Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov is the main event at UFC Fight Night betting on Saturday, February 6 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
This should be an intriguing battle between a pair of heavyweight contenders with both power and skill. UFC odds opened with Overeem installed as a slim -125 favorite but he is now the +152 underdog while Volkov comes back at -180.
We break down the UFC betting odds for this heavyweight tilt as we bring you our picks and predictions for UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov on February 6.
Overeem vs Volkov Fight Odds
| Method of Victory | Alistair Overeem | Alexander Volkov |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | +152 | -180 |
| KO/TKO | +260 | +130 |
| Points | +850 | +410 |
| Submission | +1,200 | +1,200 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Overeem vs Volkov Betting Preview
Alistair "The Demolition Man" Overeem enters as the No. 5 ranked heavyweight contender and is coming off back-to-back TKO wins over Augusto Sakai and Walt Harris.
Overeem is 4-1 over his last five fights, and in that lone defeat against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, he was leading on every judge's card before he was starched with four seconds left in the final round.
The 40-year-old has enjoyed a long and successful career in MMA, going 47-18 with one of his first losses coming against the legendary Chuck Liddell — all the way back in 2003.
A former world titleholder in kickboxing, Overeem is an excellent striker who has the highest significant strike accuracy in UFC history at 73 percent. However, the Dutchman is an underrated wrestler—especially when it comes to ground and pound.
Alexander Volkov is No. 6 in the heavyweight rankings and is fresh off a TKO win over Harris at UFC 254 last October. The former M-1 and Bellator heavyweight champion is 6-2 under the UFC banner since making his promotional debut in 2016.
While Overeem was at one time considered the best kickboxer in the heavyweight division, the 32-year-old Volkov might now hold claim to that title. Nicknamed "Drago" after the Rocky III villain, Volkov lands 6.19 significant strikes per minute while absorbing just 3.3.
Overeem vs Volkov Tale of the Tape
| Alistair Overeem | Alexander Volkov | |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Age | 32 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-7 |
| 252 lbs | Weight | 265 lbs |
| 80 inches | Reach | 80 inches |
| 47-18-0 (25 KO) | Record | 32-8-0 (21 KO) |
Overeem vs Volkov UFC Prediction and Betting Picks
PREDICTION: Overeem to win +152 - Volkov seems to be getting a lot of love after his knockout win over Harris but Overeem also had a second-round finish of Harris last year. Overeem might be a geezer but he would be on a five-fight winning streak if he hadn't displayed terrible fight IQ at the tail end of that previously mentioned bout against Rozenstruik.
When it comes right down to it, both of these guys have a similar track record in recent years - wins against heavyweight place-holders and defeats against the very best fighters in the division.
Volkov is the more explosive kickboxer at this stage of their respective careers, but Overeem is still very skilled in that department. And the Demolition Man's grappling ability and ground and pound should give him the edge if this fight gets dirty.
As anybody who watches MMA knows, all it takes is one punch to change the course of a fight, and that's especially true in the heavyweight division. This fight will likely come down to which of these fighters can land a big shot, and with two guys so similar in ability, that makes this fight practically a coin flip.
At one point the odds for this fight were even but with the money moving towards Drago that makes Overeem the value play at +152.
PREDICTION: Overeem by knockout +260 - No fighter epitomizes the "knock out or be knocked out" motto of heavyweight MMA better than Overeem, who is an absolute glass cannon. The Dutchman has been knocked out 14 times in his career, including in each of his last 11 losses.
However, he also has the power to knock out his opponents, whether it's with knees and elbows, vicious kicks to the liver, ground and pound, or a good ole' fashioned punch to the face. Seven of Overeem's last eight wins have come by KO/TKO and since we're betting on a win for the Dutchman in this one, that's the direction we're leaning with this prop pick.
PREDICTION: Fight to start Round 3? Yes -106 - Volkov might be coming off a second-round finish but each of his previous seven fights had gone at least until deep into the third round.
Drago is an excellent technical striker but prefers to stay at range and doesn't typically display one-punch knockout power, usually overwhelming opponents with a flurry of kicks and punches after they begin to tire.
Overeem has also become a more patient fighter in recent years and tends to pick his spots. Two of his last three fights have gone all the way into the fifth round. Look for this bout to make it until at least the third.
Where Can I Bet on UFC Odds?
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