UFC Fight Night 226: Volkan Oezdemir vs Bogdan Guskov 09/02/2023 Fight Odds, Preview and Predictions

UFC Fight Night 226: Oezdemir vs Guskov 09/02/2023 – Former UFC light heavyweight title contender Volkan Oezdemir locks horns with Bogdan Guskov in a three-round clash on Saturday, September 2, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. The match is part of the UFC Fight Night 226 main card that will be featured live in ESPN+ for US-based subscribers. TNT Sports will be available for audiences in the United Kingdom.

On the other hand, UFC Fight Pass will stream the fight for Internet subscribers. Oezdemir looks to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Nikita Krylov as he fights Uzbek MMA campaigner Bogdan Guskov, who will make his debut in the UFC after 16 bouts in the independent circuit. Initial MMA odds see Oezdemir as the favorite in this encounter due to his extensive fight experience. However, do not sleep on Guskov as he has the skills and power to surprise the veteran and open his UFC resume with a bang.

Tweets by ufc

Main Card

Volkan Oezdemir

Oezdemir (18-7, 6-6 UFC) fights for the first time in more than 10 months as he looks to bounce back from his recent losing skid and restore his relevancy in the light heavyweight division. The former championship contender has lost three of his last four fights and he hopes the fight against Guskov will apparently right the ship and put him back in the 205-pound talk. The Swiss fighter was dominated in his last match against Nikita Krylov en route to a 30-27 29-28 29-28 unanimous decision defeat. He comes into the fight against Guskov with the experience that will help him inside the octagon.

Stats wise, Oezdemir has recorded 13 stoppage wins (12 knockouts and one submission) and five decision wins. His losses include two knockouts, two submissions and three decisions. He has successfully landed an average of 4.53 significant strikes per minute at a 47% accuracy rate. He has absorbed 3.97 significant strikes per minute and was able to defend 55% of the strike attempts against him. His takedown defense is excellent as he has stopped 80% of his foe’s takedown attempts while averaging 0.47 takedowns per 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 28%. He has yet to successfully connect a submission attempt in his stints in the UFC.

Bogdan Guskov

Guskov (14-2) makes his much-awaited debut and he is out to prove that he is more than the record suggests. The Dukent, Uzbekistan native has been successful in various MMA circuits around the world and he hopes to continue that success in the UFC. The 30-year-old is on a four-fight winning streak and is looking for his 15th win overall. A convincing win against one of the promotion’s top veterans would be beneficial for his quest to become successful in the UFC. He comes into the fight with 12 knockout and two submission finishes and his 6-foot-2 frame is quite big in the light heavyweight division.

Guskov looks to bring his all-around MMA skills in the UFC in the hopes of getting more lucrative bouts in the future. For him, the time is now to test the big leagues and what a time to prove this against a former title contender in Oezdemir. He has an excellent 86% knockout ratio so expect Guskov to use his striking ability to defeat his rival and kick off his UFC career with a flourish.