Shogun vs. ‘No Time’ will be a little more time in the making, as Rua vs. Oezdemir now headlines UFC Hamburg.
Originally scheduled for UFC Chile next month, a crucial light heavyweight scrap between Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Volkan Oezdemir will now headline UFC Hamburg. The UFC announced the news Monday. The bout, which looked to have locked down the co-main event slot in Santiago, Chile, was pushed back due to issues stemming from assault charges faced by Oezdemir. MMA Fighting first reported that over the weekend.
Oezdemir (15–2) went on a three fight streak to start his UFC career beginning in February 2017, picking up wins over Ovince St. Preux, Misha Cirkunov, and Jimi Manuwa. That punched his ticket to a shot against light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier. Cormier, however, finished Oezdemir within two rounds at UFC 220 earlier this year.
The legendary Shogun Rua, meanwhile, is incredibly on the best streak of his UFC career, having won three straight. Rua (25–10) has wins over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Corey Anderson, and Gian Villante during that stretch. Rua won the 205lb title in 2010 in the second of two fights against Lyoto Machida, but lost the belt to Jon Jones in his very next bout.
UFC Hamburg, otherwise known as UFC Fight Night 134, takes place in Hamburg, Germany on July 22, 2018.
