Alexander Volkov was shocked to search out himself standing throughout the octagon of fellow countryman and former teammate Sergei Pavlovich.
The 2 Russian heavyweight contenders clashed within the co-main occasion of Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6, which went down at Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Volkov (37-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) defeated Pavlovich (18-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a dominant unanimous choice – one thing he anticipated, which is why he was shocked Pavlovich took the struggle.
“I’m stylistically a really unhealthy matchup for Sergei, so his supervisor must be extra trustworthy with him concerning the fights that he ought to or shouldn’t settle for,” Volkov informed reporters on the UFC on ABC 6 post-fight press convention.”I didn’t spar this manner with Sergei after we used to spar collectively, and what I imply is that unorthodox manner. There have been different issues that we ready in camp that I believe they’d’ve labored, as nicely.
“I believe this was an try from his facet to get a struggle fast and struggle after a loss. Like I mentioned earlier than, stylistically, I’m a horrible matchup for him.”
Volkov and Pavlovich didn’t finish on the very best phrases. There was unhealthy blood heading into the struggle as each fighters felt slighted that the struggle was accepted by each events. Volkov claims he was informed that Pavlovich accepted the struggle first, which he didn’t take kindly, and the inverse is claimed from Pavlovich’s perspective. After the struggle, Volkov tried to shake Pavlovich’s hand, however received a shove as a substitute.
Sergei Pavlovich shoved Alexander Volkov after their struggle 👀 #UFCSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/UbzcEcQl39
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 22, 2024
So far as what’s subsequent, Volkov mentioned there’s been discuss getting a title eliminator bout now that he’s on a four-fight successful streak. Nevertheless, nothing is about on stone and his prepared to movement with regardless of the UFC decides to do with the division.
“I would like to struggle for the title, however I’m additionally an worker of the UFC, and I’m going to need to not go together with my needs, however go together with what they are saying is true,” Volkov mentioned. “There’s been type of an unwritten settlement that that’s going to be the case, however who’s it going to be or the place is it going to be, we don’t actually know but.”
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