Former Bellator Heavyweight Champ Alexander Volkov signs with UFC
Former Bellator Heavyweight Champ Alexander Volkov signs with UFC
Former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (26-6) has signed with the UFC and will debut at UFC Fight Night 99.
Drago will fight Timothy Johnson (10-2) on November 19 at UFC Fight Night 99 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Volkov is on a two-fight win-streak, both coming in his native country of Russia with M-1 Challenge. He currently holds the organization’s heavyweight title.
Bellator
In September 2012, it was announced that Volkov would compete for Bellator Fighting Championships. He made his U.S. debut in the Bellator season seven heavyweight tournament. In the opening, quarter-final round he faced Brett Rogers at Bellator 75. Volkov dominated the fight by making the most of his reach advantage. Volkov won via unanimous decision.
In the semifinals at Bellator 80, he faced Vinicius Queiroz and won via TKO in the second round. On December 14, Volkov fought Richard Hale in a five-round fight for Bellator Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Final and Bellator Heavyweight Championship. Volkov won via unanimous decision.
In his first title defense, Volkov faced Vitaly Minakov in the co-main event at Bellator 108 on November 15, 2013. He lost the bout and his title via TKO in the first round.
In his last fight with Bellator, Volkov lost a unanimous decision to Cheick Kongo and was later released.
