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SBG Ireland's Will Fleury will take on undefeated Hungarian opponent Norbert Novenyi at Bellator Dublin next month, Mirror Sport can exclusively reveal.

The 6-1 Tipperary native is coming off his first win in the United States at Antonio Jones at Bellator 224 and is currently riding a two-fight win streak as he heads into his bout on September 27th at the 3 Arena.

Speaking with Irish Mirror ahead of the announcement, Fleury said of his opponent: "I've actually trained with Norbert before.

"He's very talented, he's a really tough fight but I'm not sure if he has enough experience yet of the 'fight game', and because of that I think it's going to be a tough fight for him.

"He's very technical, his dad is an Olympic wrestling champion and he's got a very good grappling base, but I don't know if he's got that grit and warrior spirit in him.

"He's coming over to Dublin for his first real test, it's unfortunate because I don't want to crush the dreams of a guy I've trained with, but he put himself in this position.

"To come over here with the attitude that you can come to my home and beat me, that's a bit f***ing disrespectful.

"This is going to be a scrap and I'm going to make it a bloody war basically... I'm going to turn up the heat."

(Image: Bellator MMA)

Fans had been excited about the prospect of Fleury taking on another undefeated British-based prospect in the form of Fabian Edwards, but the fight couldn't materialise.

The pair had gone back and forth on social media and in interviews, but Fleury admitted that during that time period he was sent the contract to fight Novenyi and accepted.

"Somebody needs to give me a good answer about that, it's been frustrating... I don't feel this fight does as much for my career.

"I want that fight, it seems like Fabian wants that fight, the fans want it, I don't know why it hasn't happened, but it hasn't unfortunately.

"I think they [Bellator] want him to keep his undefeated record and that's why they're not letting me get my hands on him.

"We're two of the best up-and-coming middleweights in Europe and I think the fight makes sense... If I whopped Fabian it would do great for my career."

(Image: Bellator MMA) (Image: Bellator MMA)

Fleury believes that now is the time for his breakthrough as a star on the MMA scene, after a gruelling few years of working to hone his skillset.

"I've been trying to fight the most legit guys my whole career," he said. "I think I came into the scene at a very awkward time, Joao Carvalho had died just before I made my debut.

"But for a long time I've felt that 'now is my time', and when I came to SBG I made a very big impression on the gym, you can ask anybody who's in there with me, I'm a character that makes an impression on people.

"If people come into the gym, we had [UFC Light Heavyweight contender] Johnny Walker in and it could be any fighter, I'm the guy they put him with.

"I've been the most legit big guy in the gym for a long time and it has been frustrating that it hasn't got me out there a little bit more.

(Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr)

"But now fans are starting to recognise me a little bit more... Nobody can take away the work that I've put in and I've got a skillset that I've worked ten years to get, and I just need the opportunity to show it.

"I have no problem building up a fight and talking a bit of s*** when I need to, there are high emotional stakes here because this is my life.

"I don't f*** around, I don't want to build myself into a wannabe gangster and be something I'm not, I'm Will f***ing Fleury and I chose this life.

"I didn't want to work in an office and be some repressed prick, I want to be Will Fleury and this is what you get."

Tickets for Bellator Dublin are on sale now through Ticketmaster.ie and Bellator.com, as well as the 3Arena box office.

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