Heavyweight fighter Alexander Volkov is waiting for a better fight offer after being considered for a match against Jailton Almeida, who is ranked #6 in the heavyweight division.
Recently, Joe Rogan pointed out that the heavyweight division might lack depth, meaning there aren`t many opponents available for the top fighters.
The division is still anticipating a potentially huge fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, which is a hot topic.
Although some fighters like Derrick Lewis have fights lined up, only three of the top 11 heavyweights currently have scheduled matches.
Because of this situation, Volkov, nicknamed ‘Drago’, believes that being patient might benefit him. This comes after reports suggested he might fight Jailton Almeida.
Alexander Volkov Explains Why He Doesn't Want to Fight Jailton Almeida
A fight between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida seems logical in the heavyweight division right now.
Volkov is coming off a narrow loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 310, which ended his four-win streak that had put him back in contention for the title.
On the other hand, Almeida defeated Serghei Spivac, the #7 ranked fighter, at UFC 311, marking his second win after his first defeat in the UFC.
It`s important to remember that many people, including Dana White, thought Volkov should have won his fight against Gane last December.
So, it would be expected that Volkov would be considered for a significant fight even after a loss. This seems to be what he was waiting for, as he addressed the rumors about fighting Almeida in a recent video.
“There were rumors about a fight between me and Almeida, though it wasn`t officially announced. As of now, I don’t plan to fight Almeida in July.
“Why? Because I don’t see the point in fighting the 6th ranked fighter. If anyone sees the point, please explain it to me. It seems like a fight just for the sake of fighting. I’d rather wait for a more interesting offer.”
What Could Be Next for Alexander Volkov?
It has been challenging for new fighters to break into the heavyweight top 10 for a while, meaning many top contenders have already fought each other.
This is true for Alexander Volkov, who has already fought fighters like Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, Tai Tuivasa, Curtis Blaydes, and Marcin Tybura.
Since Volkov is not keen on fighting Almeida, and rematches with Gane or Pavlovich seem unlikely now, a rematch with Blaydes, once he returns, might be the only realistic option.
Almeida might not be the fight ‘Drago’ desires, but it could be his only option if he wants to fight soon.
Rupert Hartwell