Details Emerge in Volkan Oezdemir's Aggravated Battery Arrest for Aug. 12 ‘Bar Room Altercation’

More details have emerged in the recent arrest of Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir relating to his recent aggravated battery case.

Oezdemir, 28, was arrested on Nov. 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability and was held on $10,000 bail. Before the particulars of the incident became public, Oezdemir’s manager Frederic Englund made a statement to MMAJunkie on Sunday, characterizing the event as a “bar room altercation” in which the 205-pound puncher was “not the aggressor.”

According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s report, episode in question took place on Aug. 12. at a local bar called Capone’s. The alleged victim, Kevin Cohen, told police that he had gone outside after hearing that a friend, identified at Sergio Sandoval, had been knocked unconscious in a confrontation with another patron, presumed to be Oezdemir. Cohen claimed that when he asked who had hit his acquaintance, he was then struck by Oezdemir and knocked unconscious for an estimated 14 minutes. He was then taken to hospital and treated for multiple lacerations and concussion symptoms.

On Sunday morning, Oezdemir appeared before a Broward County Circuit judge, accompanied by his attorney Bruce A. Zimet. The Swiss native posted his $10,000 bond and surrendered his passport as a condition of his bail.

Oezdemir has been a revelation since his joining the UFC earlier this year, debuting with a surprise split decision over Ovince St. Preux in February, subbing in for an injured Jan Blachowicz on short notice. He has gone on to knock out top-10 talents Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa in subsequent Octagon appearances, earning the pair of stoppages in just 70 seconds combined.

Behind his 3-0 promotional record, Oezdemir is the leading candidate to next challenge UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in early 2018.