Photo by Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC
The penultimate UFC show in Abu Dhabi for 2020 has its co-main event.
The UFC crowned a new light heavyweight champion on Saturday night, and in three weeks time a former title challenger will be back in the cage to restart his quest for another title shot.
#7 ranked contender Volkan Oezdemir is set to take on #9 ranked Nikita Krylov in the co-main event of the UFC’s October 17th show in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The entire card will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Oezdemir (17-5) is looking to bounce back from a brutal knockout loss to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 251. Prior to that defeat, he earned wins over Ilir Latifi and rising prospect Aleksandar Rakic, but he is 2-4 in his last six dating back to his unsuccessful title challenge versus Daniel Cormier.
Krylov (26-7) is looking for his first UFC win streak since returning to the promotion in 2018. After losing to now current champion Jan Blachowicz, Krylov choked out Ovince Saint Preux before suffering a split decision defeat to Glover Teixeira. In his most recent outing, he earned a decision win over Johnny Walker. These last two fights are the only times he’s ever gone the distance.
The UFC’s October 17th event is headlined by a featherweight scrap between Chan Sung Jung (aka “The Korean Zombie”) and Brian Ortega. In case you’re wondering, that card should end before Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez, so there isn’t any time conflict to deal with.