Volkan Oezdemir opens up on UFC 280 loss: ‘I will do everything necessary to go snatch that belt’

Volkan Oezdemir hasn’t given up on his UFC championship hopes.

[autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] hasn’t given up on his UFC championship hopes.

Oezdemir dropped a unanimous decision to Nikita Krylov this past Saturday at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. The former light heavyweight title challenger got off to an explosive start but ultimately Krylov was able to use his striking and grappling to take over the fight.

Following the loss, Oezdemir (18-7 MMA, 6-6 UFC) took to Instagram to reflect on the defeat and show gratitude towards his Allstars Training Center team in Sweden.

“What a week and what a crazy event! Not the end I expected after the fireworks in the first round! I am dedicated to this and I will do everything that is necessary to go snatch that belt. I will be back to improve and correct all the mistakes I’ve done. Heal my injuries and get stronger for the next step. I’m proud to be part of the @allstarsgymsweden family I love the energy and the mentality we have! Thanks to all the fans for the amazing support. Special thanks to my coaches my sparring partner and manager @andreasthegeneral @alanfinfoujj @mohammadbabadivand @n4jje @bang_chalong @fr3d_eng ! Giving up is not an option, working harder is the solution 💯 #UFC280 #NoTime #Discipline.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CkG0qIOjPqR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Oezdemir has had mixed results as of late. Prior to the Krylov loss, Oezdemir snapped Paul Craig’s winning streak with a unanimous decision win at UFC Fight Night 208 in July.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.

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UFC 280 post-event facts: Aljamain Sterling’s resume enters 135-pound GOAT talks

Aljamain Sterling owns the longest winning streak in the history of the bantamweight division after his UFC 280 title defense.

The most anticipated UFC event of the year took place Saturday with UFC 280 from Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

In the main event, [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) became the new UFC lightweight champion when he seamlessly rolled through [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) en route to a second-round submission that gave him the vacant strap.

The co-headliner saw [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) continue his run as bantamweight champion when he registered a second defense with a second-round TKO of [autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC).

For more on the numbers to come out of the two title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 280.

UFC 280 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total tops $13 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 280 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $306,500.

ABU DHABI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 280 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $296,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 280 took place at Etihad Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 280 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Caio Borralho[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gadzhi Omargadzhiev[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Malcolm Gordon[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Karol Rosa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Lina Lansberg[/autotag]: $6,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,929,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $13,106,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.

Nikita Krylov def. Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 280: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Nikita Krylov’s unanimous decision win over Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 280 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] at UFC 280 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. (Photos by Craig Kidwell, USA TODAY Sports)

Volkan Oezdemir happy for ‘pretty interesting’ UFC 282 title rematch between Glover Teixeira, Jiri Prochazka

Volkan Oezdemir is happy the rematch between Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka is taking place.

ABU DHABI – Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] is happy [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] and [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] are running it back.

Oezdemir, who is preparing to take on Nikita Krylov at UFC 280, will be looking to make it two wins in a row following his unanimous decision win over Paul Craig in July. As he builds towards another crack at UFC gold, Oezdemir has been keeping an eye on the matchups in his division, and is excited to see the UFC 282 main event rematch.

“I’m happy because it was a hell of an entertaining fight,” Oezdemir told MMA Junkie. “It’s nice to see this play again and maybe it’s going to be also a different result, so it’s actually pretty interesting.”

The first meeting between Teixeira and Prochazka was not only Fight of the Night, it is also the frontrunner for Fight of the Year consideration. Prochazka, who shared the cage with Oezdemir in 2020, won the bout with 28 seconds remaining in the fifth round, tapping Teixeira after an incredible back-and-forth war.

In the rematch, depending on how Teixeira shows up, Oezdemir is leaning in the former champ’s direction to come out with his hand raised.

“I didn’t see too much video about Glover (on) how his shape is right now,” Oezdemir said. “I need to see Glover because he’s getting older and older, so with the time and big wars like that, it just puts a toll on your body. So, with him being really 42 now, or 43, something like this, we need to see how well he handled the health, but I could see him taking the fight there.”

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Currently ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY SPORTS/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, Oezdemir knows there is more work to be done if he hopes to get another crack at UFC gold, because there are a few names currently in a better position. Oezdmeir’s first shot at the title came against Daniel Cormier at UFC 220 in 2018, but was finished in the second round.

While he looks to keep building his resume, Oezdemir points to another name in the division, aside from former champ Jan Blachowicz, that should get a crack at the winner of the UFC 282 main event.

“I think the rematch is there for a reason,” Oezdemir said. “… I think (Magomed)Ankalaev is probably more deserving because he has a non-stop winning streak. So definitely, there is people in the mix for the title.”

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Volkan Oezdemir out to avenge teammate Alexander Gustafsson’s loss to Nikita Krylov at UFC 280

“This kind of fight makes sense for me. I gotta go there and avenge my teammate and get the victory.”

ABU DHABI – Fighting [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] has twice the incentive for [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag].

Almost immediately after Oezdemir (18-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) and Krylov picked up wins on the same night in London this past July, the pair were matched up for Saturday’s UFC 280 event when Krylov respectfully called him out.

Oezdemir snapped Paul Craig’s winning streak, whereas Krylov (28-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC) picked up a quick knockout of Oezdemir’s teammate, [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag].

“This kind of fight makes sense for me,” Oezdemir told MMA Junkie. “I’ve  got to go there and avenge my teammate and get the victory.”

He continued, “Obviously Gustafsson was his biggest win ever. His biggest fight, his biggest win and something that made him shine, but definitely it’s gonna be different with me. I’m here to impose my style, and I’m here to impose my game.”

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Oezdemir was able to get back to the win column with his big win over Craig and is hoping to land a top-five opponent with a win over Krylov.

“It’s always good, because I’m here to stay,” Oezdemir said of bouncing back. “I’m here to climb the ranks, to get victory after victory, and now it’s good to get this behind and continue the winning streak.”

He continued, “Definitely it’s gonna make me improve, but then I obviously need a top-five guy after that just to put my name in the mix of the title shot. So, I need a victory against the top five after this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.

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Volkan Oezdemir vs. Nikita Krylov joins UFC 280 lineup in Abu Dhabi

Nikita Krylov will get the Volkan Oezdemir matchup he asked for after UFC London.

[autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] will get the matchup he asked for after UFC London.

Krylov (28-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC) meets [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) at UFC 280, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Oct. 22, promotion officials announced Friday.

Krylov and Oezdemir both competed on the UFC Fight Night 208 card in July at The O2 in London. Krylov scored a signature first-round knockout of Alexander Gustafsson and called out Gustafsson’s teammate Oezdemir.

Oezdemir snapped a two-fight skid by putting a halt to Paul Craig’s momentum. Oezdemir fended off Craig’s submission attempts en route to a unanimous decision win.

With the addition, the latest UFC 280 lineup includes:

  • Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – for vacant lightweight title
  • Champ Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for bantamweight title
  • Sean Brady vs. Belal Muhammad
  • Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
  • Amanda Lemos vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Lucas Almeida vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
  • Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot
  • Caio Borralho vs. Makhmud Muradov
  • Malcolm Gordon vs. Muhammad Mokaev
  • Nikita Krylov vs. Volkan Oezdemir

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UFC Fight Night 208 post-event facts: Molly McCann’s second spinning elbow makes history

Molly McCann owns two of six spinning elbow knockouts in UFC history after UFC Fight Night 208.

The UFC’s encore in London did not live up to the standards of its visit to the city earlier this year. Nine of the 14 bouts at UFC Fight Night 208 on Saturday at The O2 went to a decision.

The heavyweight main event capped off in disappointing fashion when [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the fight, giving [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) a TKO victory.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 208.

Volkan Oezdemir def. Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night 208: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Volkan Oezdemir’s unanimous decision win over Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night 208 in London.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night 208 at The O2 in London. (Photos by Per Haljestam, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC Fight Night 208 results: Volkan Oezdemir snaps Paul Craig’s streak in decision win

Volkan Oezdemir was able to fend off Paul Craig’s submission attempts and make him pay.

[autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] was able to fend off Paul Craig’s submission attempts and make him pay.

Oezdemir (18-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC), the former title challenger, defeated [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (16-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC) via unanimous decision, snapping “The Bear Jew’s” impressive unbeaten streak.

The light heavyweight bout opened up the UFC Fight Night 208 main card at The O2 in London.

Craig had Oezdemir in some early trouble with a leg lock, but Oezdemir managed to escape. That didn’t scare the Swiss fighter from following him to the ground straight after though as Craig continued to attack his limbs. Oezdemir eventually broke free and Craig continued to try and lure him to the ground. Oezdemir appeared to drop Craig on multiple occasions, but it looked like Craig may have been trying to drag him back down to his comfort zone.

In Round 2, Craig threw a high kick, which Oezdemir caught and used to throw him on the ground. Oezdemir was wise not to follow him on the ground. Craig was finding success on the feet with some flurries, but his takedown at the end of his sequence was stuffed once again. The threat of the takedown was opening up Craig’s striking, but another failed Craig takedown resulted in Oezdemir attacking from top position momentarily, before asking Craig to stand back up. Oezdemir cracked Craig with a few more shots to end the round strong.

Oezdemir started Round 3 by making Craig pay with some heavy ground and pound as Craig tried to latch onto his arm. Oezdemir continued to do a good job of avoiding any danger on the ground as Craig started to let his hands go. Craig tried pulling guard multiple times, but Oezdemir was too smart and too sharp on the night, winning all three rounds for the unanimous decision win.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 208 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.

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