:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56898421/824100322.0.jpg)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier, has apparently circumnavigated the promotion’s official matchmaking process, holding his own social media poll to procure his next opponent.
Congratulations to Volkan Oezdemir.
It seems “DC” has given the 205-pound slugger a chance to leapfrog fellow top contender Alexander Gustafsson, probably since “The Mauler” already lost to Cormier, albeit by split decision, at UFC 192 back in late 2015.
@volkan_oezdemir I asked and people wanna see u and I scrap. So you got it man! Let me figure a date now. They chose u bud! Congrats
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 28, 2017
Cormier (19-1, 1 NC) had the 205-pound title returned to him — despite getting crushed at UFC 214 -- after longtime rival Jon Jones failed his UFC 214 drug test. While he was calling out heavyweights and even middleweights, the champ is likely to face Oezdemir (15-1), who rocketed to the top of the light heavyweight charts by winning five straight.
The promotion has yet to make this bout official, but that could simply be a formality.
Time will tell.
Get the latest gear
- 2023 Panini Prizm UFC Factory Sealed Retail Blaster Box
- 2023 Panini Select UFC Factory Sealed Retail Blaster Box
- Islam Makhachev Walkout Jersey
- UFC Fanatics Single Glove Display Case
- 2022 Panini Donruss Optic Retail Blaster Box
- 2023 Donruss UFC Retail Blaster Box
- Miesha Tate UFC Authentic Plaque
- Brock Lesnar WWE Home Sweet Home Collage