UFC 293 Preview: Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Sep 9)
- Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov is a co-main event of UFC 293.
- Tuivasa is fighting in his hometown of Sydney this weekend.
- Volkov is five inches taller and has a five-inch longer reach than Tuivasa.
Born and bred in Western Sydney, Tai Tuivasa is undefeated in his hometown. He’s fighting in Sydney once again this coming weekend, but betting odds suggest he’s heading for a disaster against towering Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov. Are oddsmakers right to think “Bam Bam” is going to lose at Qudos Bank Arena on September 9?
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 10:00 p.m ET
- Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- How to Watch: PPV
Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tai Tuivasa | |
| Alexander Volkov |
Fight Preview
Tai Tuivasa is 14-5 in his professional career with three losses by KO/TKO. Two of those happened in his previous two fights, which is probably why he’s now seen as a +200 underdog against Alexander Volkov (36-10) in the UFC 293 co-main event.
However, those two losses happened to fighters famous for incredible striking – Cyril Gane and Sergei Pavlovich. In fact, Pavlovich is the man who lands the most significant strikes in the UFC Heavyweight division (8.72 per minute), while Gane is sixth on that list (5.49).
Volkov isn’t far behind (5.23) – actually, he’s higher on that list than Tuivasa (4.10) – but he might not have as much power as the guys who knocked “Bam Bam” out.
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Instead of throwing dynamite punches, Volkov tends to land a huge volume of strikes and use his size to keep the opponent at a distance. This could be a problem for Tuivasa who’s significantly shorter than him.
Tuivasa vs. Volkov Prediction
Tuivasa doesn’t have the stamina needed to box with Volkov for the full three rounds. Instead, it appears that the only way he can win this fight is with an early finish. So, can he pull it off? We think he might, especially because he’s fighting in front of his own crowd.
Free Pick:
