Tensions flared between Alexander Volkov and Sergey Pavlovich after their heavyweight bout on Saturday.
In the co-main event of UFC on ABC 6 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Volkov pummeled Pavlovic from the outside to win by unanimous decision. After the fight, when Volkov approached his opponent to shake hands, Pavlovic shoved his compatriot and former sparring partner. Afterwards, Volkov revealed that Pavlovic had sworn at him, which was out of character for the heavyweight. Volkov believes that Pavlovic is the one with the problem and that it is up to him to find a solution.
“To be honest with you, this is the first time I’ve ever heard Sergey swear because he told me to. Well, I’m not sure what he said, but basically, I allow swearing every now and then, but this is the first time I’ve heard him swear with any kind of vicious intent towards me,” Volkov said at Saturday’s post-game press conference. “So, if he has a problem, I think it’s probably on his side because I let the situation go. And if he has a problem, it’s up to him to find a solution.”
The Volkov vs. Pavlovic fight initially seemed unlikely as the former sparring partners seemed unwilling to face each other. However, the agreement between the two was that if either one accepted the fight, the other would not back down. Suddenly the booking was confirmed, but no one checked who had accepted the fight first until the actual match. Things quickly heated up between the previously quiet fighters, with each accusing the other of accepting the booking first. Volkov denies knowing anything about the booking until Dana White officially announced it.
“I’ll try to explain it without any sarcasm,” Volkov said, “I heard about the fight from Ronnie, the American coach, when it was announced. [Markes]He was sitting next to Ali Abdelaziz and they were talking about the fight. Ronnie, Ali and I all found out about the fight through Dana White’s announcements.”
This is not the first time UFC has used such matchmaking tactics, as the organization has allegedly attempted to promote similar fights where the fighters had not officially accepted, such as Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit St. Denis at UFC 299 and Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 298. Abdelaziz tried to dissuade the fight from happening, but “Drago” believed his opponent had already accepted by that point.
“My coach got in touch with Sergey’s team the following evening, but from what Sergey said, it seems the fight had already been offered to him,” Volkov said. “That’s what my coach understood, and Sergey said, ‘If Volkov says yes, I’m not turning him down.’ And then UFC came to me and said, ‘Sergey said yes.’ Then Ali approached me and tried to ask me not to agree to the fight, but as I understand it, there was already an agreement on their side, and I don’t think it’s a denial or abandonment of the fight.”
