UFC Vegas 18 video recap: Volkov overpowers Overeem to win by TKO

Alexander Volkov was too much for Alistair Overeem at UFC Vegas 18, stopping him in the second round.

In the main event of UFC Vegas 18, Alexander Volkov picked up a decisive stoppage win against Alistair Overeem.

The two were originally supposed to fight two years ago at UFC St. Petersburg. Overeem entered the fight on a two-fight winning streak, whilst Volkov stopped Walt Harris last October.

What was the high point of the fight?

Midway through the first round Overeem slipped after a shot from Volkov, which sparked some heavy ground and pound from “Drago”. Volkov was landing some heavy combinations whilst Overeem could only throw single strikes.

The second round was much the same, with Volkov continuing to piece up Overeem with his punches. A hard one-two from Volkov sent Overeem down and no further shots were needed as referee Jason Herzog rightly stopped the fight.

Where do they go from here?

The win means its back-to-back stoppage wins for Volkov. He’s likely to break into the top five when the new heavyweight rankings are published. With Jon Jones rumoured to fight for the title after Miocic-Ngannou 2, maybe Volkov should fight the winner of Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Cyril Gane that takes place later this month.

As sad it sounds, that was Overeem’s last run at heavyweight gold. A veteran of the fight game, whatever Overeem wants to do next is up to him. The 40-year-old could continue to take whatever fights interest him at heavyweight, seek opportunities elsewhere or call it quits.

Watch it now, later or never?

It was Volkov’s most impressive win of his UFC career, watch it now.