Volkan Oezdemir issues statement following UFC 227 fallout

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir was gearing up for a massive contender fight opposite fan favorite Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 227 next month, but a broken nose has left “No Time” out of commission.

It’s an unfortunate fallout, especially considering a win over “Mauler” would have put Oezdemir right back in position to challenge for the light heavyweight title in 2019. Things become even more frustrating for Oezdemir when you consider he was originally scheduled to fight Mauricio Rua at UFC Hamburg this weekend before being pulled for a better matchup with Gustafsson.

Now sidelined and unable to compete at either event, Oezdemir is left to his own thoughts, which he ended up sharing in an update to fans earlier day via Instagram:

“I got injured and I’m not able to fight at UFC 227 damn it! I’m really sorry for all my fans, the UFC and my opponent Alexander Gustafsson,” wrote Oezdemir. “This event is going to be amazing anyway. I’ll be back at 100% very soon!!”

Oezdemir, 28, remains one of the most talented names at 205 pounds. Considering current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is readying himself for a Brock Lesnar superfight and eventual retirement, “No Time”represents a core member of the division’s future. Hopefully he can recover quickly and get back to his knockout ways.

UFC 227 will still feature a main event rematch between current UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and nemesis Cody Garbrandt, as well as a co-main event title reboot pitting UFC flyweight king Demetrious Johnson against former Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo.

For complete UFC 227 fight card news click here.