Volkan Oezdemir to Face Rizin Champ Jiri Prochazka at UFC 251 on July 11

A light heavyweight showdown pitting Volkan Oezdemir against Jiri Prochazka has nearly been finalized for UFC 251.

ESPN was first to report the bout. UFC 251 takes place on July 11 and is expected to be held at “Fight Island.” A location has yet to be announced for the event, but Abu Dhabi has been the rumored destination. The card will also include a strawweight rematch between Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajunas.

A former light heavyweight title challenger, Oezdemir has rebounded nicely from a three-bout losing streakj that occurred from January 2018 to March 2019. In his last two Octagon appearances, “No Time” has scored a second-round knockout of Ilir Latifi at UFC Fight Night 156 and a split-decision triumph against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC Fight Night 165.

The reigning 205-pound king in Rizin Fighting Federation, Prochazka is coming off a first-round knockout of UFC veteran C.B. Dollaway on New Year’s Eve. The Czech Republic native is currently on a 10-bout winning streak that also includes triumphs over the likes of Fabio Maldonado, Muhammed Lawal, Brandon Halsey and Karl Albrektsson.