UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov odds, preview, and pick

This Saturday’s hard-hitting UFC Fight Night clash is chock full of intriguing storylines. Can Alistair Overeem keep his hopes of a heavyweight title shot alive? Will Alexander Volkov end the legend’s run in his own pursuit of gold?

We have the answer and betting odds below for this heavily hyped match.

Can Overeem close in on a title shot?

The heavyweight division’s elder statesman has grounded and pounded his way towards a title shot and was just seconds away from being perfect in his last five fights if not for Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s Hail Mary KO win. His late-career resurgence has come from his veteran skills and respectable power, and even now, he’s a legit top five heavyweight.

Volkov makes for an interesting foil. Like Overeem, he’s a tremendously strong Muay Thai practitioner near the top tier of the division. His only losses have come against the division’s biggest striker in Derrick Lewis and best grappler in Curtis Blaydes. Overeem is nowhere near as good as those two are right now.

Volkov is still climbing the ladder

While Volkov has a ways to go before filling Overeem’s shoes, he doesn’t have to worry much about their styles. Volkov has an excellent takedown defense, which means that Overeem will have to put his compromised chin at risk. The kick that Volkov landed on Walt Harris would’ve knocked the wind out of a rhino, and that kind of explosive power will work wonders on his older foe.

Unlike any of Overeem’s past opponents, Volkov is going to be a problem if he can’t get him on the mat. Because Volkov lands 4.76 significant strikes per minute and is an accurate striker, Overeem has to dig deep into his bag of tricks to stay upright. Should he take Volkov down, then it’s anyone’s guess what can happen on the mat.

Volkov will end Overeem’s run by stoppage

Overeem’s window for an upset is small. Because the fight is in the UFC APEX center in Las Vegas with a smaller ring, he won’t have the room to move around and will need to match Volkov’s strikes until a gap for a takedown presents itself. That just isn’t going to work for him. Volkov hits too hard for Overeem’s chin and will shut him down by stuffing his takedowns.

Expect Volkov to strike with bad intentions and win this inside the distance.

MMA pick: Volkov