Former UFC champion proposes an unexpected duel to Alex Poatan against an unlikely rival.

Former champion suggests unexpected opponent for Poatan's next UFC fight. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

Alex Poatán He doesn't yet have a defined opponent, but after the fights on November 22nd at UFC Qatar, Michael BispingFormer middleweight champion (up to 83,9 kg), decided to throw an idea on the table on his YouTube podcast. The UFC commentator said he would love to see Alex Poatán to test your strength against the Swiss. Volkan oezdemir, currently ranked ninth in the light heavyweight division.

The idea could shake up the light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) chess game. In podcast Believe You Me number 658, betting on pure chaos in a striking exchange, Bisping admitted that the chance is minimal, but didn't hide his enthusiasm.

“You can call me crazy, but I kind of like to see it, and I think it’ll never happen… Oezdemir versus Alex (Poatan) Pereira. I think it would be a phenomenal fight. Am I crazy?”, he commented. Michael Bisping.

Paul felder, a former lightweight (70,3 kg) competitor in the UFC, participated in the podcast with Bisping and his response was in the same vein.

"Oezdemir only fights one way," Felder emphasized regarding the predictability of "No Time's" style, as the Swiss fighter is nicknamed.

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The logical and improbable path that excites Bisping about Alex Poatan.

In a more realistic scenario, Carlos UlbergCurrently ranked third in the light heavyweight division, he emerges as the closest contender to challenge Poatan for the belt. There is still a possibility that the Brazilian could face [opponent's name]. Jon Jones at UFC White House in June 2026, but this fight remains undecided.

The New Zealander has nine wins in the UFC and is coming off a great recovery since his debut loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021. In fact, it surpassed Dominick reyes recently, solidifying its streak.

But if the organization wants to lift the curtain on the obvious for one night, Oezdemir emerges as the antithesis. UFC QatarThe Swiss defeated Alonzo Menifield with a lightning-fast knockout in the first round, recovering from her loss to Ulberg, in November 2024.

With an aggressive, straightforward, and no-frills style, which is precisely why it's intriguing for a duel against the powerful kickboxing of Alex Poatán.

Anything can happen, whether it's due to technique or chaos. In this case, Bisping and Felder vote for the latter.