Tag: Alexander Volkov

VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

UFC CEO Dana White offered words of support to Alexander Volkov after the heavyweight contender was controversially beaten by Ciryl Gane at this past weekend’s pay-per-view. Volkov returned at UFC 310 on Saturday night for his second outing of the year, having extended his winning run to four straight fights with an upset win over […]

UFC CEO Dana White offered words of support to Alexander Volkov after the heavyweight contender was controversially beaten by Ciryl Gane at this past weekend’s pay-per-view.

Volkov returned at UFC 310 on Saturday night for his second outing of the year, having extended his winning run to four straight fights with an upset win over Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia this past June. That result put the Russian up to #3 in the rankings and earned him a shot at avenging his 2021 main event loss to Gane.

In the eyes of many, “Drago” did enough to do just that inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. But while judge Eric Colón agreed, Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo shocked plenty by submitting scorecards in favor of the Frenchman.

Among those who disagreed with the result in an arena filled with boos after the result was the UFC CEO, who engaged in discourse with a clearly baffled and distraught Volkov as he exited the cage.

The moment was captured and posted by ESPN MMA on X.

White told the Russian he was “f*cked” by the judges and that the promotion would try to do right by him.

The result marked Gane’s second victory over the Russian, coming three years on from a more convincing five-round decision over the former Bellator champion. “Bon Gamin” has now won back-to-back fights since a crushing defeat to Jon Jones in March 2023.

‘Fire These Judges’ – Fans React To Ciryl Gane’s Controversial Win Over Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

Ciryl Gane made it 2-0 against Alexander Volkov, but not without plenty of controversy coming out of the split decision ruling at UFC 310. Gane was tested early, as Volkov scored a takedown within the opening minute. Though it took a little bit of time, the Frenchman was able to work his way back up […]

Ciryl Gane made it 2-0 against Alexander Volkov, but not without plenty of controversy coming out of the split decision ruling at UFC 310.

Gane was tested early, as Volkov scored a takedown within the opening minute. Though it took a little bit of time, the Frenchman was able to work his way back up to his feet and even managed to score his own takedown during the frame. “Drago” looked to isolate an arm while on the ground, and the former interim champion tried to respond with a leg lock attempt. The Russian spun out of it and the fight returned to the feet.

In the closing seconds of the round, Gane seemed to trouble Volkov with a tight guillotine attempt, but time expired.

Volkov rocked Gane with a spinning backfist and followed it up with a knee to the body and a series of shots. The MMA Factory standout recovered and battled back, stumbling his opponent at one point, but the Russian troubled him late in the round with a choke.

As the fight returned to the ground in the third, Gane looked to lock up a kimura for a few minutes but couldn’t get it. Volkov, who threw punches to the body the whole time, worked his way out and looked to flatten out the Frenchman. “Drago” cradled “Bon Gamin” and rode the closing seconds of the fight on top.

Two judges gave the fight to Gane 29-28, with round one ultimately being where the split occurred. The Paris native and his team, weirdly enough, were leaving the Octagon and had to be pulled back into it for the post-fight interview.

Ciryl Gane Wins Controversial Decision In Rematch With Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

Gane was 3-2 since the first fight with Volkov, including an interim title win over Derrick Lewis and losses in title shots against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s result snapped a four-fight win streak Volkov entered UFC 310 bout with. His sole defeat in the time since the initial Gane fight came against current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura, Rakhmonov vs. Garry Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 310 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins! The upcoming pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada provides a chance for UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja to record his third successful title defense. After capturing the gold in July […]

UFC 310 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

The upcoming pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada provides a chance for UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja to record his third successful title defense.

After capturing the gold in July 2023 in a barnburner with Brandon Moreno, “The Cannibal” is next tasked with stalling promotional newcomer Kai Asakura’s ambitions of an immediate ascent to the 125-pound mountaintop.

The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov look to defend his status as next in line for a shot at Belal Muhammad’s gold by blemishing the perfect record of fellow undefeated rising star Ian Garry.

Elsewhere on the UFC 310 card, ex-interim heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane runs it back with in-form Russian Alexander Volkov, light heavyweight veterans Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith collide, and an important clash at 145 pounds goes down between Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling.

Ahead of the event, 27 of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Bryan Battle’s four-pound miss of the welterweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale. Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins!

Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

UFC 310 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 310 Best Underdog Bets and Upsets

UFC 310 Best Underdog Bets and UpsetsAs UFC 310 approaches, a host of intriguing underdog opportunities are sparking interest among bettors. Let’s spotlight several underdogs…

UFC 310 Best Underdog Bets and Upsets

As UFC 310 approaches, a host of intriguing underdog opportunities are sparking interest among bettors. Let’s spotlight several underdogs presenting compelling reasons for bettors to consider them as viable upset candidates. Aljamain Sterling, Alexander Volkov, and Michael Chiesa all possess the skills and experience to defy the odds.

UFC 310 Best Underdog Bets

Kai Asakura

While Alexandre Pantoja is the favorite, Kai Asakura presents a genuine threat to pull off an upset at UFC 310. Asakura, entering as a +200 to +230 underdog, brings devastating knockout power to the octagon, particularly with his brutal knee strikes that have ended his last two fights. Much like finding the best paying online pokies in Australia at PayidPokies bettors seeking high-value odds might find that Asakura’s explosive power could offer a rewarding return if he pulls off a shock victory at UFC 310.

This power could be the equalizer against Pantoja’s aggressive style. Pantoja, despite being a -250 to -270 favorite, has shown vulnerability to being hit in the past, which could play into Asakura’s hands. The Japanese challenger’s explosive striking and significant knockout power makes him a dangerous opponent, even if he’s making his UFC debut and fighting at flyweight for the first time in years.

If Asakura can time one of his signature knees or right hooks to catch Pantoja coming in, he has the potential to shock the world and become the first Japanese UFC champion.

Aljamain Sterling

One of the most appealing live underdogs is Aljamain Sterling at +215 odds against Movsar Evloev. Despite being the former bantamweight champion, Sterling finds himself as a sizeable underdog in this featherweight matchup. His strong wrestling and grappling skills make him a dangerous opponent even against the undefeated Evloev. Sterling’s experience at the highest level and ability to rise to big occasions give him a solid chance at pulling off the upset.

Alexander Volkov

Another underdog worth a look is Alexander Volkov at +295 against Ciryl Gane. While Gane won their first meeting, Volkov has been on an impressive four-fight win streak, including victories over top heavyweights. His technical striking and use of his reach make him a live underdog, especially considering the value in his odds. Volkov’s consistency and recent form suggest he has a real shot at avenging his previous loss to Gane.

Michael Chiesa

Lastly, although not as big of an underdog, Michael Chiesa at -108 against Max Griffin presents an interesting opportunity. Chiesa’s grappling skills and durability make him a tough matchup for Griffin, who has struggled against higher-level competition. Chiesa’s ability to control the fight on the ground could be the key to securing a victory, making him a solid underdog pick despite the close odds.

As fight night approaches, fans and bettors alike will be watching closely to see if these underdogs can live up to their potential and deliver unexpected outcomes, adding another layer of excitement to UFC 310.

Michael Chiesa

UFC 310 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pantoja vs. Asakura, Rakhmonov vs. Garry, & More

UFC 310 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup. The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, Dec. 7, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 […]

UFC 310 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, Dec. 7, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja, who is tasked with getting the better of Octagon debutant and former Rizin kingpin Kai Asakura if he’s to record a third successful title defense.

Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see the return of highly regarded welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov. After having his title shot fall through due to the withdrawal of Belal Muhammad, the Kazakh star must defend his top contender status against a fellow undefeated up-and-comer in Ian Garry.

Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes, ex-bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, middleweight great Chris Weidman, and the always entertaining Nate Landwehr.

Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the top UFC 310 fights here.

UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 310 (as of 12/6), courtesy of DraftKings.

Main Card:

  • Alexandre Pantoja (-265) vs. Kai Asakura (+215)
  • Shavkat Rakhmonov (-375) vs. Ian Garry (+295)
  • Ciryl Gane (-360) vs. Alexander Volkov (+285)
  • Bryce Mitchell (-850) vs. Kron Gracie (+575)
  • Nate Landwehr (-130) vs. Dooho Choi (+110)

Preliminary Card:

  • Anthony Smith (+280) vs. Dominick Reyes (-355)
  • Vicente Luque (+130) vs. Themba Gorimbo (-155)
  • Movsar Evloev (-238) vs. Aljamain Sterling (+195)
  • Randy Brown (+130) vs. Bryan Battle (-218)

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Chris Weidman (-115) vs. Eryk Anders (-105)
  • Cody Durden (+130) vs. Joshua Van (-155)
  • Michael Chiesa (-112) vs. Max Griffin (-108)
  • Clay Guida (+700) vs. Chase Hooper (-1100)
  • Kennedy Nzechukwu (-550) vs. ?ukasz Brzeski (+410)

UFC 310: Alexander Volkov Explains How One-Sided Ciryl Gane, Tom Aspinall Losses Benefitted Him

UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov saw his defeats to former interim champion Ciryl Gane and current titleholder Tom Aspinall as a key turning point in his career. The former Bellator and M-1 Global champion is a day away from his shot at redemption opposite Gane, with the pair among the main card bouts set for […]

UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov saw his defeats to former interim champion Ciryl Gane and current titleholder Tom Aspinall as a key turning point in his career.

The former Bellator and M-1 Global champion is a day away from his shot at redemption opposite Gane, with the pair among the main card bouts set for the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this weekend.

The Russian and French fighters are running it back three years on from their first clash — a UFC Fight Night headliner at the Apex that ended in a convincing five-round unanimous decision victory for Gane.

After a bounce-back performance against Marcin Tybura, Volkov tasted defeat again soon after, this time by way of submission at the hands of a charging Aspinall. Since then, however, “Drago” has been unstoppable.

Knockouts of Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexandr Romanov, a submission versus Tai Tuivasa, and an underdog triumph against fellow countryman Sergei Pavlovich have seen Volkov leap up the ladder to #3 in the rankings, leaving him firmly in the championship conversation.

During an interview with Zac Pacleb for UFC.com ahead of his return this weekend, the 36-year-old assessed the key components to his current winning run and the impact that past defeats to “Bon Gamin” and the reigning interim champ had.

“I learned to be confident in myself,” Volkov said. “It’s one of the biggest problems for many fighters, and at the time, you feel a little bit kind of bored in the fight. It’s hard to push yourself, to motivate yourself. I got some motivation after this loss (to Gane) and the fight with Tom Aspinall. It made me more risky, more dangerous, and more well-rounded because I started to work on skills I didn’t work before.”

Volkov will look to utilize those new skills en route to avenging his 2021 setback opposite Gane in their rematch this Saturday night.

Should the Russian do so successfully, a potential first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage and a chance to avenge the Aspinall defeat could await him in 2025.