Alexander Volkov continued his ascent up heavyweight division with a UFC Saudi Arabia win so comfortable he was having his hair done between rounds.
The Russian heavyweight, who refers to himself as ‘Drago’, faced his countryman Sergei Pavlovich in Riyadh after the pair were put together in confusing circumstances. And he dominated proceedings by using his impressive jab to benefit fully from a considerable size advantage.
After the fight, bad blood between the pair overflowed, when after Volkov attempted a sportsmanlike handshake he was shoved by his rival. But the biggest highlight of the fight came in the corner as Volkov was styled between rounds.
Alexander Volkov has hair combed by ‘stylist’ in between rounds at UFC Saudi Arabia
Massive 6’7″ Russian Alexander Volkov entered the octagon on Saturday night on an impressive four-fight win streak, but faced a stern test in Pavlovich who had lost just twice in his career. Those two defeats were against the legendary Alistair Overeem and current interim champion Tom Aspinall.
But it was all Volkov from bell to bell as he worked behind his jab and forced Pavlovich into wild shots in an effort to force the knockout. Clearly the frustration boiled over after the fact, as a post-fight handshake attempt was met by a push from the losing fighter.
However, what had fans most intrigued on social media during the bout was Volkov’s outlandish behaviour in the corner. While most fighters would have one cornerman icing them down or engaging in breathing exercises while their coach gives instructions, he instead had one combing his hair.
The highlight went viral on X, with Volkov explaining after the fact that he had grown his hair too long during fight camp and needed a ‘stylist’. He was complimentary of his cornerman, noting that he did a good job of keeping it out of his face during the fight.
“I grew my hair out a little longer than I usually do going into the fight,” he told the media. “Usually it’s a lot shorter. So because of this long hair I was forced to bring with me on my team a special stylist. Like let’s say a ‘styling coach’.
“So he made sure to work hard for his money and I think he did really a great job because nothing was covering my eyes and I was able to work without any trouble.”
Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich appear confused by matchup at UFC Saudi Arabia
The two Russian heavyweights had previously expressed little interest in fighting one another, given the amount of other fights available at the weight. But when both men were told that the other had accepted first, they agreed to fight.
It led to an awkward exchange during their final face-off at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins, as they attempted to solve the mystery. “Sergei, why did you say I was the first one to take this fight?” Volkov is reported to have asked in Russian.
When Pavlovich replied: “But you did, did you forget?” Volkov hit back and said: “No, you said that you would not fight me if I refused to fight you.” Pavlovich then noted that such a response is “That’s “not a no, is it?” They were then separated by a confused Dana White, who does not understand Russian.
Volkov told the media after the fight: “When the fight was announced, I found out about the fight from my American coach Ronny [Markes] who was sitting next to Ali Abdelaziz. They were talking about the fight.
“All three of us; Ronny, Ali and me, we all found about this fight from the announcement made by Dana White. When my coach got in touch with Sergei’s team the next evening it seemed as though from the words of Sergei that this fight was already offered to him, that’s what my coach understood.
“Sergei said that ‘if Volkov says yes then I will also not back out’. UFC came up to me and said that Sergei has said ‘yes, if you will’. Then Ali was trying to approach me and ask me not to agree to the fight.
“But from what I understand from their side there was already an agreement. So I don’t think that that is denying or dropping the fight.”
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