Volkan Oezdemir is in training camp to face UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier for the gold next month in the co-main event of UFC 220.
The light heavyweight was arrested last month in Florida for aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability for allegedly striking a person outside of a bar last August. The state has since bumped that charge down to a felony battery causing great bodily harm, which is a third degree felony.
MMA Fighting first reported the news.
Oezdemir has an arraignment scheduled at the Broward County 17th Judicial Circuit Court on January 9, a judge has already been assigned to the arraignment in Judge Barbara R. Duffy. The arraignment has been scheduled because the state of Florida has opted to move forward with the aforementioned felony charges against the UFC star.
Florida state attorney Michael J. Satz filed the new charges against Oezdemir on December 15, while a no bond arrest warrant was issued on the same day by Judge Duffy. Oezdemir has already been in court for the matter on November 29 and he pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.
Since Oezdemir is a citizen of Switzerland, a ruling by Judge Duffy at the first hearing required the UFC star to temporarily turn over his passport to the court.
There is no word yet on how this news affects Oezdemir’s upcoming title shot at UFC 220, which is less than a month away.
