Volkan Oezdemir just sent a message to the entire light heavyweight division.
The 36-year-old Swiss fighter demolished Alonzo Menifield with a first-round TKO on the main card at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar.
The finish got Oezdemir (21-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) back in the win column after a loss to Carlos Ulberg a year ago.
Oezdemir now has three wins in his past four fights, and said it’s not too late in his career for him to make another run at the light heavyweight title.
“I’m flying right now,” Oezdemir told UFC.com after the fight.
“The fight was quick. This is exactly what I want all the time: I want spectacular fights, spectacular knockouts. This fight was to prove to the world that I deserve to be there.”
“I need to climb back through the rankings, back to the top five, and my goal is the belt, like always.”
In January, it will be eight years since Oezdemir challenged then-champion Daniel Cormier for the 205-pound title at UFC 220.
He was knocked out in the second round, and the setback started a three-fight skid and a run of five losses in seven fights.
The consolation prize from those five losses is they came in a title fight, then four to future light heavyweight title challengers and eventual champions.
But moral victories don’t rise fighters up in the rankings.
“My first fight in the UFC in 2017 against Ovince St. Preux was against a guy who was ranked Number 6 at the time,” Oezdemir said.
“My first fight was in the top 10, and I never left the top 10. Now it’s been more than eight years. I’m very happy to be there, but I don’t want to be ‘there.’ I want to be dominating this game, and my goal is to reach the belt.”
Oezdemir wasted no time calling out his next opponents.
I want to fight Jamahal Hill or Jan Blachowicz,” he declared.
Blachowicz has a fight coming up at UFC 323 against Bogdan Guskov, so we’ll see. But Jamahal Hill is definitely on my list.”
The knockout victory showed that Oezdemir still possesses the power that made him a contender years ago.
Menifield (17-6-1 MMA, 10-6-1 UFC) entered the fight as a dangerous opponent, but Oezdemir’s experience and precision proved too much.
The Swiss striker’s path back to title contention won’t be easy.
The light heavyweight division remains stacked with elite talent, including current champion Alex Pereira and top contenders like Magomed Ankalaev.
But Oezdemir’s recent performances suggest he still belongs among the division’s best.
His willingness to face fellow contenders like Hill and Blachowicz demonstrates his confidence.
At 36 years old, Oezdemir knows time is running out for another championship opportunity.
That urgency showed in his aggressive approach against Menifield.
The veteran fighter looked sharp and focused, ending the bout quickly and efficiently.
For a fighter who has spent eight years in the top 10, the motivation remains strong.
Oezdemir’s journey through the division has been marked by facing the absolute best fighters available.
Those tough matchups have prepared him for another potential title run.
Whether he gets that opportunity depends on how quickly he can climb back into the top five.
With performances like Saturday’s knockout, Oezdemir is making a strong case that his time isn’t over yet.
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