One-time light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir’s next fight will be against a rising contender with his own championship aspirations.
Officials announced Friday that Oezdemir will meet Aleksandar Rakic in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Busan on Dec. 21.
Oezdemir (16-4) ended a three-fight skid in emphatic fashion this past August, knocking out Ilir Latifi in the second round at UFC Uruguay. The Swiss fighter won his first three UFC fights, which included a pair of sub-30 second knockouts of Jimi Manuwa and Misha Cirkunov, before being stopped at UFC 220 when he challenged Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight championship.
Rakic (12-1) has yet to taste defeat in the Octagon, rattling off four consecutive wins for the UFC and 12 straight since losing in his pro debut. He is coming off of back-to-back knockout victories over Manuwa and Devin Clark.