karlos Vemola.

Muradov improved to 30-8 and 6-0 under the Oktagon banner, riding a five-fight win streak overall. The 36-year-old now holds both the undisputed light heavyweight title and the interim middleweight strap, setting up a potential unification bout with current champion Krzysztof Jotko.

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• MMA Mania — Highlights! Will Fleury’s magical Oktagon run come to an end in brutal fashion | OKTAGON 92