Volkan Oezdemir will have to wait to get his hands on ‘The Mauler,’ as the Swiss fighter will instead meet Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC Moncton this October.
The UFC’s debut in Moncton, New Brunswick, has its main event. On Thursday, the promotion announced that light heavyweights Anthony Smith and Volkan Oezdemir will clash at the event, which takes place October 27. Oezdemir was recently paired with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 227, only to see the fight fall through when both fighters suffered injuries in training.
Get your 🍿 ready!@Volkan_Oezdemir faces @LionheartSmith in the main event at #UFCMoncton Oct. 27! pic.twitter.com/Pd2OMGfliE
— UFC (@ufc) August 2, 2018
So instead of the Swede, Oezdemir (15-2) will step into the octagon for the first time since his loss to Daniel Cormier against the surging Smith. Oezdemir had been on a five fight win streak, with the final three in the UFC, prior to his failed title bid against D.C. He then found himself awash in legal troubles due to a bar fight incident, which has since blown over.
Smith, meanwhile, has knocked off a couple of legends in recent months. The former middleweight has won two straight at 205lbs, with finishes of Rashad Evans and Shogun Rua since heading north. The Evans fight marked the final bout of the former light heavyweight champion’s career.
