The Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir light heavyweight title fight will go forward as planned despite ‘No Time’s’ recent felony arrest for battery.
News arrived from the UFC tonight that Cormier and Oezdemir will square off at January 20’s UFC 220 pay-per-view (PPV) card from Boston, Massachusetts.
The bout had been heavily discussed by Cormier after he conducted a recent online poll to decide his next challenger, which Oezdemir won after dispatching his last two opponents Jimi Manuwa and Misha Cirkunov in 70 seconds combined. But an arrest for aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony charge, after he allegedly knocked a man unconscious outside a Florida bar in August put the fight in serious jeopardy.
Originally from Switzerland, Oezdmeir has since surrendered his passport to Broward County court, and his lawyer Bruce Zimet maintained that his client was only acting in self-defense during an arraignment hearing two weeks ago.
The arrest adds to an already insane UFC light heavyweight title picture, where Cormier became the official champion for a second time due to decorated former champ and heated rival Jon Jones screwing up after “Bones” tested positive for anabolic steroid Turinabol during an in-competition drug test the day before his third-round knockout of Cormier at July 29’s UFC 214, a victory that was supposed to bring order to the chaotic landscape.
But as has been the case with the ultra-talented but oft-troubled Jones, nothing is certain, and Cormier was rightfully made the champion again even after he lost badly.
His new era begins in Boston on January 20; that is if Oezdemir can make it to the Octagon without incident.
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