Volkov started brightly but since his loss to Blaydes it's hard to figure him into the title picture. The UFC has him ranked at 6, behind Reem at 5. Above them are Lewis, Rozenstruick, Blaydes, Ngannou, and obviously Miocic. I dunno. HW is in a weird place right now. Ciryl Gane is on the come-up and could leap over most of those guys in March if he beats Bigi Boy.
I like Volkov but he doesn't seem to have the power in his strikes and ground game to be anything other than a mid level gate keeper in the UFC. Overeem's final run has been impressive. I'm really impressed with how his chin seems to have improved at such an advanced age. I hope Overeem pulls the win out. I think he should in the clinch and with his ground game.
Results Alexander Volkov def. Alistair Overeem via TKO (strikes) - Round 2 Cory Sandhagen def. Frankie Edgar via knockout (flying knee) – Round 1, 0:28 Clay Guida def. Michael Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Alexandre Pantoja def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Beneil Dariush def. Diego Ferreira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Danilo Marques def. Mike Rodriguez via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:52 Devonte Smith def. Justin Jaynes via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 3:38 Karol Rosa def. Joselyne Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Lara Procopio def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27) Seungwoo Choi def. Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Timur Valiev def. Martin Day via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26) Ode Osbourne def. Jerome Rivera via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:26
Overeem broke his nose in the 1st round and said he couldn't recover after that. Great performance from Volkov; hope he can become a legit contender. Really mad at his loss to Blaydes, still... As for Frankie, please hang them up. You're 39 and just got put out by arguably the cleanest flying knee KO of all time. Please retire dude. I hope Overeem takes one more winnable fight and then hangs them up, no matter the outcome.