The UFC is moving a light heavyweight bout between Volkan Oezdemir and Ilir Latifi from Aug. 3 in Newark, New Jersey, to Aug. 10 in Uruguay due to Oezdemir’s visa issues, sources said.
Oezdemir (15-4), of Switzerland, has been affected by visa issues in 2019, despite the dismissal of a felony battery charge in 2018 in Florida. A man accused Oezdemir of punching him outside of a bar in Fort Lauderdale, but all criminal charges were ultimately dropped.
Oezdemir revealed earlier this year he has been unable to return to the U.S. The former title challenger had been training out of South Florida prior to the visa issues.
The 205-pound bout will now take place at UFC Fight Night inside Antel Arena in Montevideo, Uruguay. The event airs on ESPN+.
Oezdemir is looking to snap a three-fight skid. Latifi (14-6), of Sweden, is coming off a decision loss to Corey Anderson in December.