Alexander Volkov, a 6-foot-7 KO specialist, beat Alistair Overeem in his final UFC battle and is coming for Francis Ngannou

Alexander Volkov is a mammoth, six-foot-seven downside in UFC’s heavyweight division.

The Russian is in motion this weekend towards the unbeaten Cyril Gane. He sits fifth within the heavyweight rankings and a win right here may catapult him into the dialog as a future opponent for Francis Ngannou.

Volkov is 33-Eight within the octagon however his final outing noticed an enormous win over Alistair Overeem.

talkSPORT had the prospect to meet up with the 32 12 months outdated forward of his showdown with Gane and ask a couple of questions.

On Francis Ngannou turning into heavyweight champion…

“He’s an ideal fighter. A giant, sturdy man. He was very underrated, now I feel the query is how will he cope with fame. In Russia we have now a proverb. You undergo the water, fireplace and trumpets and that’s often the toughest check. 

“So we’ll see how he goes by way of the trumpets as a result of it is going to be arduous to stand up from the silk sheets and to have a want to remain champion. 

“I do know, I went by way of it in different organisations. 

“So it’s a really stunning second for him. We’ll see how he evolves as a fighter in spite of everything of this what’s now taking place to him. We’ll see if he has the center of a real champion.

On solely shedding to high UFC heavyweights like Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes…

“Each loss has pushed me ahead. Each win makes you concentrate on victory, greatness and so forth, however the loss, it forces you to turn out to be a greater fighter. 

“I see my losses as why I’m who I’m proper now.”

On what it meant to beat Alistair Overeem…

“After I beat Overeem, I actually really feel like I used to be the very best me whereas coaching for it and the very best me that ever fought. That’s for certain.”
On what he expects from Gane…

“I feel he’ll attempt to break me as a result of he’s on a profitable streak and has by no means misplaced in his life however I’ll present him I gained’t break. He by no means fought anybody like me and he’ll be very shocked throughout our battle.”

On why he accepted a battle towards an unbeaten fighter so near getting a title shot…

“Please ask this query to my supervisor who has since left [laughs]. Often I’m the one who decides who I battle as a result of I can battle anybody!”