Alexander Volkov vs Alexandr Romanov 3/11/2023 Free Picks, Analysis and Odds
On March 11, UFC Vegas 71 will host a thrilling heavyweight showdown between Alexander Volkov and Alexandr Romanov. The event, which features Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili as the main event, will be held at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Fans can expect an electrifying night of action as these two top contenders in the heavyweight division face off.
Returning to the UFC octagon after a nine-month hiatus, Alexander Volkov is the eighth-ranked heavyweight. He secured a first-round TKO victory over Jairzinho Rozenstruik in his last fight and has won 10 of his last 14 bouts. With a professional record of 35 wins, including 23 knockouts, three submissions, and one first-round finish, Volkov is determined to add another victory to his record.
At 6’7″ and 250 lbs, the orthodox fighter known as “Drago” has an 80″ wingspan. On the other hand, Alexandr “King Kong” Romanov is a southpaw fighter who stands at 6’2″ and weighs 262 lbs. He enters this fight with a 16-1-0 record and has a reach of 75″. In terms of significant strikes, Volkov lands 4.88 per minute compared to Romanov’s 3.78. Volkov also has a better significant strikes accuracy rate, landing 57% of his attempts compared to Romanov’s 50%. When it comes to defense, Volkov absorbs 3.04 significant strikes per minute while Romanov only absorbs 1.86. Volkov also has a higher significant strikes defense percentage, thwarting 53% of the shots thrown at him compared to Romanov’s 48%. This heavyweight matchup promises to be a spectacle that fans will not want to miss.
Alexander Volkov vs Alexandr Romanov 3/11/2023 Free Picks, Analysis and Odds
In his last bout, Alexandr Romanov suffered a loss via decision to Marcin Tybura at UFC 278. However, the Moldovan fighter holds a unique record of four victories in 1:15 or less and boasts an impressive 16-1 record. He has achieved six wins by knockout, nine by submission, and 11 by first-round finishes, which demonstrates his lethal fighting ability. As the 13th-ranked fighter in the division, Romanov is aiming to climb the ranks and establish himself as a top contender.
Meanwhile, Alexander Volkov’s most recent fight saw him take on Jairzinho Rozenstruik, whom he defeated via first-round knockout. Rozenstruik landed only six of his 18 total strikes, while Volkov landed 21 of his 37. In terms of significant strikes, Rozenstruik connected on just 33% of his attempts, including three of 15 aimed at the head. In contrast, Volkov landed 56% of his significant strikes, with 10 of 26 directed at the head. Notably, all of the significant strikes landed by both fighters were done so from a distance.
As for Alexandr Romanov’s most recent UFC fight, he suffered a defeat against Marcin Tybura via majority decision in the third round. Tybura had a high accuracy rate, connecting on 91% of his significant strikes from distance. Meanwhile, Romanov’s accuracy rate from distance was 52%. Romanov attempted 88 significant strikes and landed 40 of them, achieving an accuracy rate of 45%. Of the 65 significant strikes he aimed at the head, 24 of them found their mark. Tybura, on the other hand, connected on 47 of 98 significant strikes, with 30 of them aimed at the head. In terms of total strikes, Tybura threw 135 and connected on 82, while Romanov threw 160 and connected on 95.
Alexander Volkov and Alexandr Romanov. Viewers can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
TV: ESPN+
Date: March 11, 2023
Venue: The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Paradise, Nevada,
Prediction: Alexander Volkov, TKO, R2. The second most likely outcome is an early sub from Romanov. Another tough one, striker vs grappler.
