Nikita Krylov will get the matchup he asked for after UFC London.
Krylov (28-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC) meets Volkan Oezdemir (18-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) at UFC 280, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Oct. 22, promotion officials announced Friday.
Quick turnaround! From London to Abu Dhabi!@Volkan_Oezdemir vs @KrylovUFC is signed.
🎟️ https://t.co/ksSX5VEhIv@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/KVy7j6nheJ
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 5, 2022
Krylov and Oezdemir both competed on the UFC Fight Night 208 card in July at The O2 in London. Krylov scored a signature first-round knockout of Alexander Gustafsson and called out Gustafsson’s teammate Oezdemir.
Oezdemir snapped a two-fight skid by putting a halt to Paul Craig’s momentum. Oezdemir fended off Craig’s submission attempts en route to a unanimous decision win.
With the addition, the latest UFC 280 lineup includes:
- Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – for vacant lightweight title
- Champ Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for bantamweight title
- Sean Brady vs. Belal Muhammad
- Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan
- Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
- Amanda Lemos vs. Marina Rodriguez
- Lucas Almeida vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
- Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot
- Caio Borralho vs. Makhmud Muradov
- Malcolm Gordon vs. Muhammad Mokaev
- Nikita Krylov vs. Volkan Oezdemir