May 7, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – While many are hopeful for Alex Pereira‘s run at heavyweight, others are not, including top contender Alexander Volkov.
Volkov (39-11 MMA, 13-5 UFC), a former Bellator champion and longtime staple of the UFC’s heavyweight division, doesn’t think “Poatan” will find the success many expect when he moves up from light heavyweight. Pereira makes his UFC heavyweight debut on June 14 at UFC Freedom Fights 250. He fights Ciryl Gane for the division’s interim title, as champion Tom Aspinall recovers from an eye injury.
“Honestly, Ciryl is more favorite right now,” Volkov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 328 media day. “He has really great footwork. I respect Alex Pereira and his power, but I don’t know how he will show up in the heavyweight division, and I don’t know how he will do with Ciryl Gane’s style in the octagon because Pereira needs to pressure the guy and work on counterattacks, and Ciryl Gane don’t give him the opportunity. He just punches and kicks and moves a lot. It’s a hard thing for Alex Pereira to solve in the fight. I’m not sure he can do this.”
Volkov makes his return this Saturday on the main card of UFC 328 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. He takes on rising heavyweight contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC).
Volkov could’ve easily been fighting at the White House and not in New Jersey. He fought Gane in December 2024 and lost a split decision in a fight many thought he won, including UFC CEO Dana White. That’s the only defeat Volkov has experienced in recent years. He’s 5-1 in his past six outings dating back to 2022.
The Russian fighter admits it’s not easy to see Gane being in that slot, fighting for a belt. However, he reminds himself to focus on what he can control.
“I’m trying to stay calm. I can’t let it affect me,” Volkov said. “I can’t do anything outside of things that depend on me. I don’t have any emotion on things that don’t depend on me. UFC chose him because maybe he has more, because it’s maybe politically better to have a European champion from France fighting for the title. Maybe, I think so. It should be logical. I understand my position right now in the division. Maybe I need to show better performances, better show to fight for the belt, so I will just try to do this.”
