A bout that was originally set for the co-main event of UFC Fight Night Chile is now going to headline UFC Fight Night Hamburg according to MMA DNA as #2 Volkan Oezdemir faces #7 Mauricio Rua. The bout had reportedly been pulled from UFC Fight Night Chile due to legal complications surround Oezdemir’s arrest last year.
Oezdemir (15-2-0) is competing for the first time since losing a title bout to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 220. Oezdemir has earned two wins in the UFC in less than a minute, with those coming over Jimi Manuwa at UFC 214 and Misha Cirkunov at UFC Fight Night 109. Oezdemir also competed twice in Bellator MMA, with his only win in the promotion coming over Josh Lanier at Bellator 105.
Rua (25-10-0) enters the contest on a three fight winning streak, defeating the trio of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Corey Anderson and Gian Villante. Rua is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, defeating Lyoto Machida to win the gold at UFC 113. Rua has seen his last three fights go all the way into the third round, with two of those bouts going to the judges scorecards.
UFC Fight Night Hamburg takes place on Sunday, July 22 from the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany with Volkan Oezdemir and Mauricio Rua headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, while broadcast plans have yet to be announced.
