Tale of the tape for Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka

UPDATE: Fight day odds and betting splits for Oezdemir-Prochazka

The #7-ranked light heavyweight takes on a debutante promotion opponent at UFC 251 from Fight Island in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, July 11th when Volkan Oezdemir faces Jiri Prochazka live on ESPN+ and pay-per-view.

Oezdemir is 17-4 in his MMA career with 13 stoppages, most of them in the first round. He’s 5-3 in the UFC, winning his last two fights to get back in the title picture. At age 30 from Switzerland, he averages 4.88 strikes per minute, and defends 80% of takedown attempts successfully. He wants to win from his feet, which is how he defeated Ilir Latifi and Aleksandar Rakic in his last two fights, the Rakic fight being a close split decision victory.

Prochazka has dominated the Rizin promotion as their 205 lbs. champion, and has a 26-3 career mark with an incredible 25 stoppage wins. The 27-year-old from the Czech Republic has won his last 10 fights, and has seen the second round only twice during that winning streak. It’s unusual for a new UFC fighter to come in as this close via the oddsmakers to a Top 10 contender, but it shows the respect he has earned on the independent circuit.

Here are the betting odds at DraftKings Sportsbook for Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka at UFC 251 on July 11th:

Money line odds

Volkan Oezdemir: Opened -177, now -177
Jiri Prochazka: Opened +140, now +140

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