UFC: Blaydes to Meet Volkov in Key Heavyweight Battle

UFC Heavyweight alexander Volkov
Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

A battle with major title implications between UFC heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov is official as the headliner on June 20 in Las Vegas.

A match-up between top heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov has been made official for June 20.  The two will headline the card held at the UFC Apex in a match-up that is critical to the heavyweight title picture.

Curtis “Razor” Blaydes (13-2-1) is looking to build on his impressive victory over former champion Junior dos Santos earlier this year where he scored a second round stoppage.  The win was his third in a row, adding to victories against Shamil Abdurakhimov and Justin Willis in 2018.  Should he defeat Volkov, it would be Blaydes’ second four fight win-streak in the past three years and put him on the cusp of title contention in the heavyweight division.

Alexander “Drago” Volkov (31-7) is looking to continue his own ascent up the rankings as he looks to build on his victory over Greg Hardy last November.  The victory was Volkov’s first in over a year and put him back in the win-column after losing to Derrick Lewis in 2018.  A former Bellator and M-1 champion, Volkov had put together an impressive four fight win-streak prior to the loss to Lewis that included a victory over former champion Fabricio Werdum.

When looking at the heavyweight title picture, the winner of Blaydes and Volkov would be the consensus top contender behind Francis Ngannou for a shot at the championship.  Currently, the plan is for reigning champion Stipe Miocic to face former two-division champion Daniel Cormier in a rubber match although no date for that fight has been set.

Blaydes and Volkov were originally set to headline UFC Saskatoon. That card was to fall on the same date as this booking.