Return to the top 5 rating and a status fight: what to expect for Volkov after defeating Overeem in the UFC

Is Overeem the most stellar opponent in Volkov's career?

Alistair Overeem is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated martial artists in history.

The Dutch fighter has made tremendous strides in both MMA and kickboxing, becoming the first to hold three titles in two sports at the same time.

In 2010, he owned belts in Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to call Overeem the most stellar of Alexander Volkov's rivals.

If the Dutchman is certainly superior to Vitaly Minakov and Curtis Blades, then in comparison with Fabricio Werdum, he looks not so advantageous.

Unlike Overeem, the latter still managed to become a champion in the largest MMA promotion in the world, and also boasts victories in the world championships in grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In addition, it was the Brazilian who interrupted Fedor Emelianenko's 10-year unbeaten streak and crushed the legendary Kane Velasquez.

With this in mind, Alistair, though a little, but inferior.

Is the victory over Overeem so valuable?

It is noteworthy that many were quick to question the importance of Volkov's triumph at UFC Vegas 18. According to the manager of the Russian, Ivan Bannikov, on the eve of the tournament, a number of fans rushed to write Overeem off, citing his defeats in battles with Jairzinho Rosenstrike, Curtis Blades and Ngunsguns, as well as middle-aged years.

In May 2020, Alistair celebrated his 40th birthday, and some fans consider this age to be critical for a professional fighter.

Nevertheless, the importance of a Russian's success should not be underestimated.

Firstly, even at such a mature age, representatives of heavy weight continue to perform successfully, which has been proved more than once by the fighters of both the UFC and other promotions.

The same Werdum won the title at 37, Daniel Cormier at 39, and the legendary Randy Couture three months before his 44th birthday.

Over the years, Overeem not only did not lose his skills, but also became a much more calculating and cunning fighter.

Until 2014, he prevailed at the expense of physical power, and having lost it, he completely reformatted and began to act much more carefully.

An additional confirmation of his level is the fact that since 2016 he was second only to the champion and representatives of the top 5 rating. 

How high will Volkov rise in the heavyweight rankings?

Ahead of UFC Vegas 18, Volkov was ranked sixth on the ranking list, while Overeem was one position higher.

This success has already allowed him to switch places with the Dutchman.

As for the future prospects, a lot depends on the results of the upcoming shows.

In particular, we are talking about two other tournaments of the Fight Night series, which will be held in February.

Both cards will lead the heavyweight fights.

First, Volkov's former offenders - Curtis Blades and Derrick Lewis - will enter the octagon, and a week later - Jairzinho Rosenstrike and Cyril Gan.

At the moment, Blades, Lewis and Rosenstrike are above Volkov in the ranking, but if they fail, they can let the Russian go ahead.

Thus, with a successful combination of circumstances, Alexander can rise to the third line, which will be for him a repetition of the best result in his career.

In April 2018, he was second only to the champion Miocic, Ngann and Overeem.

Does this success guarantee the status of the first contender for Volkov?

At the end of the tournament, the manager of the Russian said that he could fight for the belt in the near future.

According to Bannikov, this will happen if Miocic holds the title in the fight with Ngannu.

At the same time, he believes that if Francis succeeds, Volkov will have another fight, according to the results of which he can become the first challenger.

However, it is still hard to believe that the UFC will immediately give Volkov a chance to fight for the trophy, even if Miocic makes a successful defense.

In the title race, the Russian is certainly inferior to Blades, whom he himself did not cope with in June.

Already, he has one of the longest unbeaten runs in the category.

Curtis won four battles in a row, which only the same Ngannu and Gan can boast of.

The victory over Lewis will finally strengthen him in the status of the first challenger.

If not a champion, then who will be Volkov's next opponent?

If everything goes according to the above scenario, and the Russian really does not get a chance to immediately fight for the belt, then he will surely become a participant in a kind of qualifying tournament.

Matchmakers are unlikely to miss the opportunity to determine the future challenger in the cage and will give Volkov the winner of the duel between Rosenstrike and Hahn as opponents.

Also, do not completely rule out the scenario in which the next opponent of Volkov will be someone from the Blades-Lewis pair.

A battle with the former can be approved if the champion is seriously injured or decides to take a long break from performing.

Moreover, it is possible that in this case a temporary title will be at stake.

The decision to appoint a fight with the second may be dictated by the desire of the promotion to arrange a rematch.

In October 2018, it was Derrick who knocked out Alexander at the end of the fight and deprived him of the opportunity to fight for the belt, and a spectacular victory in revenge will only strengthen the Russian in the top of the division.

Will Overeem retire after losing?

For Overeem, the recent setback has become one of the most sensitive in recent years.

He found himself on the canvas in the middle of the second round - he had not been knocked out so quickly since December 2017.

The same Rosenstrike spent almost all of the allotted 25 minutes with him in the cage, while Blades needed a little less than 13. At the same time, alarm bells sounded during the previous battles.

With Augusto Sakai, he covered almost the entire distance and could well have lost by decision, and in a duel with Walt Harris, he was by a hair's breadth from a fiasco.

But it is too early to give up on Overeem's career.

Firstly, even at the age of 40, many heavyweight fighters continue to compete and achieve success.

Secondly, earlier Alistair had already experienced more difficult periods.

Suffice it to recall how in the period from 2013 to 2014 he lost three fights out of four, all ahead of schedule.

After that, he won four wins in a row and became the first challenger.