Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov will face off against one another in a clash of heavyweight titans at UFC Saudi Arabia. For Pavlovich, this will be his first Octagon appearance since his interim UFC heavyweight championship bout at UFC 295 against Tom Aspinall. The Russian knockout artist was finished in the first round and is looking to get back in the win column. Standing in his way is Alexander Volkov, currently riding high on a 3-fight win-streak, and surprisingly, his last defeat also came against Aspinall in 2022.

However, during their face-off at the ceremonial weigh-ins before the event, the pair were engaged in a brief exchange that has raised eyebrows amongst the MMA fandom. As such, fans have been curious to know what transpired between the two heavyweight contenders and so, let’s explore all we know about what went down between ‘Drago’ and Pavlovich!

Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich’s heated face-off moment explained 

According to reports online, neither Volkov nor Pavlovich was keen on the match at first. They only agreed after learning the other had supposedly accepted the fight. The root of the confusion seems to have stemmed from their friendship and history as occasional training partners.

In a conversation in their native language, Volkov inquired, “Sergei, why did you say I was the first one to take this fight?”, to which Pavlovich responded by stating, “But you did. Did you forget?”. The conversation then continued with ‘Drago’ firing back as he revealed, “No, you said that you would not fight me if I refused to fight you.”

Pavlovich then claimed, “That’s not a no, is it?” and Volkov responded as he revealed, “I would not have taken the fight, either. They asked me, they said you accepted it!”, with the back and forth ending with UFC CEO Dana White stepping in to separate the pair.

Information about the exchange also suggests that the promotion might have manipulated the details to ensure the match went ahead, and such tactics aren’t unheard of in the business as in 2022, Paulo Costa had stated that his fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 was announced without him signing the contract.

Despite their initial hesitance and confusion, this fight is significant in the heavyweight division, as Pavlovich is ranked no. 3, while Volkov holds the no. 5 spot. The outcome of this match could significantly impact their standings and future title shot opportunities as Alexander Volkov revealed what this fight means to him.

 ‘Drago’ is focused on one mission at the UFC Saudi Arabia 

Alexander Volkov is on a mission and will not stop no matter who stands in his way! At UFC Saudi Arabia, he will face the only heavyweight fighter in the top 5 that he has yet to fight, his fellow countryman and former training partner Sergei Pavlovich. As such, in his conversation with UFC.com ahead of this crucial fight, ‘Drago’ stated, “I have to get to my goal. I’m looking for the belt, I’m looking for the title. I’ve already fought with many of top guys in the UFC, and it’s my time to get the belt, so I just have to go to the Octagon and do my job.”

Volkov also indicated that his opponent’s familiarity with his fighting style has added another layer of complexity to the match. Nevertheless, he revealed, “Maybe it will be a good fight for all the fans. We’re both good strikers, both have really good standup skills, and we’ll show it. Two big guys with good striking and skills are going to punch each other. That’s it.”

In conclusion, Sergei Pavlovich stands as a formidable obstacle, but Alexander Volkov’s experience and determination could make the difference in this heavyweight showdown that could shape the future of the division. Who do you think will win the bout? Drop your predictions in the comments below.