Alexander Volkov arrived in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as an intriguing face in a not-so-intriguing crowd in November 2016 and did so to little fanfare. Four consecutive victories later, he has transformed himself into an unlikely contender for the heavyweight title.
Volkov was not the only mover and shaker across the pond. Jan Blachowicz avenged a 2015 defeat to Jimi Manuwa and spoiled the Brit’s homecoming in the UFC Fight Night “Werdum vs. Volkov” co-main event, as the former KSW champion walked away with a decisive unanimous decision. Given up for dead after losing four times in five appearances between April 11, 2015 and April 8, 2017, Blachowicz has rattled off three straight wins at 205 pounds. His unexpected surge sees him slot in at No. 7 in the light heavyweight rankings, bumping Manuwa to eighth.
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