Volkov Vs. Kuniev Odds, Full Fight Preview & Prediction

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight bruisers Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev will square off this weekend (Sat., Oct. 24, 2026) inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for UFC 333 . Volkov might be the most disrespected man still on the roster. After getting robbed by Ciryl Gane , Volkov was allegedly going to receive preferable matchmaking and big opportunities anyway. In reality, he’s facing his third consecutive Top 10 opponent and doesn’t feel any closer to a title shot! “Drago” should be riding a seven-fight win streak right now, but instead he’s pushed to the sidelines. Meanwhile, Kuniev really impressed last time out in battering Tyrell Fortune . His first two UFC bouts proved the Russian to be a high-quality Heavyweight, but mauling Fortune demonstrated an equally important trait: he can be exciting too! This is a major opportunity relative newcomer, who can inject himself into the title mix with a victory. Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete: Volkov vs. Kuniev Betting Odds Alexander Volkov victory: -122 Alexander Volkov via TKO/KO/DQ: +400 Alexander Volkov via submission: +2000 Alexander Volkov via decision: +175 Rizvan Kuniev victory: -104 Rizvan Kuniev via TKO/KO/DQ: +600 Rizvan Kuniev via submission: +1700 Rizvan Kuniev via decision: +200 Odds via  FanDuel Sportsbook How Volkov Win s It’s so rare and pleasant to see a tall fighter who actually uses his range well. Volkov is not an exceptional jabber per se, but his stabbing front kicks serve a similar purpose in keeping his opponents stranded at distance. In recent years, he’s improved his boxing and defensive wrestling considerably, allowing him to open up more and take commanding leads in the volume battle. Volkov has received some criticism lately for a handful of boring fights, but we’re still talking about a man with 28 finishes on his record. He’s not in there playing tag! Per usual, this matchup is a question of distance. Kuniev is a sharper boxer than many of his peers and is particularly nasty in the clinch, so Volkov wants to keep him back. That toe stab kick will be a pivotal weapon for “Drago,” as it can really sap the energy from his foe and make him hesitant to press forward. Other linear shots, like the jab and intercepting knee, could be similarly effective. On occasion, Volkov needs to push the action himself. He has a nasty uppercut, and Kuniev tends to rely on a high guard. If he presses forward with the occasional combo, catching Kuniev ducking might be his best chance at a finish. How Kuniev Wins Kuniev has proven himself extremely difficult to take down in his trio of UFC fights. On the feet, he’s primarily a boxer, possessing quick hands and good counter timing. As mentioned, however, he thoroughly abused Fortune in the clinch last time out, landing some of the most punishing knees to the body in recent memory and producing the KO as a result. Kuniev wants the ugliest fight imaginable. He’s good at range, but Volkov is too long, crafty, and high-volume for him to win that fight at that distance. Instead, Kuniev is going to have to push forward through the fire and find his way to the clinch, where he can even up some of those physical disadvantages. I don’t need to see Kuniev trying to methodically jab his way into close quarters. This is an MMA fight, and Kuniev has no reason not to use takedown attempts with the intention of landing in the clinch. If he can use wrestling to keep Volkov honest — it’s more challenging to kick and knee an opponent threatening the takedown — then he should be able to spend more time in the clinch. Once there, Kuniev cannot just try to hold a taller man on the fence. He has to work his knees as best he can and be willing to release Volkov, fire a combination, then grab on again. Volkov vs. Kuniev Prediction We have seen Volkov lose a stinker along the fence in the past, and Kuniev should be looking to take this fight to that arena. It feels like a tall task, however, as he’ll have a lot of Volkov weapons to contend with. In addition, just getting to the clinch is no guarantee that he’s able to win there, as Volkov’s height and length will be useful in a battle of kneeing one another in the face! More to the point, Kuniev fought so well last time out because Fortune engaged him quite willingly in the pocket then pressed into the clinch of his own accord often. Volkov will be a far less available target, and he’ll be scoring points while Kuniev tries to figure out how to crash forward without eating shots. Prediction : Volkov via decision To checkout the latest UFC 333 fight card and rumors click  here .