UFC on ESPN 11 breakdown: How will Curtis Blaydes-Alexander Volkov style clash play out?

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN 11.

UFC on ESPN 11 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Curtis Blaydes (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 6’4″ Age: 29 Weight: 248 lbs. Reach: 80″
• Last fight: TKO win over Junios Dos Santos(Jan. 25, 2020)
• Camp: Elevation Fight Team (Denver)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling title
+ IKF national champ
+ 10 KO victories
+ 2 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Improved striking and footwork
^ Shifts stances/moves well off strikes
+ Explosive power-double takedown
^ Changes level well
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Bodylocks, trips, suplexes
+ Solid top game
^ Floats, wrist-rides, strikes

Alexander Volkov (31-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 6’7″ Age: 31 Weight: 251 lbs. Reach: 80″
• Last fight: Decision win over Greg Hardy (Nov. 9, 2019)
• Camp: Strela Team (Russia)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ M-1 heavyweight title
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ Kyokushin karate brown belt
+ 19 KO victories
+ 3 submission wins
+ 15 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Accurate right hand
^ Coming forward and off the counter
+ Well-balanced combination attack
+ Deceptively effective knees
+ Improved defensive wrestling
^ Head and hip position/over and underhooks
+ Serviceable grappling ability

Point of interest: Staying on the feet

The main event in Las Vegas features a fun styles matchup that will have all the heavyweight feels for as long as it stays standing.

Despite coming from a wrestling base, Curtis Blaydes is no stranger to kickboxing, showing solid fight-to-fight improvements each time out.

Blaydes moves well for a big man, demonstrating the ability to shift his stance to take angles that encourage corralling scenarios. He has also done a lot better at putting together his punches, as the 29-year-old talent seems to be right at home whenever pressuring forward.

Whether Blaydes is working behind his jab or rolling his head off of his crosses, his time spent training at the Elevation Fight Team has really come through in recent years. However, as we saw in both of his fights with Francis Ngannou, Blaydes is not beyond being countered for his aggressive approaches – which is why a matchup with Alexander Volkov is so intriguing.

The kickboxing heavyweight comes from a traditional martial arts background in kyokushin and tsu shin gen, styles of karate that emphasize more on the sparring and sporting aspects. Making the jump into MMA from a young age, Volkov has done well in regards to translating his style.

Taking more of a squared stance than most traditional martial artists, Volkov opens up his offensive options from both sides, all while still carrying the in-and-out abilities typically associated with karate fighters. A diverse striker who is effective coming forward and off of the counter, Volkov keeps an accurate right hand at the ready and can also be sharp from a southpaw stance.

When feeling in stride, Volkov will come forward in combination, punctuating his presence off of his lead leg like many Eastern European and Russian kickboxers. However, he will need to mind his kick retractions given the looming takedown threats that it could potentially cost him.

Next point of interest: Wrestler’s wrath