Alexander Volkov does not deviate from the original plan.
The former Bellator MMA and M-1 Global titleholder will look to improve his standing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division when he faces Tai Tuivasa in the UFC 293 co-headliner on Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Still just 34 years old, Volkov owns a 10-4 record inside the Octagon and remains a fixture in the Top 10.
“I will not back down from the desire to win the title,” he told Sherdog.com. “I had to take a few steps back, but it made me stronger. I understand my place in the rankings and I see a lot of strong and talented guys on the UFC roster, but it’s too early to write me off.”
In Tuivasa, Volkov encounters an opponent in desperate need of a victory. The 30-year-old Australian enters the cage on the heels of back-to-back defeats. Tuivasa last appeared at UFC on ESPN 42, where he was victimized by Sergei Pavlovich in a 54-second knockout loss on Dec. 3. Volkov finds the matchup favorable.
“Tuivasa is dangerous with his heavy punches,” he said. “He is also strong mentally and has fun in his fights, but a good right hand is all he has against me. I have a lot more techniques in my arsenal. My physical condition is much better. The fighters I trained with literally smushed him in the very first round, so I certainly feel my advantage in this fight.”
Volkov has shifted his base of operations to Las Vegas, where he now trains with Marcelo Nunes and Ronny Markes. Longtime coaches Taras Kiyashko and Mikhail Zayats have joined him there. Volkov also spent time at the UFC Performance Institute.
“Before signing [for] this fight, I started training with a team where there were enough sparring partners with exactly the same style as Tuivasa,” he said. “I’m pretty well prepared for Tai’s style in this fight. We were able to prepare a good strategy. In all respects, the camp was just perfect.”
The 6-foot-7 Volkov has some momentum on his side, with wins in five of his past seven bouts. He last competed on March 11, when he put away Alexander Romanov with punches in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 221 pairing. After 46 professional appearances, Volkov still sees room for growth.
“I really love this sport, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to become better,” he said. “Certainly, my path to the title is not so easy, but every drop of sweat and blood spilled in the Octagon is all the more valuable to me.”
More must-reads: