TLDR
- Alexander Volkov (-142) faces Waldo Cortes-Acosta (+120) at UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey
- Volkov holds a 36-11 record and recently defeated Jailton Almeida in October 2025
- Cortes-Acosta has won three straight fights by knockout, including a January 2026 stoppage of Derrick Lewis
- The 6’7″ Volkov has a reach and experience advantage over the 6’4″ Cortes-Acosta
- Both fighters are seeking to position themselves for a UFC heavyweight title opportunity
Full Main Card Odds (via DraftKings)
| Fight | Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|---|
| Middleweight Title: Chimaev vs. Strickland | Chimaev -575 | Strickland +425 |
| Flyweight Title: Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira | Taira -162 | Van +136 |
| Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta | Volkov -142 | Cortes-Acosta +120 |
| Welterweight: Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley | Brady -100 | Buckley +142 |
| Lightweight: King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens | Green -440 | Stephens +340 |
Fight Time by Time Zone
| Time Zone | Main Card Start | Main Event (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 10:00 PM | 12:00 AM+ |
| Central (CT) | 9:00 PM | 11:00 PM+ |
| Mountain (MT) | 8:00 PM | 10:00 PM+ |
| Pacific (PT) | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM+ |
| UK (BST) | 3:00 AM (Sun) | 5:00 AM+ (Sun) |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 4:00 AM (Sun) | 6:00 AM+ (Sun) |
| Australia (AEST) | 12:00 PM (Sun) | 2:00 PM+ (Sun) |
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey Broadcast: Paramount+ (exclusive for main card)
I’m excited for this one. UFC 328 FIGHT WEEEEEK‼️ pic.twitter.com/2LOIuhZ6XY
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) May 4, 2026
Sources: sports.betmgm.com | mmamania.com | yardbarker.com
Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta will meet in a heavyweight bout at UFC 328 on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The fight begins at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET and will stream on Paramount+.
Volkov enters the bout as the betting favorite at -142 to -174, depending on the sportsbook. Cortes-Acosta is listed as the underdog at +120 to +136.
The Russian veteran Volkov stands 6’7″ with an 80-inch reach and holds a record of 36-11. His opponent, known as “Salsa Boy,” measures 6’4″ with a 78-inch reach and carries a 17-2 record into the contest.
Volkov’s recent fight history includes a controversial split decision loss to Ciryl Gane in December 2024. Many observers believed Volkov won that fight, and he was told he would be treated as if he won afterward. Instead, Gane received two title fight bookings while Volkov returned to action against Jailton Almeida.
In his most recent bout in October 2025, Volkov earned a narrow decision victory over Almeida at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. Almeida dominated the grappling exchanges but was criticized for not engaging enough, leading judges to award Volkov the win.
Cortes-Acosta’s Three-Fight Knockout Streak
Cortes-Acosta has transformed his fighting style throughout 2025. After winning his early UFC fights primarily with his jab, he has become more aggressive with his right hand.
The Dominican fighter has stopped his last three opponents by knockout. His most recent victory came in January 2026 when he knocked out former title contender Derrick Lewis at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.
Before his current winning streak, seven of Cortes-Acosta’s first nine UFC fights went to the judges’ scorecards. His shift to a more aggressive approach has generated new momentum toward a potential title opportunity.
Cortes-Acosta’s background includes time as a pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system. He transitioned to combat sports through boxing before eventually joining mixed martial arts in 2018.
Fighting Styles Create Tactical Matchup
Volkov’s striking foundation comes from Tsu Shin Gen karate and Kyokushin. He uses his length effectively with stabbing front kicks and stiff straight punches, though he can also fire combinations better than most tall fighters.
The Russian veteran averages 4.78 strikes per minute with 57% accuracy. He absorbs 2.86 strikes per minute and defends 53% of strikes thrown at him.
Cortes-Acosta lands at a higher volume with 5.54 strikes per minute but at lower accuracy of 49%. He absorbs more strikes at 3.38 per minute but defends 56% of incoming strikes.
Odds for the fight to end inside the distance favor the over 2.5 rounds at -260, while the under is listed at +195. Volkov by decision is priced at +145, while Cortes-Acosta by knockout carries odds of +275.
This represents the toughest test of Cortes-Acosta’s career, as he has never faced an opponent of Volkov’s caliber. Volkov has consistently competed against top-ten opposition for several years and is currently ranked in the top five of the heavyweight division.
Both fighters are 34 years old on the calendar, though Volkov has roughly three times the professional fight experience. The bout takes place on the undercard of UFC 328, which features Khamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland as the main event.
