Daniel Cormier says Volkan Oezdemir will be next UFC title challenger

Daniel Cormier was reinstated as UFC light-heavyweight champion when it was revealed Jon Jones failed another drug test following UFC 214. (John Locher/AP)

Knockout artist Volkan Oezdemir will be the next fighter to challenge for Daniel Cormier’s UFC light-heavyweight title—at least that’s according to the champion himself.

Cormier asked his fans on Twitter a week ago who his next opponent should be: Oezdemir or Alexander Gustafsson.

Cormier notified Oezdemir Thursday that he was the choice of the fans.

Cormier (19–1, 1 NC) was reinstated as the UFC’s 205-pound champ earlier this month after it was revealed Jon Jones had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Jones defeated Cormier by TKO in the main event at UFC 214 in July, however that win was overturned by the California State Athletic Commission and changed to a no-contest.

Oezdemir (15-1) has skyrocketed up the rankings in 2017. The 28-year-old Swiss fighter won a split decision over top-10 contender Ovince Saint Preux on short notice in his promotional debut in February. He followed that up with a 28-second knockout of Canadian Misha Cirkunov in May and a 42-second KO of Jimi Manuwa in July.

The UFC has not made any official announcements regarding Cormier’s next title defence.

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