MMA Fighting · May 28, 2019
Volkan Oezdemir: Facing former training partner Ilir Latifi requires ‘different mindset’
Volkan Oezdemir has tried to avoid fighting friend and former training partner Ilir Latifi, but the Swiss light heavyweight’s visa situation has somewhat forced him into a bout with “The Sledgehammer”.
Oezdemir is still trying to sort out some issues with his U.S. visa stemming from a 2018 felony battery case, despite the charges against him being dismissed. As he is currently unable to compete in the U.S., the UFC could only offer him two opponents for this weekend’s Stockholm event, either against former teammate Latifi or former opponent Jimi Manuwa. Given his quick dispatch of Manuwa in 2017, Oezdemir thought Latifi made more sense as a counterpart this time around.