The former two-time title contender Alexander Gustafsson previously linked to a rumored fight against Luke Rockhold at UFC 227, but the matchup fell apart after Rockhold needed surgery on his shin. It seems like UFC is nearing to finalize the light heavyweight showdown between Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir for UFC 227 on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, California, reported by ESPN.
BREAKING: Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) and Volkan Oezdemir (@volkan_oezdemir) have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 227 on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, multiple sources say. UFC has been working on a fight for Gustafsson on that card for awhile, finally got one done.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 2, 2018
Volkan was supposed to meet Mauricio Rua at UFC Fight Night 134 on July 22, 2018, in Hamburg, Germany, but unfortunately, their bout fell for the second time. Rua’s first meeting with Oezdemir was set for UFC Fight Night 129 in May, but it collapsed due to Volkan’s ongoing legal issues. However, UFC is currently looking a replacement for Rua and as per ESPN Anthony Smith is under negotiation and being the front-runner to get the nod.
Per sources, Anthony Smith is the front runner to replace Volkan Oezdemir against Shogun Rua on July 22 in Germany. Not done yet, but he’s the leading candidate at the moment.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 2, 2018
Oezdemir (15-2) hasn’t fought since a loss to Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight championship back in January. Before that, Volkan won five straight.
“The Mauler” has been lobbying a rematch against Daniel Cormier, but “DC” put to move up in the division to challenge current Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 on July 7. Gustafsson hasn’t competed since May 2017, and currently, riding on a two-fight win streak.
UFC 227 will be headlined by bantamweight title bout between Cody Garbrandt and champ TJ Dillashaw. Meanwhile, the co-main event features a Demetrious Johnson looking to defends his Flyweight title against Henry Cejudo in the rematch.
