The UFC had a stellar plan to make its promotional debut in Saudi Arabia. Dana White announced Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker as the main event and Alexander Volkov vs. Sergei Pavlovich as the co-main. Unfortunately, Chimaev pulled out, and Ikram Aliskerov replaced him. Nonetheless, the co-main event is still intact.
When Dana White announced Volkov vs. Pavlovich, the fighters were unaware. They revealed that the UFC had announced the fight before consulting them. Nonetheless, they have qualms about fighting each other.
Fans Not Happy to See Volkov and Pavlovich Fighting
Interestingly, the co-main event fighters of UFC Saudi Arabia, Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich, are friends and training partners. The duo has landed in Riyadh for the fight, and pictures show them smiling. However, fight fans have reacted negatively to the UFC for making friends fight. See how the fans responded to the video below.
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Pavlovich is coming off an interim title fight loss to Tom Aspinall at UFC 295. On the other hand, Volkov is on a three-fight winning streak. The fight has title implications, particularly as Jailton Almeida has called out Ciryl Gane for a number-one contender fight.
Pavlovich is the betting favorite for the fight due to his power. However, Volkov has a range advantage over his friend. Moreover, he had shown his grappling in his recent fight, which ended in a submission finish over Tai Tuivasa.
Also Read UFC Saudi Arabia Predictions: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov Preview and Picks
