Alexander Volkov crumbles Walt Harris with body kick KO
UFC 254 intro: The reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is back at UFC 254 tonight, Saturday, Oct. 24.
He is set to defend his title against the current interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in the event’s headliner in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The evening’s co-main event is between former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker welcomes the surging Jared Cannonier.
In a heavyweight bout, Alexander Volkov faces off against Walt Harris. Both fighters are coming into this bout following losses with only one walking out the winner on fight night.
Volkov is entering this fight after dropping a decision to Curtis Blaydes in June. However, Volkov holds significant wins over Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, and Roy “Big Country” Nelson
Harris comes into this bout following a 2nd round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem in May. Before that loss, he went undefeated for the year in 2019. A win over Volkov could swing him back him to contention in the heavyweight division.
Here is how the heavyweight bout between Alexander Volkov and Walt Harris went down at UFC 254, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here.
Round 1: Harris wastes no time by throwing hands early into a head kick. Volkov is following Harris but eating most of the damage from Harris. Harris fires a teep kick up the middle. Volkov returns by landing clean punch combination upstairs. Harris moves forward with some jabs to the body with Volkov landing a left hook that wobbles Harris in his tracks. Harris retreats while Volkov stays active on his opponent, stalking and picking when the opportunity presents. Volkov is using his size to pick his shots from the outside, stringing together solid combinations. Amid a scuffle against the cage Volkov comes forward but it’s caught by a hook from Harris, forcing him to step back and reset. Volkov goes downstairs with a solid leg kick switching to crisp punches upstairs. Harris is trying to pick his shots as he resets but Volkov beats him to the punch most times, looking to wear on Harris’s cardio. Volkov lands a clean punch combination that looks like it staggers Harris. Volkov senses his foe is hurt and picks up his pressure, looking to put an end to this quickly. In the pressure, Harris burst out of his shell with a punch combination of his own that set back Volkov briefly. With 10 seconds left both fighters paw their hands out with minimal exchanged.
MyMMANews scores round 1 for Alexander Volkov. 10-9
Round 2: The fighters touch gloves to start the second round. Harris fakes the single leg takedown and switches upstairs to throw a hard combination. Volkov is backing Harris against the cage, wearing him down. Harris, again, bursts off the cage for a takedown that is nullified. Volkov fires a teep kick up the middle and Walt Harris doubles over in pain. Volkov charges forward with punches to finish the job as the referee intervenes.
Official result: Alexander “Drago” Volko via TKO at 1:15 of round 2.
