UFC on ESPN+ 23 represents the final UFC event of 2019, and the promotion is preparing to go out with a bang, with light heavyweight knockout artists set to go toe to toe in Busan, South Korea.
Switzerland’s Volkan Oezdemir and Austria’s Aleksandar Rakic have racked up 21 career knockouts between them, and now the two European strikers will face off in a light heavyweight clash on Dec. 21 that looks sure to deliver some pre-Christmas fireworks. The bout was announced via the UFC’s official European Twitter account.
Oezdemir (16-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) bounced back from a three-fight losing skid with a bonus-winning second-round finish of Swedish powerhouse Ilir Latifi at UFC on ESPN+ 14 back in August, while Rakic (12-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) starched British knockout specialist Jimi Manuwa in just 47 seconds via head-kick KO in his last appearance at UFC on ESPN+ 11 back in June.
Now the two 205-pound finishers will face off looking to add to their impressive resumés and finish the year with a resounding win to propel themselves into title contention heading into 2020.
UFC on ESPN+ 23 confirmed fights include:
- Volkan Oezdemir vs. Aleksandar Rakit
- Alexandre Pantoja vs Matt Schnell
