According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, surging UFC light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir has been charged with “ aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability.” Oezdemir’s arrest occurred in Florida, where he is being held in Broward County jail, pending a bail hearing. At this time, the details about this incident are quite hazy. Not much else is known.
While Oezdemir hails from Switzerland, he’s been living in Florida as he trains at the talent rich Combat Club facility in the city of Lantana. At present, he is expected to be the next contender for Daniel Cormier’s UFC light heavyweight title. The pair are expected to collide at UFC 220 this January 20 in Boston. It’s possible, however, that Oezdemir’s arrest will throw a wrench in these plans.
Oezdemir joined the UFC roster in late 2016, taking a short notice debut against long-time contender Ovince Saint Preux. Despite being much less experienced on the big stage than his opponent, he came out on top in this fight, capturing a close decision win. From there, Oezdemir surged into title contention, authoring blitzkrieg knockout wins over top 10 light heavyweight contenders Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa.
Stay tuned for updates on this unfortunate Volkan Oezdemir situation as they emerge.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 19/11/2017.