Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight talents Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta will square off this weekend (Sat., May 9, 2026) inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 328.
Remember when Volkov clearly beat Ciryl Gane in 2024 and was promised he would be treated like he won afterward? Since then, Gane has been booked for two title fights, while Volkov narrowly defeated Jailon Almeida to return to the win column. Life isn’t fair, but perhaps Volkov can finally lock
down his first UFC title opportunity with another win here.
Maybe.
Meanwhile, Cortes-Acosta reinvented himself in 2025 by fighting frequently and letting his right hand fly! He’s won three straight via knockout, building momentum towards his own first title opportunity by stopping Derrick Lewis back in January.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Volkov vs. Cortes-Acosta Betting Odds
- Alexander Volkov victory: -174
- Alexander Volkov via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
- Alexander Volkov via submission: TBD
- Alexander Volkov via decision: TBD
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta victory: +136
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta via submission: TBD
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta via decision: TBD
- Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
How Volkov Wins
Volkov has a background in Tsu Shin Gen karate and Kyokushin that definitely shines through in his kickboxing. The rangy “Skycraper” pierces opponents with stabbing front kicks and stiff straight punches, but he can also fire in combination better than the average tall man.
Volkov has a slight edge in height and reach, but it’s not massively pronounced based on numbers alone. In reality, Volkov can make his range advantage feel more significant by really focusing on his kicks. Cortes-Acosta is accustomed to winning the jab battle, and Volkov can take that away from him if he employs his long kicks correctly.
There are lots of ways to harry a boxer with kicks. Volkov should certainly be looking to interrupt the jab by attacking the calf, as just a few low kicks could still away Cortes-Acosta’s ability to press forward. If the boxer is less bladed and more square in his stance, then Volkov’s front kicks up the middle could present a major obstacle. Finally, Volkov does great work in pairing kicks with punches, which could be a great way to punish Cortes-Acosta for trying to push through or counter kicks.
How Cortes-Acosta Wins
Cortes-Acosta is a slick boxer with a great jab. He won his early UFC bouts with the jab alone, rarely expanding beyond that. More recently, Cortes-Acosta has gained confidence in his ability to return fire and press the action with his right hand, which is why he’s scoring all these knockouts as of late. Oh, and it’s also worth-mentioning that “Salsa Boy” has a cinderblock of a chin.
In this bout specifically, a sturdy jawline and some confidence in his durability will be necessary, as Cortes-Acosta really can’t afford to hang back at jab. He’s going to have to walk through fire to find the mark with his power punches, but fortunately, Cortes-Acosta has the tools to make that style work.
Getting hit is part of pressuring, but Cortes-Acosta doesn’t have to make it easy for Volkov to land. “Salsa Boy” should be feinting often, trying to draw out Volkov’s offense so that he can initiate combinations safely. For example, Cortes-Acosta could look to parry the front kicks of Volkov to the outside, which would leave Volkov out of position to counter effectively.
If Cortes-Acosta can get inside, his power will make itself known.
Volkov vs. Cortes-Acosta Prediction
For all of Cortes-Acosta’s recent success, it has to be said that he’s never beaten anyone particularly elite. Derrick Lewis is probably the best win on his record, but “The Black Beast” is far beyond his best and quicker to quit nowadays, in addition to be a favorable matchup for “Salsa Boy.” Volkov is far from perfect, but the Russian veteran could be riding a six-fight win streak and is generally at the top of his game still. Cortes-Acosta has never faced anybody with his kicking arsenal, whereas Volkov has faced lots and lots of fighters with heavy right hands.
It won’t be easy necessarily, but Volkov’s kicks and counters should control the flow of the fight more often than not.
