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Volkan Oezdemir Expects Good ‘War’ With Former Training Partner Ilir Latifi At UFC Stockholm

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir expects a good “war” when he faces his former training partner Ilir Latifi at UFC Stockholm this weekend (Sat. June 1, 2019). The show goes down from the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. In the co-main event, Oezdemir and Latifi will square off. Speaking on the Eurobash […]

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Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir expects a good “war” when he faces his former training partner Ilir Latifi at UFC Stockholm this weekend (Sat. June 1, 2019).

The show goes down from the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. In the co-main event, Oezdemir and Latifi will square off. Speaking on the Eurobash podcast recently, “No Time” detailed his past training experience with Latifi, who he had nothing but kind words for (via MMA Fighting):

“I trained with Ilir in 2011, the first time I was in the U.S.,” Oezdemir said. “We trained together for five weeks and we really hit it off. We’ve stayed friends and we talk from time to time.

“I was eager to fight after taking three losses [in a row], but because of my visa I cannot fight in the U.S. right now, I must fight on the European cards. I wanted to get back on track because I was really feeling disgusted about the outcome of my last fight, I told the UFC I really wanted to fight in Stockholm; [the event] was two or three months away from my last fight.

“They told me the only possible opponents for the card were Ilir and Manuwa, and I’ve beat him already anyway. The choice turned out to be Ilir.”

Oezdemir is no stranger to facing opponents that he has shared the training room with. However, “No Time” is approaching this fight with a completely different mindset. He has no ill will towards Latifi, but expects a “war” when the two heavy hitters throw down Saturday:

“I’ve been fighting guys that I’ve trained with, but maybe I’ve only trained with them twice, so it wasn’t really a big thing,” said Oezdemir. “With Ilir, it’s going to be a bit different; it’s going to be a different mindset going into the fight.

“I have no hatred towards him; just respect. It will be a good war, I know it will be like a good game. We’re going to fight to the best of our abilities and bring the best out of each other.”

Oezdemir is currently on a three-fight losing streak. After racking up five-straight wins, he unsuccessfully challenged Daniel Cormier for the 205-pound title in January of 2018. He followed that up with losses to Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes, dropping the former via submission.

Now, he faces Latifi, who recently had a two-fight win streak snapped by Corey Anderson in December. The 35-year-old UFC veteran still packs a heavy punch, and is hoping to put together a nice string of wins to earn the first title opportunity of his UFC career.

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Volkan Oezdemir vs. Ilir Latifi, Jimi Manuwa vs. Aleksandar Rakic added to UFC Stockholm

Two additional light heavyweight bouts have been added to UFC Stockholm as reported by ESPN, when Volkan Oezdemir returns to action against Ilir Latifi and Jimi Manuwa takes on Aleksandar Rakic at the June 1 event. The main event for the card will feat…

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Six Fighters Who Could Win Titles At Different Weight Classes

Competing at a more natural weight is a welcomed trend in today’s MMA. With many fighters ditching their draining weight cuts, we broke down six fighters who could win a championship at a different weight class. It used to be that fighters wanted to cut as much weight as possible in an attempt to compete […]

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It used to be that fighters wanted to cut as much weight as possible in an attempt to compete at the lightest weight class possible. The thought was, having a substantial size advantage would translate into easier fights. Although many fighters have had success with this blueprint, in recent years the paradigm has shifted.

Fighters like Sam Alvey and Anthony Smith have recently decided to change things us. Both men were competing at middleweight, and having decent success, but since moving to light heavyweight both men have fast-tracked their fight careers. Smith is fighting Volkan Oezdimer in a potential 205-pound title eliminator bout, and Alvey has won two of three since changing classes.

That got us thinking here at LowkickMMA. Could other fighters benefit from switching things up? Here is our list of six fighters who could win gold at a different weight class:

Kelvin Gastelum – Welterweight

Fighters changing weight classes to better their performances is old hat. Take The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum.

After winning TUF 17, Gastelum announced he would be moving down to welterweight. The then 21-year-old Gastelum had success at 170 pounds despite battling with weight issues.

After repeated failed attempts to make the welterweight limit, UFC President Dana White strongly urged Gastelum to move back up to 185 pounds. Since moving back to middleweight Gastelum has gone 5-2, beating former middleweight champion Michael Bisping in the process.

He’ll now challenge Robert Whittaker for the middleweight title, but has often teased a return to welterweight to compete for that belt as well.

Gold could very well be in the future for Gastelum. Whether it’s at middleweight or welterweight remains to be seen.

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Ilir Latifi vs. Corey Anderson Set for UFC 232

MMA News’s Damon Martin has confirmed an initial Combate.com report of a UFC 232 lightweight showdown with potential light heavyweight title implications when Ilir Latifi takes on Corey Anderson December 29th. Both Latifi and Anderson drew the attention of reigning light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier on social media after Cormier became a two-division champion at […]

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UFC Light Heavyweight Ilir Latifi Calls Out Jon Jones, “Bones” Responds

Ilir Latifi calls out Jon Jones and it didn’t take long for “Bones” to respond. Latifi is coming off a first-round technical submission finish over Ovince Saint Preux back in February. “The Sledgehammer” was scheduled to take on Glover Teixeira next, but an injury forced him off the card. Latifi has been active when it […]

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LHW Contender Calls For Daniel Cormier To Vacate Belt

Is it time for “DC” to let go of the LHW crown?

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The UFC’s light heavyweight division has a strong sense of unrest at the moment.

Current division champ Daniel Cormier now holds the responsibilities of a double champion. “DC” is the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion after he knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in July.

After the fight, Cormier was confronted by former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Cormier vs. Lesnar will be the next heavyweight title fight that will take place according to Dana White.

Cormier has remained adamant that he has two more fights left. He plans to retire from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition next year. As a result, the title picture is uneasy to many top contenders.

It’s not guaranteed that Cormier will return to defend his title anytime soon. With top contenders like Anthony Smith, Alexander Gustafsson and Ilir Latifi waiting in the wings – the division can’t help but stall.

Latifi spoke with ESPN on the matter recently. Cormier’s days of fighting at 205 pounds are done in his opinion. Latifi doesn’t think Cormier should be light heavyweight champ if he is looking for “comfortable” money fights from here on out:

“Honestly, I don’t think he’s going to come down any more. I think he’s playing around, seeing what money fights he can make. I understand that in a way, but something needs to happen at 205. There are guys who want that shot at a title or interim title.

“He says a lot of things. He’s said he’ll fight me. I told him to be a man of his word and do it. If he’s looking for more comfortable fights, he shouldn’t be champ.”

Lesnar must deliver several months worth of clean United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing before he can fight Cormier. The WWE star will return nonetheless while many believe this could prove to be difficult.

In the meantime, Cormier could certainly get a 205-pound title defense in while he’s waiting. Whether or not he will due to his timeframe, however, remains to be seen. Light heavyweight king Jon Jones’ could be coming back soon to mix things up, he says:

“I heard Jon Jones is coming back this year. Rumors, you know?” Latifi said. “You see what he’s posting on social media, you get an indication he’s getting back. Let’s see. I don’t think Cormier fights Jon Jones again. I see Alex [Gustafsson] fighting Jon, but if not, I would love to fight Jon, too.”

There isn’t any scenario where “DC” returns to make a title defense due to his retirement according to Latifi. Latifi believes the former Olympian should move if that is indeed the case:

“Either he comes down and defends against me this year, or they have to make an interim title or force him to step down from the title. It’s only fair. I think what he’s done for the sport is great, and he’s a great champion, but it’s a new time now.”

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