Volkan Oezdemir

Volkan Oezdemir (born 19 September 1989) is a Swiss professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxing practitioner.[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 kickboxing practitioner, he competed for Superkombat Fighting Championship in their heavyweight division. As of 1 August 2023 he is #9 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings.[10]

Volkan Oezdemir
Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night 153 in Stockholm, Sweden
Born (1989-09-19) 19 September 1989
Fribourg, Switzerland
Other namesNo Time
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
DivisionLight heavyweight (2010–2014, 2017–present)
Heavyweight (2012, 2014–2016)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
StyleKickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofFribourg, Switzerland
TeamGolden Glory (formerly)[1]
Fight Move Academy (until 2022)[2]
Blackzilians (2015–2015)[3][4]
Combat Club (2017–2018)[4]
Kill Cliff FC (2017–present)[5][6][7]
Allstars Training Center (2022–present)[8]
Years active2010–present (MMA)
2014 (Kickboxing)
Kickboxing record
Total5
Wins5
Mixed martial arts record
Total26
Wins19
By knockout12
By submission2
By decision5
Losses7
By knockout2
By submission2
By decision3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

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.

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]

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.[60]

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.[61]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

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

[67]

Kickboxing record (incomplete)
Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
5 wins, 0 losses
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2014-10-25WinFrance Nordine MahieddineSUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix 2014 Final Elimination, Super FightGeneva, SwitzerlandDecision (Majority)33:00
2014-10-04WinSwitzerland Patrick SchmidChampions Fight Night 2SwitzerlandTKO (Doctor Stoppage)2N/A
2014-09-27WinFrance Kévin BavelardJura Fight NightDelémont, SwitzerlandTKO2N/A
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

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