Overview
- Volkov, who prevailed Saturday at Newark’s Prudential Center, won a unanimous decision over Waldo Cortes-Acosta with scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
- UFC Stats recorded Volkov outlanding Cortes-Acosta 88-54 and edging all three rounds as he worked from range with jabs and steady leg and body kicks.
- Some fans booed the verdict and UFC president Dana White said he thought Cortes-Acosta won, though matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard backed the judges’ cards.
- After the win, Volkov called for a title shot and dismissed potential foe Alex Pereira by saying he is not a true heavyweight.
- Cortes-Acosta’s three-fight finishing streak ended, and the next moves at heavyweight now hinge on the Pereira–Gane interim title fight and champion Tom Aspinall’s return timeline.