Volkov vs Kuniev: two Russian heavyweights who both beat Jailton Almeida meet at UFC 333
Moscow's 6ft 7in "Drago" against Dagestan's Rizvan Kuniev, who won his last fight at Etihad Arena in July.
Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev meet at heavyweight on the UFC 333 main card at Etihad Arena on Saturday 24 October.
Volkov, 37, is from Moscow, stands 6ft 7in and fights as "Drago". He has 40 wins and 11 losses, and is a former Bellator and M-1 Global heavyweight champion. He comes in on two wins: a split decision over Jailton Almeida at UFC 321 in October 2025, and a unanimous decision over Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 328 in May 2026.
Kuniev, 34, is from Dagestan and fights out of Makhachkala. He is 14-3-1 with one no contest and was ranked No. 5 in July. After a split-decision loss to Curtis Blaydes on his UFC debut in 2025, he beat Almeida in February and then stopped Tyrell Fortune with knees at Etihad Arena in July, earning Fight of the Night.
Both men have beaten Almeida, and both know Abu Dhabi well. This is one of the fights Russian fans will be watching most closely on the card.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: Wikipedia: Alexander Volkov, Wikipedia: Rizvan Kuniev, UFC.com
