Volkov: I'm coming for the belt

Former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov stopped Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC Vegas 18 on Saturday. Post fight, "Drago" shared his title intentions.

“I want to fight for the belt, for sure,” said Volkov. “But we’ll see. We’ll have some good fights in the future at heavyweight, so we’ll see how it finishes and we’ll see what will be my place. But for sure, I would like to take a title shot. I feel really excited and I feel great. It’s my time, and I’m coming for the belt.”

“I work a lot. I feel now I’m in really good shape, but for sure in the future I’ll be feeling better and better. So this is not the end of my shape and my form,” Volkov said. “I will get better and I’m trying to make hard camps, working on all my skills that I didn’t do before, and I’ve become better.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9iTsvhiTA8

Post. fight, Volkov wrote a message of respect for Overeem.

"With great respect for the legend," he began. "Alistair is one of the fighters I grew up watching. But a fight is a fight, the strongest wins, thanks to him for this meeting."

There's now a line ahead of Volkov at present. At UFC 260 on March 27, division champion Stipe Miocic again defends vs. Francis Ngannou. Further, Curtis Blaydes fights Derrick Lewis on February 20, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik fights Ciryl Gane on February 27.

Here's the division Top 10 (prior to Saturday):

  1. Francis Ngannou

  2. Curtis Blaydes

  3. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

  4. Derrick Lewis

5. Alistair Overeem

  1. Alexander Volkov

  2. Ciryl Gane

  3. Shamil Abdurakhimov

  4. Augusto Sakai

  5. Aleksei Oleinik

    UG, play matchmaker, who would have Volkov fight next, to get to a title shot as soon as possible?

    h/t Danny Segura for MMA Junkie

I think the Volkov we saw last night could be a true force. Great accuracy and newfound power. He did a ton of damage in a short amount of time. 

I think he crushes Lewis in a rematch, I think the big question is can he stay off the mat against a guy like Blaydes. I think he’s capable of beating anyone in a standup battle. 

I like Volk but I don't see him beating Stipe,  Fran,  or maybe even Black Beast.

 Curtis too.  I think he should avoid Gain and Jairzinho

Nickname yourself Drago = Massive faggot. I hope they feed him to Francis and he gets permanent brain damage.

JBJ