Conor McGregor’s teammate reacts after unexpected praise despite old feud

After becoming a two-weight champion in the European promotion OKTAGON, Will Fleury, a fighter from SBG Dublin, caught the attention of his fellow gym member, McGregor, earlier this year.

Fleury made his debut at OKTAGON 56 in April 2024 as a light heavyweight and has since put together four straight wins, including a victory that earned him the vacant heavyweight title.

The pair had traded words online back in late 2023 over political issues, with McGregor not holding back in his criticism of the 36-year-old.

Speaking to Bloody Elbow ahead of his December 28 return, Fleury said he was surprised when ‘The Notorious’ went out of his way to praise him following his latest victory.

“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.

“For as much as I might disagree with Conor about a lot of stuff, if that guy comes back and he’s fighting someone in the UFC, if he has a big fight or whatever, it’s not like I’m not hoping he wins.

“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.”

Fleury added that the comment did not alter their relationship but confirmed a persistent mutual respect between them.

“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,” he stated.

Will Fleury aims to do something Conor McGregor never did at OKTAGON 81

McGregor’s image, hoisting two UFC belts simultaneously at UFC 205, stands as one of the most enduring and iconic sights in the history of the sport.

Despite reaching that historic milestone, ‘The Notorious’ did not end up defending either title, choosing instead to focus on a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, which happened the following year.

Now Fleury has a chance to take things a step further when he defends one of his belts in what will be the biggest fight of his career so far, set for December 28.

Martin Buday is set to face Fleury after leaving the UFC earlier this year. Buday left the promotion with an impressive 7-1 record.

This will be a familiar stage for ‘Badys’, who previously held and then vacated that same belt back in 2021 when he signed with the UFC.