Alexander Volkov won via unanimous decision against Waldo Cortes-Acosta with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 at UFC 328. The crowd in New Jersey booed the decision, apparently appreciating Cortes-Acosta's aggressive callouts to engage in the center of the octagon. The analyst believed Volkov won the first two rounds clearly. However, the victory was less dominant than expected, especially compared to Volkov's performance against Sergey Pavlovich two years ago. In his post-fight octagon interview, Volkov carried the Russian flag and told the booing crowd it was an honor to fight on May 9th. He called for a title fight against any of Aspinall, Gane, or Pereira.
Alexander Volkov picked up a unanimous decision victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 328 in New Jersey on May 9th, with two of the three judges scoring the bout 29-28 and the third turning in a 30-27 card in Volkov's favor. The win was met with boos from the crowd, who appeared to respond warmly to Cortes-Acosta's aggressive attempts to drag the fight into the center of the octagon.
Volkov, known as "Drago," enters the heavyweight picture with renewed conviction following the result. The 37-year-old Russian stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and carries a professional record of 40-11-0, making him the current number one ranked heavyweight contender. Fighting out of Strela Team, he lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, a level of output that analysts noted looked somewhat muted on the night despite what they considered a clear edge in rounds one and two. In the post-fight interview, Volkov carried the Russian flag and addressed the booing crowd, describing it as an honor to compete on May 9th. He used the platform to call out any of the division's top names, specifically naming heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and contenders Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.
Why it matters
- Volkov's win at number one ranked solidifies his position as the most credible mandatory challenger to the heavyweight title
- Tom Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight champion at 15-3-0, carries elite numbers including 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy, presenting a stark stylistic contrast to Volkov's patient approach
- Ciryl Gane, ranked second at 14-2-0 with an 81-inch reach, remains a potential gatekeeper opponent should the title shot not materialize immediately
- The crowd reaction and the closeness of two judges' scorecards may complicate Volkov's argument for an immediate title shot despite his divisional ranking
Saturday, May 9, 2026
