UFC Fight Night 109, a.k.a. UFC Stockholm, took place Sunday night in Stockholm, Sweden (and a fair bit earlier for some of us!). The co-main event of the evening featured a key light heavyweight bout between fifth ranked Volkan Oezdemir and seventh ranked Misha Cirkunov. For a division lacking fresh blood, it was a critical fight that had the opportunity to produce a contender.
Of course, there was the whole main event situation, with two-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson squaring off against another former title challenger in Glover Teixeira. Not to mention Jimi Manuwa somewhat patiently awaiting the outcome of Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2.
In any case, UFC Fight Night 109 was a rare chance for the light heavyweight division to shine, and Oezdemir vs. Cirkunov would have a direct impact on the 205lb title picture.
Round one saw immediate action as the two met in the middle with both men connecting. Oezdemir found himself being backed up by Cirkunov, but landed with a right hand behind the ear that dropped the Canadian fighter along the fence. A short punch, but enough to take Cirkunov’s feet out from under him. And that was all she wrote — over almost before it started! Follow up strikes were pretty much going through the motions as the ref waved it off.
With that, Oezdemir eliminates any question of whether his win against OSP was a fluke, and light heavyweight has another player.
Volkan Oezdemir def. Misha Cirkunov by TKO, Round 1, 0:28
