With Oktagon flyweight champion Elias Garcia conspicuous by his absence from the fight card at Oktagon 52 in Newcastle, number-one contender Aaron Aby has vowed to carry the division in the American’s absence.
Many, including Aby, had expected Garcia to accept an immediate title rematch with the Welshman following Aby’s unfortunate TKO defeat on cuts at Oktagon 48 in Manchester last year. The promotion’s return to UK soil offered an ideal opportunity to book the fight, but when the call came, Garcia didn’t answer, leaving Aby without a title shot.
On Saturday night, Aby will take on American Christopher Daniel, whose last four wins have come via first-round submission.
It’s a bout that offers a new test for Aby, who admitted that he was initially frustrated at not getting an immediate title rematch. But the Welshman said that he’ll handle his business against the dangerous submission specialist, then retrain his sights on Garcia for his next bout.
“It was frustrating,” he told me at the Oktagon 52 pre-fight press conference.
“I think the way it happened was frustrating, as well. But I’ve just got to put that to the back of my mind now and focus on what’s ahead of me.”
Aby said that he feels a responsibility to step up and be the face of Oktagon’s 125-pound division, and he takes that responsibility seriously.
“I’m a fighter. This’ll be my sixth fight in 11 months, and I feel like flyweight is also a new division to Oktagon, and if the champion isn’t going to be active and represent it, it’s up to me to carry that division,” he explained.
“I’m the number-one ranked flyweight fighter, so it’s important that I keep bringing the fights and bring the entertainment for the division, and for Oktagon as well.
“What’s happened with Garcia is done, for now. But I have to take things into my own control, and I didn’t want to wait out on the sideline. So I put myself out there again, and I plan on getting that rematch again in April.”
Garcia’s absence was clearly a source of some frustration for the promotion, with co-founder Ondrej Novotny addressing the question during the presser, as he strongly hinted at the possibility of the champion being stripped of the belt if he turns down another title defence.
“Yeah. We have to ask him,” he said.
“Actually, you can duck me only once. So he’s got his chance, he’s not here, so it’s for the first and last time. Next time, you are not the champion.
“Fair enough, no?”
