Alexander Volkov won a unanimous decision victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 328 with judges scoring the bout 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. The crowd in New Jersey reacted negatively after the decision, whistling in apparent support of Acosta, who had repeatedly gestured to the center of the octagon calling for exchanges. The analyst believed Volkov clearly won the first two rounds but expected a more dominant performance similar to his victory over Sergey Pavlovich two years prior. During his octagon interview, Volkov carried the Russian flag and expressed honor in competing on May 9th. He called for a title shot against any of the top contenders, stating "Aspinall, Gane, Pereira - it doesn't matter, give me a title fight!"
Alexander Volkov extended his winning streak at UFC 328 on May 9th, defeating Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision in a heavyweight bout held in New Jersey. The judges scored the contest 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 in favor of the Russian veteran, though the result drew a hostile reaction from the crowd, who whistled in apparent support of Cortes-Acosta after the scorecards were read.
Volkov, now 40-11-0, entered the fight as the number-one ranked heavyweight contender. The 37-year-old from Russia stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and fights out of the Strela Team. He lands an impressive 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, making him one of the more technically sound strikers in the division. After the bout, Volkov carried the Russian flag during his octagon interview, noting the significance of competing on May 9th. He made his ambitions clear, calling out heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall as well as contenders Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira, demanding a title fight against any of them.
Standing in the way of that call is Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight champion from England. The 33-year-old holds a 15-3-0 record and ranks sixth pound-for-pound. He lands a remarkable 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy and adds 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at the top of the division.
Also in the mix is France's Ciryl Gane, ranked second in the heavyweight division at 14-2-0. The 36-year-old stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and posts 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Volkov's win as the number-one ranked contender puts him in a strong position to demand the next heavyweight title shot
- The crowd reaction suggests Cortes-Acosta may have earned public support despite the scorecards, potentially complicating the narrative around Volkov's push
- A Volkov title challenge would pit his reach and volume striking against Aspinall's all-around elite skill set
Saturday, May 9, 2026
