Newark — Towering Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov has faced all sorts of opponents through his 50 professional fights, which means Waldo Cortes-Acosta isn’t exactly something new to “Drago.”
Volkov (39-11) will look for his sixth win in seven fights when he faces “Salsa Boy” at UFC 328 this Saturday, and told media outlets including Cageside Press this week that the Dominican heavyweight “looks very familiar for me.”
When it comes to the type of fighter that Cortes-Acosta is, Volkov, a former Bellator heavyweight champ, sees a “guy with good boxing skills, with a heavy punch. The opponent who always has a chance to knock you out, at any time in a fight. Very familiar. I know what to do with this type of guy.”
Volkov believes that Cortes-Acosta’s best attribute might not be physical, however. “I think his strong side right now is his motivation. The place where he is right now, his motivation to go forward, his motivation to fight with the top guys.”
It won’t be easy to beat Cortes-Acosta, added Volkov, adding “he’s hungry for this, and this makes him dangerous.”
The heavyweight division is in an interesting spot at the moment. For years, fans have derided sloppy, boring fights between out of shape heavyweights. Yet of late, there have been bright spots. Josh Hokit vs. Curtis Blaydes was a potential Fight of the Year. Brando Pericic vs. Shamil Gaziev won Fight of the Night at this past weekend’s UFC Perth.
Alexander Volkov, for one, wants more fighters like Hokit to arrive. “I would like more powerful, dangerous and bright fighters in the division. More guys like Josh Hokit and Waldo, [Alex] Pereira if he comes,” he stated, noting that the more high-caliber fighters who show up in the division, the better it is for him. “It’s more honor to be at the top with these guys in the division than to be on top when everybody says the heavyweight division is not in its prime right now.”
Which means Volkov is “feeling great” about heavyweight at the moment. “Some new fighters coming up, some new fighters coming in our division. Strong fighters. I cannot just wait for title shot, I can [beat] the guys on hype, get my honor for this, get my goals for this and show everyone I’m still one of the best in the world.”
Watch the full UFC 328 media day appearance by Alexander Volkov above.