Volkan Oezdemir added to his highlight reel with a devastating first-round knockout of Johnny Walker to kick off the UFC Saudi Arabia main card Saturday.
The one-time light heavyweight title challenger was looking for the finish from the first exchange and showed relentless pressure coming after Walker. After rattling the Brazilian with a stiff left hand, it was an uppercut from Oezdemir that effectively ended Walker’s night, though the referee didn’t jump in quick enough to stop the fight.
As a result, Oezdemir delivered one more right hand that put Walker to sleep in scary fashion. Walke was left laid out flat on the floor before eventually being revived to receive medical attention. The end of the fight came at 2:28 in the opening round.
Watch the finish below.
Volkan Oezdemir puts Johnny Walker to sleep at #UFCSaudiArabia! pic.twitter.com/FuKjHMihRI
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 22, 2024
While Walker remained down after the knockout, Oezdemir refused to celebrate until his opponent got back up on his stool. Only then was Oezdemir able to enjoy his first knockout since 2019, when he finished Ilir Latifi.
“It feels great,” Oezdemir said about the win. “‘No Time’ is back. The uppercut was key with him. It’s a little bit crazy in the first two minutes. That’s Johnny Walker, he’s crazy.
“My only direction is the top. The belt is my destiny. The next guy I want to fight might be Jamahal Hill or [Jan] Blachowicz. I really don’t give a f*ck, I need somebody on the top.”
A constant threat at light heavyweight, Oezdemir arguably looked better than ever on Saturday as he came after Walker and never allowed the flashy striker to get any kind of rhythm going in the fight. Once Oezdemir found his range, he unloaded shots until he finally set up the knockout after Walker ducked his head into an uppercut.
The win should put Oezdemir in position for one of those marquee fights he wants, especially with his previous victory coming over rising star Bogdan Guskov in September 2023. As for Walker, he’s now suffered two knockout losses in a row to Oezdemir and Magomed Ankalaev.
