Chaos in the arena: Alexander Volkov walks away with win amid loud booing and outrage

Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Top heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta didn’t live up to expectations at the Prudential Center in Newark, with their bout failing to deliver the action fans hoped for.

Neither fighter brings the same kind of noise as Josh Hokit, who has built his reputation on sharp words as much as sharp punches.

But both are respected for their willingness to mix it up when they step into the cage, which is why many thought this would be a proper scrap at UFC 328.

But instead, it was a slower start than expected. Volkov stayed behind his jab while Cortes-Acosta tried to draw him in.

Things did pick up a bit in the third round, but by then it felt like it was already too late to save the fight from being labelled as underwhelming.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Volkov edges past Cortes-Acosta in slow-paced battle

Alexander Volkov did just enough to get the nod from all three judges, but it was far from a performance that will stay long in the memory.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta managed to open up a cut early on, but outside of that moment, there wasn’t much for either man to celebrate.

Prudential Center wasn’t filled with boos, but fans were clearly frustrated by the lack of action. The pair never really found their stride, and when the decision came down for Volkov, frustration spilled over.

With the fight behind him, Volkov turned his attention towards a potential bout with Alex Pereira during his post-fight interview. If he wants that opportunity, though, he’ll need to show far more than he did against Acosta.

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