No. 8 light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (16-4, 12 KOs, 1 SUB) will meet rising prospect Aleksandar Rakic (12-1, 9 KOs, 1 SUB) at UFC on ESPN+ 23 on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea. The card streams live on ESPN+ starting 5am ET.
In just a few short years, Volkan Oezdemir has gone from UFC unknown to surprise contender to a flash in the pan. This Saturday, the Swede will take on a new role: gatekeeper to a rising prospect in Aleksandar Rakic. The matchup serves as the co-main event to a ESPN+ card in South Korea.
Oezdemir was completely outclassed by Daniel Cormier in his 2018 title shot, then went on to lose consecutive bouts to Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes. The three-fight losing streak knocked “No Time” out of the top contender ranks, but to be fair he was beating Smith before he got caught with a sub, and the fight with Reyes could’ve gone either way. Still, Latifi got a desperately needed win over Latifi in his most recent outing to stay relevant at 205 pounds.
Since losing his first pro fight, Aleksandar Rakic has won 12 straight, which includes four UFC fights. The Austrian has looked extremely impressive in his last two, notching first-round knockouts of Devin Clark and Jimi Manuwa. While beating Manuwa doesn’t mean what it used to, it was still enough to give Rakic a number next to his name. Oezdemir is another big step up in competition, and a win would earn Rakic a shot at a top five guy - especially if he scores another quick KO.
Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best betting options. Live UFC betting at the online sportsbook is available if you want to make any wagers during the fight - particularly for hedge plays.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Volkan Oezdemir +115
Aleksandar Rakic -145
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: +165 / -215
Significant Striking Stats
Landed per minute: Oezdemir 5.04 / Rakic 5.25
Striking accuracy: Oezdemir 46% / Rakic 52%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Oezdemir 3.93 / Rakic 1.63
Striking defense: Oezdemir 57% / Rakic 50%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Oezdemir 0.48 / Rakic 1.29
Takedown accuracy: Oezdemir 22% / Rakic 60%
Takedown defense: Oezdemir 76% / Rakic 88%
Submission average: Oezdemir 0 / Rakic 0
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Because of the flashy rise of Johnny Walker, Rakic has been somewhat overlooked as a bright prospect - but there is a lot to be excited about here. First, he is only 27 years old, which is a baby compared to the aging 205-pound class. At 6’5”, he’s also a massive light heavyweight, and that size alone should be a problem for a good number of fighters.
Though he wasn’t seen as a blue chip prospect, Rakic has exceeded decent expectations inside the UFC. There is a solid diversity in his wins, whether it was beating Francimar Barroso with volume, using his wrestling neutralize Justin Ledet, or simply punching his way through Devin Clark and Jimi Manuwa. He is obviously a powerful puncher, and his high strike rate suggests a comfort on the feet that should serve him well.
Oezdemir has proven himself an excellent kickboxer with a distinct vulnerability in the grappling department. There is also a question of cardio, as we’ve seen him tire out in 15 minute fights - something that cost him against Dominick Reyes. That could end up being a problem against the aggressive Reyes, although he is probably the better technical striker.
UFC Odds Pick: Oezdemir to win at -145
We’re going with the vet against the favored prospect - the main reason being that Oezdemir should have the advantage on the feet. If Rakic was a better wrestler, we could see him winning from the top, but Oezdemir’s takedown defense should hold up well here.
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