PARIS – Volkan Oezdemir has been around the block in the UFC.
The man has challenged for a light heavyweight title. He’s been in the cage with future champions and title challengers. And in his pro career, he’s fought in a full dozen different countries. Oezdemir (18-7 MMA, 6-6 UFC) fights UFC newcomer Bogdan Guskov (14-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Saturday in France, though it actually will be his second fight in the country.
What Oezdemir really wants, though, is for the UFC to touch down in his home country of Switzerland. Heretofore, the closest the promotion has come are events in Paris and Germany. But the 33-year-old hopes an influx of Swiss talent into the UFC might help set the wheels in motion.
Oezdemir talked about that and more at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 226 media day in Paris.
Check out the full interview in the video above. UFC Fight Night 226 takes place Saturday at Accor Arena and is the UFC’s second visit to France. The event streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 226.
