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HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Ovince Saint Preux punches Volkan Oezdemir of Switzerland in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Toyota Center on February 4, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Volkan Oezdemir

TRAINING: 8am wake up / stretching / breakfast. 10am training until 12, always extra at the end. 1pm food / rest. 5pm back to the gym until 7pm.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I was visiting the Netherlands after I spent three months in Thailand to train for fun and to visit. And I started training at Golden Glory gym, where I met Alistair Overeem. He started helping me a lot and we became close. He took me everywhere for training while he was getting ready for his NYE fight. Then he asked me why I don't fight (I never thought of it) and that I should come back and he'll arrange an amateur fight for me. I came back did a full training camp with him while he was preparing for Remy Bonjasky until my fight. I won by KO and I loved it and that's how it started.

What ranks and titles have you held? WKN - Valhalla battle of the Vikings, tournament champion, Lions FC heavyweight champion

Do you have any heroes? No

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Now the real work can start.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No

What was your job before you started fighting? I owned a bar and was a personal trainer for a bit

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? Few BJJ tournaments

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? 5-0 in pro kickboxing

Favorite grappling technique: Arm triangle

Favorite Striking technique: Left hook-low kick