Alexander Volkov - Rizvan Kuniev: betting tip (cf 1.72) and bets on the fight

Current form

In recent years, Alexander Volkov has been reminiscent of a well-tuned mechanism that does not always work effectively, but he understands exactly what needs to be done to win. In May, the Russian confidently dealt with Valdo Cortez-Acosta, receiving a unanimous decision from the judges. Before that, he defeated Jailton Almeida by split decision. The fight turned out to be difficult, and the Brazilian's passivity at certain moments significantly complicated the work of the judges.

Of course, we must not forget about the meeting with Cyril Gan in 2024, which ended with the controversial defeat of Volkov. However, Alexander did not dwell on the failure and continued to move forward. He ranks second in the UFC heavyweight division rankings. The 37-year-old Muscovite has 40 wins, including four early successes due to submission, and 11 defeats. Volkov holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a brown belt in karate, although Drago's main weapon remains standing up.

His advantage is height, arm length, and the ability to keep his opponent at a comfortable distance. Volkov does not rush into exchanges unnecessarily, preferring to methodically score points with jabs, direct punches and body attacks. When an opponent starts to get nervous and force things, Alexander often finds an opportunity to punish him for his haste. However, behind the external regularity lies a considerable experience of performing at the highest level.

Current form

Rizvan Kuniev had three fights in the UFC, and each of them added interesting touches to his characterization. In July, the Russian stopped Tyrell Fortune ahead of schedule by using knee strikes. In addition, he won by a decision of the judges over Jailtonam Almeida. But the debut against Curtis Blades ended in a split decision defeat, a result that raised questions from some observers.

Kuniev received a contract with the UFC after successfully competing at Dana White's Contender Series in 2024, where he knocked out Hugo Cunha in the first round. The 34-year-old heavyweight has 14 wins and three losses in total. He finished fights by knockout seven times, and achieved success by submission twice more. In the ranking of the division, Rizvan is in seventh position.

His path in mixed martial arts was not without obstacles. Kuniev played in Eagle FC and PFL, won the heavyweight championship belt and won ahead of schedule. In particular, he forced Anthony Hamilton to capitulate by using the guillotine. However, the result of the meeting with Renan Ferreira in the PFL was subsequently annulled after the positive doping test of the Russian. Kuniev is able to act aggressively, close the distance and impose a power struggle on his rivals. But against Volkov, the desire to move forward alone will not be enough: it is important not to be exposed to oncoming blows and to choose the right moments for rapprochement.