If there’s anyone who can match Volkan Oezdemir’s “No Time” mentality, it’s his UFC Busan opponent, Aleksandar Rakic.
Oezdemir (16-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) faces Rakic (12-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at UFC on ESPN+ 23 on Dec. 21 in a battle between two fast-paced light heavyweights who share a combined 20 first-round finishes between them.
“It’s definitely going to be an explosive fight,” Oezdemir told MMA Junkie. “Rakic is there. He’s putting a lot of pressure, a lot of intensity. In his fights, he completely outstrikes his opponents, puts a lot of pressure, like always going forward, and he loves to strike. I think he will try to be more subtle, and I will definitely put more pressure into the game. This is how I see the fight going.”
Naturally, Oezdemir doesn’t see the fight lasting too long, especially with the way both of them approach their fights.
“I’m definitely ready to go full power since the first minute, because this guy also doesn’t back up – so it’s definitely going to be an explosive fight and I don’t see the fight going past two rounds,” Oezdemir said.
Oezdemir was able to snap a three-fight losing skid with a much needed finish over Ilir Latifi in August in one of his most refined performances yet.
Rakic, on the other hand, is off to a 4-0 start to his UFC tenure and is coming off back-to-back first-round finishes over Devin Clark and a head kick “Knockout of the Year” contender over Jimi Manuwa.
But Oezdemir, a former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, doesn’t think their resumes stack up against each other. He says Rakic has never really fought any real top ranked contender.
“Rakic is a top guy, obviously. He’s also really having a lot of success in the UFC lately,” he said. “But the thing, is he hasn’t fought a top 10 guy yet. The only guy close to the top 10 was Jimi Manuwa, but Manuwa was also on a losing streak with a lot of knockout losses – really bad ones. I think he hasn’t faced real competition, like really tough fights.
“He has good wins against people that are not ranked, so it’s also a nice win. But we always see the difference as soon as you hit the top 10 mark. Then you’re seeing a whole different monster.”
Oezdemir’s three losses came at the hands of former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith, and undefeated and current UFC 205-pound title challenger Dominick Reyes.
He also holds wins over notable names in the division such as Manuwa, former UFC 205-pound title challenger Ovince Saint Preux, and Ilir Latifi in his most recent outing.
“I believe I’ve been facing the top competition in all my fights in the UFC,” Oezdemir said. “It was the first time that I was facing someone that was coming off a loss, so other than Ilir, everybody was on a good note – like a lot of win streaks and stuff like that, a lot of prospects and people that are supposed to be really, really good. Also, you can see most of the people I’ve faced are all going for the belt or being next in line for title shots, so then it’s also adding credit to my name.”
Volkan Oezdemir doesn't see UFC Busan fight with Aleksandar Rakic going past two rounds
