Volkan Oezdemir on Aleksandar Rakic’s injured leg: ‘He will remember that fight’

Volkan Oezdemir believes his all-European co-main event clash with Aleksandar Rakic at UFC Busan will be seared into the prospect’s memory due to a gnarly leg injury he suffered during the bout.

Oezdemir was awarded a split decision nod on the night and having been on the wrong end of a similar result in the past, he gave his take on how he felt the fight went.

“A split decision is always a close fight, obviously,” Oezdemir told the gathered media at the post-fight press conference.

“The first [round] was probably his, but starting from the second round I felt him going down, you know? Slowly, step-by-step, I was landing body punch he was going down, I was landing leg kick and he was going down more and more, so obviously I had the edge.”

Due to a loss he suffered at the hands of Dominick Reyes in London last year, Oezdemir wasn’t getting ahead of himself as he awaited the official decision to be declared to the Busan arena.

“I had this experience already with Dominick Reyes when I was the wrong side of split decision when I knew for sure that the fight was mine,” said Oezdemir.

“The thing is, even after the fight, I went over to his corner and coaches and his coach told me I was the winner of the fight. I was expecting already to have my hand raised and it didn’t happen during the fight. This time I wasn’t waiting for anything, I let the judges do their stuff, I wasn’t expecting anything and I was just letting thing go. It went my way and I was really happy, I exploded. I was really happy about it and now I can enjoy my victory.”

Rakic’s swollen leg was one of the big talking points throughout the 15 minute bout. Oezdemir revealed that targeting the knockout artist’s lead leg was a part of his game plan and insisted that Rakic will not be forgetting the bout any time soon.

“Obviously [targeting Rakic’s leg was the plan], and you always have something else to add. I should’ve capitalized on this more and go back to the head with some punches and stuff like that. I did my part, I damaged him really good and he will remember that fight.”