MMA
Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

UFC light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir charged with aggravated battery

UFC

UFC light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir was arrested and charged with aggravated battery on Saturday in South Florida.

Oezdemir, who is expected to receive the next title shot against Daniel Cormier, was being held in Broward County jail on $10,000 bond on Sunday, according to online records. MMAJunkie.com first reported the arrest.

No further details were immediately available. Oezdemir, 28, is from Switzerland, but he trains in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, under striking coach Henri Hooft.

"UFC is aware of the situation involving light heavyweight athlete, Volkan Oezdemir," the UFC said in a statement. "The organization is in the process of gathering more information and will be monitoring the situation closely before determining if any further action is necessary."

He is 3-0 in the UFC, including first-round knockout wins over Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. Those wins catapulted Oezdemir up the 205-pound ranks, and place him at the front of the line to challenge Cormier for the belt in early 2018.

ESPN ranks Oezdemir the No. 5 light heavyweight in the world.

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