Volkan Oezdemir Says He’s Happy With What He Did in His Fight at UFC 220

Speaking at the post-fight press conference for UFC 220, Volkan Oezdemir discussed his loss to champion Daniel Cormier in the co-main event for the fight card. Oezdemir lost by TKO in the second round for the title fight. Below are some highlights (transcript h/t MMAjunkie). 411’s live results and coverage of the event are available RIGHT HERE.

Volkan Oezdemir on his performance for the fight: “I think I surprised myself, because I know I have a good position in the close range like that. So I felt good. I felt really good. Upper body work, greco and stuff – I worked a lot on that. So, definitely, it was a good momentum for me. But then I got caught on the floor once and maybe the second time. And then I got stuck, so I don’t really know. But I surprised myself. I realized that I really progressed in my wrestling. I took definitely a lot of commitment into my wrestling training and improving on my defense and my offense and everything. So I’m also happy with what I did do in that fight.”

Volkan Oezdemir on how he says he wasn’t really rocked when the fight when the fight was stopped: “I mark really easily on my face, and I get red super easily. But I wasn’t really rocked. But definitely I (would have taken) a lot of damage, so the referee stopped the fight.”

Oezdemir on his belief that he will still become champion: “I will be champion, that’s for sure. I will be champion. It’s just a matter of time. Definitely, tonight wasn’t my night. Cormier is definitely one of the best light heavyweights that ever existed. He’s ranked in the pound-for-pound division. It’s already a great honor for me to fight this guy so early in my career. But I have so many more years in front of me, and I’m really going to make the best out of it.”