After KO of Werdum, Alexander Volkov makes case for heavyweight title shot – ideally in Russia

Alexander Volkov did not let his UFC London headlining showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum go to waste. Though Werdum was able to give him some interesting looks early on, particularly on mat, Volkov came through with flying colors in the fourth, putting his decorated foe down with a pair of uppercut and a missile-like standing-to-ground strike.

In the wake of this impressive knockout win, which stands out as the best of his career, the former Bellator heavyweight champion Volkov feels he’s earned a shot at the UFC heavyweight championship, which will next be contested when champ Stipe Miocic takes on Daniel Cormier at UFC 226 on July 7. Though Miocic and Cormier’s heavyweight title showdown is still a ways away, Volkov sounds content to wait for a shot at the winner – perhaps even this fall when the UFC debuts in Russia.

“I think I deserve a title shot right now,” Volkov said at the UFC London post-fight press conference (h/t Forbes). “My winning streak is four right now. I beat a former UFC champion [Werdum] and a guy who beat the current UFC champion [Stefan Struve], so maybe it’s my time.”

“I would be so excited to fight for the belt in Russia,” said Volkov. “I want to bring the UFC to my country for the first time. If I can bring the UFC to Russia, I will be a fighter who has made history. I am so happy to be a part of the group of Russian fighters now fighting in the UFC. Thank you to all the fans who support me. I have seen more and more fans supporting me and it is always growing so thank you to all of them.”

Do you think the towering Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov has earned a shot at the UFC heavyweight title?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/18/2018.