The UFC announced Saturday that a heavyweight bout between dutch native Stefan Struve and Russia’s Alexander Volkov will headline the promotion’s return to the Netherlands. The event takes place September 2, 2017 at the Rotterdam Ahoy. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 21 via Ticketmaster.
Struve (32-8) is currently ranked 11th in the UFC’s heavyweight division. He had previously been scheduled to face Junior dos Santos at UFC Halifax in February, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. After missing nearly two years of action following a broken jaw against Mark Hunt in 2013, followed by issues stemming from a heart condition, Struve returned to action in December 2014, suffering a loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC on Fox 15. However, since that time he has gone 3-1 in the octagon, and is coming off back-to-back finishes of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Daniel Omielańczuk.
Volkov (28-6) will be headlining a UFC card for the first time against the “Skyscraper.” A former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion, he’s coming off back-to-back decision wins over Timothy Johnson and the recently departed Roy Nelson. Volkov currently sits at 10th in the division.
The pair had previously campaigned for a chance to face each other on Twitter.
What do you guys think about me vs @AlexDragoVolkov ? Who is the most skilled tall fighter in the world, lets find out?! https://t.co/YlUPFcp2Ep
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) May 5, 2017
No other bouts are currently announced for UFC Netherlands in September.
