Alexander Volkov has been on the verge of climbing into the heavyweight elite for several years. He just missed that one big, signature finish.
He got it Saturday night.
Volkov took out the legend Alistair Overeem via TKO at 2 minutes, 6 seconds from the second round in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. After bleeding Overeem with hard combinations, Volkov landed a left hook that favored Overeem forever. Referee Jason Herzog jumped in and kicked off the game.
The win was one-sided and perhaps Volkov’s best performance in the UFC and should elevate him to the highest level of the heavyweight division. ESPN ranked Overeem in 6th place in the heavyweight division and Volkov just below him at number 7.
“This is my time,” Volkov, a Russian 6-foot-tall nicknamed ‘Drago’, said in an interview after the fight.
Overeem achieved in the first success with several hard left-handed. But to wait to oppose Volkov was a deception. Volkov came forward with hard, straight punch combinations and Overeem shot up next to the cage. Although Overeem blocked, Volkov’s shots were hard and he penetrated. Overem was cut late in the first round.
In the second round, Volkov again pushes Overeem against the cage and lands hard combinations. The technique was simple but very effective. Volkov’s heavy hands bled Overeem even more.
When the two separated, Overeem’s face was almost completely red. Volkov then landed a perfectly placed left hook to send Overeem to the canvas.
“I felt I could finish him in the second or third round,” Volkov said. “I saw his face. He had a lot of cuts and blood on his face. I was waiting for a good punch. I did it.”
The fight was held in front of no fans with COVID-19 protocols at the UFC Apex, a venue across the street from the UFC’s corporate campus. It was the first UFC event of the year in the United States after the first three took place in Abu Dhabi.
Volkov (33-8) has won nine of his last 11 fights. He settled for a second TKO series over Walt Harris in October and is in a duel winning streak.
Volkov, 32, is the former M-1 World Heavyweight Champion and was a permanent competitor in the UFC. Prior to Saturday, he had failed in previous attempts to beat candidates Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis.
Overeem (47-19, 1 NC) has won two consecutive games and four of the last five he has entered, hoping for a final run at the UFC heavyweight title. The Dutch goal scorer is one of the most capable fighters in MMA heavyweight history. He is a former heavyweight champion from Strikeforce and Dream and one of only two fighters to have won titles in MMA and K-1 kickboxing.
Overeem (40) has victories over former UFC champions Brock Lesnar, Vitor Belfort (twice), Fabricio Werdum (twice), Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir.