Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov
Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 11:45 PM (UFC APEX)
The Line: Alexander Volkov +246 / Curtis Blaydes -274 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes face in a heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night 173 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Like the last few events, there will be no fans in the stands for this one. Volkov is currently ranked seventh in the division whie Blaydes is ranked third.
Curtis Blaydes comes into this fight with a 13-2 record and he hopes with a win in this one, he will get a chance at the title. Blaydes comes into this fight having won three fights in a row, including his last fight in late January against Junior Dos Santos. Blaydes dominated every part of the fight, and early in the second round he finished the fight with a TKO.
Blaydes is averaging 3.74 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 1.86 significant strikes per minute. Blaydes is elite with the takedown averaging 6.63 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. He does struggle against people who look for the takedown though. Blaydes stops only 25 percent of the takedown attempts against him. Blaydes is elite wrestler, but is also comfortable if the fight stays on the feet.
Alexander “Drago” Volkov has had a bunch of fights during his career, Coming into this one, Volkov has a 31-7 record and since coming into the UFC he has a 4-1 record with the only loss coming against Derrick Lewis a few fights ago. In Volkov’s last fight last November, he had no issue with Greg Hardy oustriking him by 40. It went to the judges scorecard but Volkov came away with a unanimous decision.
Volkov is averaging 5.36 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.48 significant strikes per minute. Volkov is a power puncher who wants to keep the fight on the feet. Volkov is strong against the takedown, stopping 76 percent of them.
Blaydes looks like the better fighter on paper, but Volkov does a good job of stopping the takedown and that will be the difference in this fight. Look for Volkov to control the fight on the feet, and he will come away a victory at a really nice number.