Volkan Oezdemir: Khamzat Chimaev 'was a big part' of UFC Fight Night 208 training camp
LONDON – Training side-by-side with Khamzat Chimaev has Volkan Oezdemir feeling at his most prepared for UFC Fight Night 208.
After suffering back-to-back, Oezdemir (17-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC) opted to locate his training camp from his native Switzerland to Sweden for Saturday’s bout with Paul Craig (16-4-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) at The O2. He’s now part of All-Stars Training Center, which undefeated welterweight contender Chimaev uses as his home base.
“It’s where I’m residing now,” Oezdemir told MMA Junkie. “It’s my full-time location and I’m ready to be there. I fully moved in June. I did all my camp here. I did a few weeks back-and-forth before that, but now it’s my full-time place.
“(Chimaev) was definitely part of the camp. Have to work my takedown defense definitely for Paul Craig. Obviously, Khamzat was a big part of it as well.”
Oezdemir began his UFC run on an absolute tear, but since unsuccessfully challenging then-champ Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title in January 2018, the results have been inconsistent. Oezdemir is 2-5 in his past seven outs, albeit to some of the top names available in the division.
He’s not getting much of a step back in Craig, who is currently riding a six-fight unbeaten streak. That’s exactly what Oezdemir prefers, though, because he knows a win would catapult him several steps forward.
“That’s what I want,” Oezdemir said. “My goal is to get the title and for this, I need to smash everyone in front of me. I don’t have to choose. I get the perfect test and that’s how I get closer to the belt.”
Oezdemir’s recent fights have primarily come against strikers. In Craig he gets an opponent who has the second-most submission wins in 205-pound history, and Oezdemir knows what he needs to do.
“He’s a little bit slow,” Oezdemir said. “He has bad defense. He gets hit a lot and he takes a lot of punishment, but he never gives up. That’s the thing. He never gives up. He comes back late in the fight.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.