Volkan Oezdemir believes Daniel Cormier could be his next opponent. Oezdemir has been on a tear since joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster. He’s beaten Ovince Saint Preux, Misha Cirkunov, and Jimi Manuwa. Cirkunov and Manuwa couldn’t last a minute with “No Time.” At UFC 214, Cormier lost his light heavyweight title to Jon […]
Volkan Oezdemir believes Daniel Cormier could be his next opponent. Oezdemir has been on a tear since joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster. He’s beaten Ovince Saint Preux, Misha Cirkunov, and Jimi Manuwa. Cirkunov and Manuwa couldn’t last a minute with “No Time.” At UFC 214, Cormier lost his light heavyweight title to Jon […]
Up-and-coming UFC light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir is ready to challenge for the 205-pound title. The Swiss knockout artist is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over the likes of Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. Prior to his win over Cirkunov, he also picked up a split decision win over Ovince Saint Preux. “No Time” has emerged […]
Up-and-coming UFC light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir is ready to challenge for the 205-pound title.
The Swiss knockout artist is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over the likes of Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. Prior to his win over Cirkunov, he also picked up a split decision win over Ovince Saint Preux. “No Time” has emerged as a premiere prospect to challenge Jon Jones for the 205-pound throne, as “Bones” comes fresh off a third round knockout win over Daniel Cormier to recapture the title he never lost.
Oezdemir recently did an interview with MMA Digest to discuss his rise in the light heavyweight division, and stated that he’d love to meet “DC” inside the Octagon down the road, but understands the former Olympian needs some time off following his knockout defeat to Jones. Oezdemir also claimed that his management team has been attempting to land a fight against fellow countryman Alexander Gustafsson in Poland, however, “The Mauler” is focused on getting his hands on Jones (quotes via MMA Mania):
“[Daniel] Cormier could be an option in the future because he’s going to have to come back in the scene,” Oezdemir said. “Even though he comes off a loss, he’s still going to be the number one contender. We tried to work something out [with Alexander Gustafsson] for UFC Poland in the main event, but like I told you, he’s concentrating on fighting [Jon] Jones.”
“It could be a good opportunity also,” Oezdemir added about a potential clash with Cormier. “He’s the second guy in the division. He was the title holder for awhile also, but I think maybe he needs some time off after the rebound.”
Jon Jones has retaken his rightful place amongst the elite of the UFC’s 205-pound crop. In the main event of last month’s (Sat. July 29, 2017) UFC 214 pay-per-view (PPV) Jones downed now-former UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier with a third round head-kick knockout to take back the title he never lost, and seemingly […]
Jon Jones has retaken his rightful place amongst the elite of the UFC’s 205-pound crop.
In the main event of last month’s (Sat. July 29, 2017) UFC 214 pay-per-view (PPV) Jones downed now-former UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier with a third round head-kick knockout to take back the title he never lost, and seemingly put an end to his rivalry with “DC.”
Following the win Jones called out former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar for a superfight, however, given that “The Beast” still has months left on his suspension for a UFC 200 failed drug test, Jones will have to keep himself busy with some of the top ranked competitors in his own weight class. Enter No. 3-ranked Volkan Oezdemir, who picked up a first round knockout win over Jimi Manuwa earlier on the UFC 214 card.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oezdemir joined The MMA Hour earlier this week to discuss a possible match-up with Jones for the title down the line, and admitted he wasn’t that impressed with “Bones’” performance against Cormier (quotes via MMA Fighting):
“That was Jon Jones, that was his style, he was doing his stuff, but I didn’t see any new weapons,” Oezdemir said. “Of course, he probably didn’t get to display everything and yeah the fight was dominant, but DC had some good moments too. So you know, I wasn’t that impressed.”
Although he admits Cormier and Jones put on a great fight, he simply didn’t see any new tools from the Jackson-Wink product that caused him any concern:
“The fight was great, of course, but I was waiting to see Jon Jones fight different,” Oezdemir explained. “D.C. is also one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever, so it was also a fight between two of the best guys, so that’s why I guess.”
Jones ate a good couple of uppercuts form Cormier early on in the fight that were able to knock Jones’ mouthpiece out of his mouth. Oezdemir speculated that if it were him who landed those shots on Jones’ chin, the 205-pound champ would have been taking an early nap:
“I think it’s very different power, D.C.’s stance is not made for striking,” Oezdemir said. “The way he stands, he’s not going to be able to generate a lot of power in his striking, so this would’ve been different. I have another style, I offer another style for Jon Jones, so when my punch lands, it’s going to be different.”
Volkan Oezdemir wasn’t as impressed with Jon Jones’ recent title win as most were. Late last month, Jones took on Daniel Cormier for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title. After two competitive rounds, Jones blasted Cormier with a head kick then finished him with ground-and-pound. With the victory, Jones begins his second reign […]
Volkan Oezdemir wasn’t as impressed with Jon Jones’ recent title win as most were. Late last month, Jones took on Daniel Cormier for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title. After two competitive rounds, Jones blasted Cormier with a head kick then finished him with ground-and-pound. With the victory, Jones begins his second reign […]
Volkan Oezdemir understands if Anthony Johnson doesn’t pick him to beat Jon Jones, but he disagrees. Oezdemir is coming off a 42-second knockout victory over Jimi Manuwa last month at UFC 214. It was Oezdemir’s second straight win that ended in a knockout in under a minute. The knockout was so emphatic that Oezdemir changed […]
Volkan Oezdemir understands if Anthony Johnson doesn’t pick him to beat Jon Jones, but he disagrees. Oezdemir is coming off a 42-second knockout victory over Jimi Manuwa last month at UFC 214. It was Oezdemir’s second straight win that ended in a knockout in under a minute. The knockout was so emphatic that Oezdemir changed […]
It appears that Volkan Oezdemir already has his next fight lined up. Even though he will most likely not be the next challenger for Jon Jones’ UFC light heavyweight title, he still wants a big fight. Oezdemir proved that he is not just hype but the real deal when he scored a 42-second knockout victory […]
It appears that Volkan Oezdemir already has his next fight lined up. Even though he will most likely not be the next challenger for Jon Jones’ UFC light heavyweight title, he still wants a big fight.
Oezdemir proved that he is not just hype but the real deal when he scored a 42-second knockout victory over Jimi Manuwa at UFC 214 this past Saturday.
He took to his Instagram account to call out former two-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson for a fight to “increase the value of the next title shot.”
Oezdemir doesn’t just see this fight as a contender bout to get the next title shot but thinks it’s a showdown that would determine “the real king of Europe.” He wrote the following:
“Let’s increase the value of the next title shot! @alexthemauler and I need to figure out who is the real king of Europe! Alex, I know how great you are, and I respect you a lot, but I’m going to knock you out! Not because I want to just because I have to!
A post shared by Volkan Oezdemir (@volkan_oezdemir) on
Oezdemir exploded onto the scene as a new face in the weight class over the past six months. He won his short-notice debut against Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Fight Night 104 in February and then a 28-second starching of Misha Cirkunov at UFC Fight Night 109 in May.
On the flip side, Gustafsson is coming off of wins over Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz. These two victories helped him make a comeback from a title fight loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 192 in October 2015.
Jones ate a good couple of uppercuts form Cormier early on in the fight that were able to knock Jones’ mouthpiece out of his mouth. Oezdemir speculated that if it were him who landed those shots on Jones’ chin, the 205-pound champ would have been taking an early nap: