Alexander Volkov dominates Alistair Overeem in UFC Fight Night 184 main event
Former M-1 Global and Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov dominated Alistair Overeem en route to securing his most impressive victory to date in his five years fighting in the UFC.
Volkov dispatched Overeem in the second round with a brutal display of accurate power punching.
The Russian, one of the few fighters taller than Overeem, was able to take advantage of the smaller Octagon housed at the UFC Apex by forcing Overeem to fight with his back to the fence and landing punch combinations at will.
Former Strikeforce, Dream, and K-1 World Grand Prix champion Overeem never found his groove as Volkov continually scored with punches. The bloodied and beaten Overeem did well to escape the first round with Volkov, but “Drago” wasn’t going to let the contest go beyond the second round.
Overeem continued to get tagged by Volkov’s one-two combinations at range and he eventually tried to change the course of the fight with a takedown. Volkov easily rebuffed that attempt and was soon walking away the victor.
Volkov landed a giant, clubbing left hook that dropped a dazed Overeem to all-fours. Referee Jason Herzog recognised that “The Demolition Man” was clearly struggling and unable to defend himself, forcing him to stop the fight.
Drago is now on a two-fight winning run and this victory will surely propel the Moscow-born giant to the UFC heavyweight title picture.
Cory Sandhagen knocks out Frankie Edgar with flying knee
Frankie Edgar’s attempt to become a UFC bantamweight champion hit a snag on Saturday night. That snag is named Cory Sandhagen.
Colorado native Sandhagen is the deserving man to face either UFC champion Petr Yan or upcoming challenger Aljamain Sterling – those two will duke it out for the title at UFC 249 in March – next after knocking out Edgar with a beautiful flying knee.
Edgar, as ever, was the busier fighter to start the fight as he looked to pressure Sandhagen with punches and feints in his trademark style.
Sandhagen looked more than happy to fight in retreat until he decided to counter Edgar’s eagerness by launching into a flying knee that landed flush with the jaw of the New Jerseyan.
“The Answer” was knocked unconscious on impact and fell to the canvas like a tree as Sandhagen wheeled away celebrating what is surely a Knockout of the Year contender.
That’s two stunning KO victories in a row for Sandhagen after his spinning wheel kick win over Marlon Moraes in October.
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov full results
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov def. Alistair Overeem by TKO (punches) at 2:06 of round two
Bantamweight: Cory Sandhagen def. Frankie Edgar by KO (flying knee) at 0:28 of round one
Lightweight: Clay Guida def. Michael Johnson by unanimous decision after three rounds
Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja def. Manel Kape by unanimous decision after three rounds
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush def. Carlos Diego Ferreira by split decision after three rounds
Light Heavyweight: Danilo Marques def. Mike Rodríguez by technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:52 of round two
Catchweight: Devonte Smith def. Justin Jaynes by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 3:38 of round two
Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa def. Joselyne Edwards by unanimous decision after three rounds
Women’s Flyweight: Lara Procópio def. Molly McCann by unanimous decision after three rounds
Featherweight: Seung Woo Choi def. Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision after three rounds
Featherweight: Timur Valiev def. Martin Day by unanimous decision after three rounds
Featherweight: Ode Osbourne def. Jerome Rivera by KO (punches) at 0:26 of round one