Alexander Volkov will face #5-ranked Rizvan Kuniev in a heavyweight title eliminator at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24. The winner will be positioned to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title in 2027, facing whichever fighter emerges from the anticipated rematch between champion Tom Aspinall and interim champion Ciryl Gane. UFC 333 will be headlined by two title bouts, including Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev and Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy fight.
Reports have emerged that Alexander "Drago" Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev are being targeted for a heavyweight title eliminator at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24, with the winner expected to be positioned as the next contender for the UFC heavyweight championship. The matchup has not been officially confirmed.
Volkov, the second-ranked heavyweight in the division, carries a record of 40 wins and 11 losses at 37 years old. The towering Russian stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and trains out of Strela Team. He is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, averaging 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 57 percent, a notable output for a man his size.
Kuniev, listed at eighth in the heavyweight rankings, holds a record of 14-3-1 and is 34 years old. The Russian fighter out of Gorets Fight Club stands six-foot-four with a 76-inch reach. He averages 3.94 significant strikes landed per minute and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.98 takedowns per 15 minutes.
According to the report, the winner of this bout would be lined up to challenge whichever fighter emerges from an anticipated rematch between champion Tom Aspinall and interim champion Ciryl Gane. Aspinall, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, holds a 15-3 record at 33 years old and is ranked sixth pound-for-pound.
UFC 333 is said to be headlined by two title bouts, with Alexander Volkanovski versus Movsar Evloev and a trilogy fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili also reportedly on the card.
Why it matters
- A win for either fighter could lock in a 2027 heavyweight title shot, making the stakes unusually high for a non-championship bout
- The all-Russian matchup pits the division's second-ranked contender against a surging eighth-ranked fighter, with significant rankings movement on the line
- Both fighters are orthodox strikers of similar style, though Volkov's size advantage — six-foot-seven to Kuniev's six-foot-four — and higher striking volume could define the matchup
Saturday, October 24, 2026
