Alexander Volkov has ‘Unfinished Business’ with Junior dos Santos

It may not have been the most exciting fight to ever go down inside the famed Octagon, but Alexander Volkov will take nonetheless take a victory.

Volkov (31-7) out-struck polarizing heavyweight opponent Greg Hardy in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 163 Saturday inside CSKA Arena in Moscow. Volkov, who hadn’t fought since losing via KO to Derrick Lewis last October, was patient against Hardy and peppered him with nasty leg kicks and jabs. At times he had the former NFL player backing up, but the Strela Team fighter kept a measured pace in front of thousands of hometown fans and earned a lopsided unanimous decision win.

“The fight generally went as I expected,” Volkov said after his victory. “But I had to fight more carefully as I didn’t perform for a long time. I didn’t want to finish the fight very early. I was looking for an opportunity to feel the Octagon, because I was afraid to make mistakes. The stakes were very high.

“Overall, it was a decent fight, but not very spectacular for the fans,” he added. “The work is done, though. And I have the opportunity to go further and get a stronger opponent.”

Volkov admitted that he saw certain dangers against Hardy, a raw talent with tons of potential, though he is green on experience. Hardy is a deadly puncher and because of his lifelong career as a football player, he’s immensely strong. Volkov said there was plenty of discomfort against the American Top Team fighter.

  “Greg Hardy is uncomfortable to fight, because he is big and physically strong,” he said. “He throws down uncommon jabs. He is uncomfortable when he tries to break away. But generally it was a good fight and I now understand how to develop as a fighter.”

Volkov was slated to headline the card on Saturday but when original opponent Junior dos Santos was pulled from the card and replaced by Hardy, his scrap was shifted from the top of the marquee to the co-main event slot. Volkov said he is still eager to face the former UFC heavyweight champion and knows that a win over him would be a boon for his career.

  “I got unfinished business with dos Santos,” he declared. “Actually, I want to win more and eventually fight for the belt.”