Volkan Oezdemir will be making his UFC debut this weekend at UFC Fight Night 104, as he is a late replacement opponent for Ovince St. Preux.
Fighting the #6 ranked light heavyweight in his UFC debut is fine for Oezdemir, who’s looking to make his name known in the UFC.
“The UFC wanted somebody to grab the fight, and I was there for that,” he told MMA Junkie. “I’m here and I want to be fighting with the best right away. ‘OSP’ is a proven guy, and I’m here to prove to everyone else that I belong in here. It’s a win-win for sure. I took the fight on short notice, and I’m here. I got the contract, I’m fighting a top six in the world, and I’m here to take his spot. I want to stay there and perform well. I’m the first Swiss guy to sign with the UFC, and I want to represent for my folks and everybody around me.”
A potential victory over the #6 St. Preux could be a huge one for Oezdemir, who thinks the win would move him quickly up the rankings.
“I’m a finisher – I like to finish fights,” he said. “I go in there for the kill, and I’m mostly a striker. That’s what I did all my life. But I’m training everything and trying to be complete. I like to mix everything. He’s a good athlete – he’s tall, strong, long reach. He comes from a sports background with football, but I’m a fighter, and that’s what I’m going to bring. I hope with the win I’m going to be top 10 right away. I’m here to climb the ranks.”
UFC Fight Night 104 takes place on Saturday, February 4 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with Dennis Bermudez and Chan Sung Jug headlining.
