TLDR
- Alexander Volkov defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision at UFC 328 in Newark, NJ
- UFC president Dana White publicly disagreed with the judges, saying Cortes-Acosta should have won
- Volkov maintained his No. 2 ranking in the heavyweight division with his sixth win in seven fights
- The 37-year-old Russian veteran expressed interest in fighting Alex Pereira and would use grappling
- Volkov is in line for a title shot depending on the outcome of Pereira vs. Gane at UFC Freedom 250
Sources: LowKickMMA | MMA Fighting | MMA Junkie | Cageside Press
Alexander Volkov defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision in a featured bout on the UFC 328 main card in Newark, New Jersey. The Russian heavyweight earned the victory on all three judges’ scorecards despite a strong performance from his opponent.
UFC president Dana White surprised reporters at the post-fight press conference when he said he thought Cortes-Acosta should have won. Despite White’s disagreement with the judges, Volkov got his hand raised and maintained his position as the No. 2 contender in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
The victory marked Volkov’s second straight win and his sixth victory in his last seven fights. The 37-year-old veteran now holds a 14-5 record in 19 UFC fights since joining the promotion in 2016.
Cortes-Acosta entered the fight on a three-fight win streak but couldn’t overcome Volkov’s experience and technical skills. The Dominican heavyweight, known as “Salsa Boy,” mounted a late push but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges.
Alexander Volkov lands flush 😮💨
[ #UFC328 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/HcFXf6ypLn
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2026
Volkov Eyes Pereira Matchup
After the fight, Volkov spoke to reporters about a potential matchup with Alex Pereira, who is scheduled to move up to heavyweight next month. Pereira will face Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250.
“I see him very interesting as a kickboxer, so for me, it will be very interesting to meet him,” Volkov said. “He’s not just a power puncher, he has specific techniques. I respect him a lot.”
When asked if a fight between the two strikers would involve grappling, Volkov confirmed he would use wrestling against Pereira. “Of course,” he said, indicating that grappling would be part of his strategy against the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion.
Volkov noted that while Pereira isn’t currently a heavyweight, he believes the Brazilian can succeed at the higher weight class. “He’s just not a heavyweight right now, I feel, but he can do this at heavyweight, so we will see,” he said.
Title Shot Depends on Aspinall’s Recovery
Volkov is very close to earning his first UFC heavyweight title shot after his performance at UFC 328. However, the path to a championship fight depends on several factors.
Current UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is slated to return later this year and face the winner of Pereira vs. Gane. Aspinall has not yet been cleared from an eye injury sustained in his last fight.
If Aspinall cannot return in time, Volkov could potentially fight the winner of Pereira vs. Gane for the title. The Russian veteran has been a mainstay in the heavyweight division for nearly a decade.
Volkov’s UFC career includes wins over Jailton Almeida, Sergei Pavlovich, Tai Tuivasa, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, and Roy Nelson. Before joining the UFC, he held the Bellator MMA heavyweight championship.
The 37-year-old fighter has shown improvement as he ages, continuing to compete against top-level competition in one of the sport’s most dangerous divisions. Volkov remained at No. 2 in the official UFC heavyweight rankings following his victory at UFC 328.
