UFC Fight Night 165: Edgar vs. Korean Zombie - Predictions and Picks

#2 Volkan Oezdemir vs. Aleksandar Rakic

Aleksandar Rakic scored a huge KO in his last fight

This Light-Heavyweight clash is pretty intriguing, as former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir has now settled into a role as an ultra-tough gatekeeper, while Austria’s Rakic is one of the division’s fastest rising stars, and a win here could put him in line for a title shot some time in 2020.

Last time we saw Rakic, he knocked out Jimi Manuwa with a head kick in truly scary fashion. It’s true that the Londoner’s chin is highly questionable – Oezdemir knocked him out in 2017, for instance – but to take him out so quickly was still impressive, and prior to that the Austrian had won three straight fights in the Octagon.

Rakic is a tall, rangy fighter at 6’5”, and he’ll have both a height and reach advantage over Switzerland’s Oezdemir in this fight. To win, ‘No Time’ will probably have to get inside Rakic’s reach, and as he did against Dominick Reyes in March, he’ll have to turn the fight into a brawl of sorts, enticing Rakic into wild trades where he can hope to land one of his clubbing blows.

Oezdemir has slowed down a little since his initial three-fight win streak earned him a title shot, but his win over Ilir Latifi in August showed that he’s still very dangerous if an opponent gives him the opportunity to open up with his heavy shots, and he’s battle-tested, having faced nothing but world-class fighters in the UFC.

If Rakic wins this one then there’s no denying that he’s for real, but I’m not sure I can see it; the Austrian is too unproven against elite-level opposition for me to trust right now, and so I’m banking on Oezdemir dragging him into deep waters and drowning him, probably outworking him for a decision or late stoppage.

The Pick: Oezdemir via unanimous decision