In a sport often falsely associated with hooligans and thugs, Aaron Aby and Sam Creasey stand as shining beacons of light for exactly the type of men MMA is really all about.
On April 20, at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, two of the most likeable individuals on the face of the Earth will collide in a battle for Oktagon flyweight supremacy. But while most headline attractions have a hero and a villain, in this match-up, the fans don’t want to see either fighter lose.
In one corner, we have Aby, a man who, against all the odds, has overcome cystic fibrosis and stage three cancer, thus writing possibly the most inspiring story that the sport has ever seen. No matter the hurdles placed in front of him, the Welshman vowed never to give up, battling through every obstacle and challenge in his life with the same ferocity that has seen him develop a reputation as one of the toughest brawlers in all of mixed martial arts.
And in the other is Creasey, a competitor willing to go above and beyond to help those he cares about, striving to push a message of peace and love in order to make the world a better place.
Alas, when the pair clash in the cage, there can only be one winner, and having come so close to Oktagon supremacy in his last title bout, Aby is determined to complete the final chapter of his fairytale story.
Back in November, the Wrexham athlete went toe-to-toe with Anthony Pettis’ cousin, Elias Garcia, in a fight that will live long in the memory. Over the course of two brutal rounds, Aby produced a scintillating showing, exhibiting all the tools a champion should possess. However, when his American opponent landed a knee just above his eye, it opened up a devastating cut, forcing the referee to call a halt to the action.
But rather than let the incident define him, the flyweight has used it as the fuel to his fire to head right back into the trenches and finally pick up the belt his talent and dedication deserve.
In an exclusive interview with MMA TV Live, Aby explained: “I fight to represent who I am as a person and the people around me. I like my style to be how I live; it’s tough and with no quit. If I can get that championship around my waist. I feel like that would be the pinnacle for me. It would be the fairytale ending that I didn’t think existed. When I’m in there, I’m representing more than just Aaron Aby, and that means a lot.”
When the two men make that eagerly-anticipated walk to the cage in front of a roaring crowd, neither will let the heat of the moment distract them from the admiration that they so passionately share for one another. And Aby even has an idea for an extra title that Europe’s fastest growing promotion should put on the line.
The sportsman confessed: “I have nothing but respect for Sam. I think Oktagon should make this fight for the ‘Nicest Mother F**ker’ belt. When this bout was confirmed, I dropped him a message saying, ‘Nothing but respect’, and then I looked at our previous messages, and we’d wished each other ‘Happy Birthday’. After we fought, we used to wish each other ‘good luck’ for upcoming fights. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for who he is as a person and a martial artist.”
And it’s fair to say that the 2x Cage Warriors champion shares the same thoughts.
Creasey beamed: “I’m wishing Aaron good luck. We’re going to do the dance, and then afterwards, we’ll go and get a bite to eat.”
The battle between two of the sport’s good guys symbolises the spirit that mixed martial arts should always be contested in. But while the fighters hold each other in such high regard, when the first bell strikes, they will throw their friendship to one side, giving it their all to claim the belt that would cement their status as the greatest flyweight in Europe.
Fans can watch Oktagon 56 live on DAZN.
