Love to see it from Volkov you can tell he wants his shot after this fight and is trying to make a name for himself outside of the octagon in order to do it. Plus Volkov is low key hilarious been low key carrying fight week in my opinion Do you think a win this weekend gets Volkov his shot at the title? #ufc #mma #ufc333 #alexandervolkanovski #alexandervolkov
Alexander Volkov is using fight week to raise his profile, with fans noting a busy media run and a clear push toward a heavyweight title shot. The Russian veteran is preparing for his bout this weekend, and the chatter around him suggests he sees a win as the route to championship contention.
Volkov, 40-11-0, is ranked No. 2 in the heavyweight division. The 37-year-old trains with Strela Team and fights out of an orthodox stance. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, he is one of the longest fighters at 265 pounds, and he has built his résumé on volume and precision. He lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, and his grappling output is modest by comparison, with 0.57 takedowns and 0.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
His recent form helps explain the title talk. Volkov's most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision win over Waldo Cortes Acosta at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026. Before that, he beat Jailton Almeida by split decision at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025. Those back-to-back victories followed a split decision loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 310 in December 2024. That is two wins in a row, both going the full three rounds, which is a pattern worth noting: he has been winning on the scorecards rather than by stoppage.
The social media reaction centres on how Volkov has carried himself this week. One fan wrote that he appears to want his shot after this fight and is trying to build his name outside the cage to get it, adding that he has been quietly one of the funniest parts of fight week.
Why it matters
- Volkov sits second in the heavyweight rankings, so a win this weekend would strengthen an already strong claim to the next title opportunity.
- A third straight victory would extend his run since the Gane loss, though his last two wins came by decision rather than finish.
- At 37, he is in a window where timing matters, and raising his profile through media work may be aimed at keeping the title conversation moving.
The question fans are asking is whether a win this weekend is enough to earn that shot. The numbers back his position near the top of the division, but nothing about a title fight has been announced.
