How long has Alexander Volkov been in the UFC? A look at the decorated MMA career of 'Drago'
Alexander Volkov has carved a path for himself in the UFC heavyweight division since joining the UFC. The Russian fighter, nicknamed 'Drago,' boasts a successful career outside the UFC.
Volkov began his professional MMA career in 2009. He quickly established himself as a force in the European circuit, conquering the M-1 Global promotion and claiming their heavyweight championship. Volkov's dominance continued in Bellator MMA, where he also secured the heavyweight title before signing into the UFC.
Ahead of his upcoming fight at UFC Saudi Arabia, let's have a look into the towering Russian's career in the UFC so far.
How long has Alexander Volkov been in the UFC?
Alexander Volkov has been signed with the UFC for almost eight years now. Currently No. 5 ranked amongst the UFC heavyweights, 'Drago' boasts an impressive record of 11 wins and four losses inside the UFC so far.
Volkov's debut in November 2016 was a contentious split decision win against Timothy Johnson. Despite media scoring heavily in Johnson's favor, Volkov secured his first UFC victory. He followed this up with a series of wins, including a highlight-reel knockout of veteran FabrÃcio Werdum.
Volkov has also faced setbacks, including a knockout loss to Derrick Lewis in the final second and a submission defeat to Tom Aspinall. However, he has consistently bounced back with impressive wins.
Most recently, Volkov submitted Tai Tuivasa with a rare Ezekiel choke, becoming only the third fighter in UFC history to do so.
Alexander Volkov looks to extend streak against former training partner Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Saudi Arabia
The upcoming UFC Saudi Arabia fight card is bolstered by a matchup between Russian heavyweights known for their finishing prowess. Alexander Volkov will fight Sergei Pavlovich on June 22.
Adding intrigue to this fight is the shared training history between the two Russians. They've spent time honing their skills together, making the early strategy a fascinating unknown.
Pavlovich will head to the octagon after a hard-fought interim title defeat last November. Despite the setback, he remains a force to be reckoned with, having previously secured six consecutive first-round knockouts.
Volkov, on the other hand, has found his groove, racking up three impressive stoppage victories since the loss in March 2022. He showcased his well-rounded skillset with knockouts against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexandr Romanov, followed by the slick submission win over Tai Tuivasa last time out.