Tag: Alexander Volkov

UFC Saudia Arabia fight card announced with Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev headliner

The UFC is headed to Saudi Arabia and the lineup (which will air on ABC) is stacked thus far.

The UFC will debut in Saudi Arabia this summer, and it’s bringing a major middleweight headliner with it.

Former champion [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] will take on [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] in a five-round main event on June 22, UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday.

White added the bout’s winner will earn a crack at title gold and announced the main card will air on ABC.

Other fights on the card include [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag], [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag], [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag], [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag].

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, looks to continue the momentum from a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa in February. The win was his second in three fights and bounced him back into the win column after a loss to Dricus Du Plessis.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) returns for the first time since September 2022, when he defeated former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by majority decision. The No. 8 middleweight’s other UFC victories include Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland among others.

The current UFC Saudi Arabia lineup includes:

  • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
  • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Volkan Oezdemir vs. Johnny Walker
  • Shara Magomedov vs. Ihor Potieria

Jailton Almeida books quick turnaround fight vs. Alexander Volkov at UFC 302 on June 1

UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida is wasting little time getting back in the octagon after having his winning streak snapped.

[autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag] is wasting little time getting back in the octagon.

Just more than two weeks removed from defeat, Almeida has agreed to fight [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] in a big-time heavyweight showdown set for June 1 at UFC 302, which is expected to take place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Monday following an initial report from Leo Guimaraes on X.

Almeida (20-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC), No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings, will compete a little less than three months after being knocked out by Curtis Blaydes on March 9 at UFC 299. The result ended a 15-fight winning streak for the Brazilian, including six in a row in the UFC.

For No. 6 Volkov (37-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC), this will be his first fight in 2024. The Russian standout is on a three-fight winning after most recently defeating Tai Tuivasa by second-round submission last September at UFC 293.

Below is the updated lineup for UFC 302:

  • Jailton Almeida vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Joselyne Edwards vs. Ailin Perez
  • Bassil Hafez vs. Mickey Gall
  • Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

MMA Junkie’s 2023 Submission of the Year: Alexa Grasso def. Valentina Shevchenko

Here are the top four honorable mentions and winner of MMA Junkie’s “Submission of the Year” award for 2023.

With another action-packed year of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie takes a look at the best submissions from January to December. Here are the top five and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Year award for 2023.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice for Submission of the Year.

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Honorable mentions

UFC in 2023: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

Check out a full recap of 2023’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2023’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month for September: Alexander Volkov secures rare choke

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submission from September 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from September 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for September.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

Nominees

Alexander Volkov perplexed by UFC 293 bonus snub, wants to fight as much as possible in title push

UFC heavyweight Alexander Volkov kept his winning streak alive at UFC 293, and wants to keep the momentum going soon.

SYDNEY – UFC heavyweight [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] wants to forge a path toward the title, and hopes to be as active as possible to achieve that goal.

At UFC 293, Volkov (37-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) extended his current winning streak to three by pulling off a rare Ezekiel choke submission on Tai Tuivasa (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) in the second round of the co-main at Qudos Bank Arena. It was Volkov’s first submission under the UFC banner and just the fourth Ezekiel choke in the promotion’s history. While happy with how everything unfolded, the Russian was perplexed by being snubbed on a Performance of the Night bonus.

“First of all, I don’t know why I don’t have any bonuses tonight,” Volkov told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a post-fight news conference. “All the fans and comments I saw were saying this. It was my very first submission in the UFC. It was a very good performance with striking with a very dangerous striker. All Australians were supporting him, so I don’t know why I don’t have any bonuses.”

The last time Volkov won by submission was in 2016, two fights prior to his UFC debut. He’s no slouch in the grappling department, but the 6-foot-7 fighter typically utilizes his striking range advantage in fights. He even admitted he doesn’t practice the Ezekiel choke often, but the opportunity was there when other techniques failed.

“Not really, I just know how to do this,” Volkov said when asked if he routinely practices the technique. “I tried to do some submissions to Tuivasa first, like a top arm triangle and guillotine, but it doesn’t work. He was a little bit like slippery and he was ready for the submissions. I saw the Ezekiel choke, and if it worked with him, I just did it.”

Vokov, 34, has now stopped three straight opponents; Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Romanov by TKO, and Tai Tuivasa by submission. With 48 fights under his belt, Volkov knows his time to make one last run at the UFC title is now. He wants to be active, and wouldn’t mind attempting to avenge a loss to Tom Aspinall.

“I want to fight as much as possible to get back into the title race,” Volkov said. “I’m ready to fight at the end of the year or maybe at the beginning of next year. … I’m enjoying camps, I’m enjoying practice, enjoying learning new things. I have a lot of fights, as you know I have almost 50, but I keep learning new things and I’m really motivated. I’m feeling like I have everything to be a champion.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

UFC 293 post-event facts: Sean Strickland starts a new era at 185 pounds

The best facts to come out of UFC 293, which saw Sean Strickland force a changing of the guard with his title win over Israel Adesanya.

The UFC’s return to Sydney after nearly six years produced one of the most shocking main event results of the year as the middleweight title changed hands at Qudos Bank Arena.

[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) closed out UFC 293 with a massive unanimous decision upset of [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) to take the belt and force a reset at the top of the middleweight rankings.

For more on the numbers from the title bout, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 293.

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UFC 293 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Sean Strickland gets $32,000 for title win

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 293 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $209,000.

SYDNEY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 293 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $209,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 293 took place at Qudos Bank Arena in Australia. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 293 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Da Woon Jung[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Chepe Mariscal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Landon Quinones[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Charlie Radtke[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blood Diamond[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Gabriel Miranda[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Kevin Jousset[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kiefer Crosbie[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,944,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $20,533,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

UFC 293 results: Alexander Volkov taps Tai Tuivasa with sneaky Ezekiel choke

Alexander Volkov wants one last run at UFC gold, and his finish over Tai Tuivasa at UFC 293 takes him one step closer.

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] is hunting for UFC gold, and his statement win over Tai Tuivasa at UFC 293 keeps his momentum going toward the top of the heavyweight division.

In the co-main event of UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Volkov (37-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) faced Tai Tuivasa (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) in what proved to be a hard-hitting affair until the fight hit the ground. Volkov was able to put his slick grappling skills to use and tap Tuivasa with an Ezekiel choke at 4:37 of Round 2.

Tuivasa looked to get the action started quickly with a few hard leg kicks, but Volkov responded in kind as he utilized his range advantage. Successfully timing Tuivasa’s forward charges, Volkov was able to land sharp punches to bloody his opponent’s nose midway through Round 1. Both fighters mixed in attacks to the body during exchanges. In the closing sequence of the first round, Volkov teed off on Tuivasa as he covered up against the cage.

Tuivasa repeatedly attacked the lead leg of Volkov early in Round 2, causing the taller, longer fighter to adjust. Volkov caught Tuivasa with a clean punch that knocked him off balance, and followed to the ground for a submission attempt. Although he couldn’t secure the position and the fight returned to the feet, a few moments later Volkov ended up in full mount after catching a Tuivasa kick.

After securing the position, Volkov attempted an arm triangle, but switched to a sneaky Ezekiel choke. Tuivasa did his best to fight off the attempt, but he was trapped and had no choice but to tap.

Volkov extends his winning streak to three, entering UFC 293 with consecutive first-round stoppage wins over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexandr Romanov. During his post-fight interview, Volkov said he hopes his run can take him to the heavyweight title before he decides to call it a career.

While Volkov is a winner of his last three, Tuivasa is the opposite, and was unable to snap his skid. He entered on the heels of stoppages against Ciryl Gane and Sergei Pavlovich.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC 293 include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland preview show live stream with Farah Hannoun (5 p.m. ET)

Before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a live-streamed preview of UFC 293.

UFC 293 takes place Saturday headlined by a middleweight title fight, but before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a preview show right here at 5 p.m. ET.

In the main event, 185-pound champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) looks to make the first defense of his second title reign against [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC). And in the co-headliner, [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) clashes with [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] (36-10 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in a battle of top-ranked heavyweights.

UFC 293 takes place Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews/ESPN+ and early prelims on ESPN+.

Below is the full lineup:

Champ Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland – for middleweight title

  • Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Felipe dos Santos vs. Manel Kape
  • Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa
  • Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Da Woon Jung vs. Carlos Ulberg
  • Jack Jenkins vs. Chepe Mariscal
  • John Makdessi vs. Jamie Mullarkey
  • Nasrat Haqparast vs. Landon Quinones

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews, ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Blood Diamond vs. Charlie Radtke
  • Gabriel Miranda vs. Shane Young
  • Kiefer Crosbie vs. Kevin Jousset

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.