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Volkan Oezdemir (born 19 September 1989) is a Swiss professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer.[9] He currently competes in the Light heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2010, Oezdemir formerly competed for Bellator. As a kickboxer, he competed for Superkombat Fighting Championship in their heavyweight division. As of 1 August 2023, he is #7 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings.[10]

Background

Oezdemir was born in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. His father from Turkey is ethnically Kurdish[11][12][13][14] and his mother is Swiss. He befriended Alistair Overeem on a visit to the Netherlands while training at the Golden Glory gym. Oezdemir later competed in amateur and professional kickboxing, as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, before transitioning to mixed martial arts.[15]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Oezdemir made his professional MMA debut in 2010, and compiled a record of 9–0 before being signed by Bellator.[citation needed]

Bellator MMA

Oezdemir made his promotional debut at Bellator 105 on 25 October 2013, against Josh Lanier. He won the fight via first-round TKO.[16]

Oezdemir then dropped down to the Light Heavyweight division to face Kelly Anundson at Bellator 115 on 4 April 2014.[17] He lost the fight via a neck crank submission in the second round.[18]

With little to no fights to be offered by the promotion, they amicably voided the contract and Oezdemir became a free agent.[1]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Oezdemir was signed by the UFC in 2017, and made his promotional debut as a short notice injury replacement against Ovince St. Preux on 4 February 2017, at UFC Fight Night 104.[19] Oezdemir defeated St. Preux by split decision in the third fight of the main card.[20]

In his second fight for the promotion, Oezdemir faced Misha Cirkunov on 28 May 2017, at UFC Fight Night 109.[21] He won the fight via knockout just 28 seconds into the first round.[22]

Oezdemir next faced third ranked Jimi Manuwa on 29 July 2017, at UFC 214.[23] He won the fight via knockout in the fight's opening minute and subsequently won a Performance of the Night bonus.[24][25]

Oezdemir faced Daniel Cormier on 20 January 2018, at UFC 220 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.[26] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[27]

Post-title shot

Oezdemir was expected to face Maurício Rua on 12 May 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.[28] However it was reported on 13 April 2018, that Oezdemir was pulled from the event due to alleged visa issues restricting his travel to Chile.[29] The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for 22 July 2018, at UFC Fight Night 134.[30] On 2 July 2018 it was reported that the Oezdemir would face Alexander Gustafsson instead on 4 August 2018, at UFC 227.[31] However, on 19 July 2018, it was reported that Oezdemir was removed from the bout due to a broken nose.[32]

Oezdemir faced Anthony Smith on 27 October 2018, at UFC Fight Night 138.[33] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.[34]

Oezdemir faced Dominick Reyes on 16 March 2019, at UFC Fight Night 147.[35] He lost the fight via controversial split decision.[36]

Oezdemir was expected to face Ilir Latifi on 1 June 2019, at UFC Fight Night 153.[37] On 30 May 2019, it was reported that Latifi was forced to pull out of the event due to back injury and the bout was cancelled.[38] The pair was rebooked at UFC on ESPN 5 on 3 August 2019.[39] In turn, due to Oezdemir's visa issues entering the United States, the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night 156.[40] He won the fight via knockout in the second round.[41] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[42]

Oezdemir faced Aleksandar Rakić on 21 December 2019, at UFC Fight Night 165.[43] He won the fight via split decision.[44]

In April 2020, Oezdemir revealed that he had renewed his contract with the UFC.[45]

Oezdemir faced promotional newcomer Jiří Procházka on 12 July 2020, at UFC 251.[46] He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.[47]

Oezdemir was expected to face Nikita Krylov on 18 October 2020, at UFC Fight Night 180.[48] However, Oezdemir pulled out of the fight in early October citing a knee injury.[49]

Oezdemir was scheduled to face Magomed Ankalaev on 4 September 2021, at UFC Fight Night 191.[50] However, the fight was rescheduled for UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi on October 30.[51] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[52]

Oezdemir faced Paul Craig on 23 July 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208.[53] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[54]

The bout with Nikita Krylov was then re-booked to take place on 22 October 2022, at UFC 280.[55] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[56]

Oezdemir was scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov at UFC Fight Night 226 on 2 September 2023.[57] However, Murzakanov pulled out in early August due to unknown reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Bogdan Guskov.[58] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[59]

Oezdemir faced Johnny Walker on 22 June 2024, at UFC on ABC 6.[60] He won the fight by knockout in the first round.[61] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[62]

Kickboxing career

Oezdemir also holds a record of 5–0 in professional kickboxing. He made his debut in Romania-based SUPERKOMBAT, the largest kickboxing promotion in Europe, in 2014.[63]

Personal life

Aggravated battery case

On 19 November 2017, Oezdemir was arrested for aggravated battery. His bail was reportedly set at $10,000.[4] On 9 July 2018, he informed that the charges pressed against him were dropped.[64]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
27 matches 20 wins 7 losses
By knockout 13 2
By submission 2 2
By decision 5 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 20–7 Johnny Walker KO (punch) UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov June 22, 2024 1 2:28 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Performance of the Night.
Win 19–7 Bogdan Guskov Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivac September 2, 2023 1 3:46 Paris, France
Loss 18–7 Nikita Krylov Decision (unanimous) UFC 280 October 22, 2022 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 18–6 Paul Craig Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall July 23, 2022 3 5:00 London, England
Loss 17–6 Magomed Ankalaev Decision (unanimous) UFC 267 October 30, 2021 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss 17–5 Jiří Procházka KO (punch) UFC 251 July 12, 2020 2 0:49 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 17–4 Aleksandar Rakić Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie December 21, 2019 3 5:00 Busan, South Korea
Win 16–4 Ilir Latifi KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 August 10, 2019 2 4:31 Montevideo, Uruguay Performance of the Night.
Loss 15–4 Dominick Reyes Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal March 16, 2019 3 5:00 London, England
Loss 15–3 Anthony Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith October 27, 2018 3 4:26 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Loss 15–2 Daniel Cormier TKO (punches) UFC 220 January 20, 2018 2 2:00 Boston, Massachusetts, United States For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 15–1 Jimi Manuwa KO (punches) UFC 214 July 29, 2017 1 0:42 Anaheim, California, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 14–1 Misha Cirkunov KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira May 28, 2017 1 0:28 Stockholm, Sweden
Win 13–1 Ovince Saint Preux Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie February 4, 2017 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States Return to Light Heavyweight.
Win 12–1 Alihan Vahaev Decision (unanimous) WFCA 17: Grand Prix Akhmat April 9, 2016 3 5:00 Grozny, Russia WFCA Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinal.
Win 11–1 Paco Estevez TKO (punches) Strength & Honor Championship 10 September 20, 2014 1 N/A Geneva, Switzerland Heavyweight bout.
Loss 10–1 Kelly Anundson Submission (neck crank) Bellator 115 April 4, 2014 2 3:19 Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 10–0 Josh Lanier TKO (punches and elbows) Bellator 105 October 25, 2013 1 3:13 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
Win 9–0 David Round TKO (punches) WKN Valhalla: Battle of the Vikings March 9, 2013 1 N/A Aarhus, Denmark Won the WKN Valhalla: Battle of the Vikings Tournament.
Win 8–0 Angelier Benjamin KO (punches) WKN Valhalla: Battle of the Vikings March 9, 2013 1 0:45 Aarhus, Denmark
Win 7–0 Benyaich Mohamed TKO (punches) WKN Valhalla: Battle of the Vikings March 9, 2013 1 0:15 Aarhus, Denmark
Win 6–0 Mohamed Amidi TKO (punches) Strength & Honor Championship 6 October 6, 2012 1 1:59 Geneva, Switzerland Heavyweight bout.
Win 5–0 Bruno Farias Grancheux TKO (punches) Lions Fighting Championship 4 September 15, 2012 1 1:54 Itabuna, Brazil
Win 4–0 Ronilson Santos TKO (retirement) Lions Fighting Championship 3 May 12, 2012 1 2:12 Itabuna, Brazil
Win 3–0 Mamadou Cisse Submission (kimura) 100% Fight 10: Supreme League Block C April 7, 2012 1 3:43 Paris, France
Win 2–0 Boubacar Baldé Decision (unanimous) Lions Fighting Championship 1 October 15, 2011 3 5:00 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Win 1–0 Martin Vath TKO (punches) Shooto: Switzerland 7 September 4, 2010 1 0:56 Zürich, Switzerland

[71]

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
5 wins, 0 losses
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2014-10-25 Win France Nordine Mahieddine SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix 2014 Final Elimination, Super Fight Geneva, Switzerland Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2014-10-04 Win Switzerland Patrick Schmid Champions Fight Night 2 Switzerland TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 2 N/A
2014-09-27 Win France Kévin Bavelard Jura Fight Night Delémont, Switzerland TKO 2 N/A
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References

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