Bad Blood Boiling: Why Alexander Volkov Refuses to Fight Jailton Almeida Despite Growing Tension

The heavyweight division is heating up, but not in the way fans might hope. Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida’s escalating rivalry has MMA enthusiasts buzzing, yet surprisingly, one side seems determined to keep this potential blockbuster confined to verbal jabs rather than actual combat.

And I’ve got to say, this is getting interesting.

The Brewing Storm Between Two Heavyweight Contenders

If you’ve been following UFC’s heavyweight scene lately, you’ve noticed tensions rising between Russian striker Alexander “Drago” Volkov and Brazilian powerhouse Jailton Almeida. Their back-and-forth has intensified through social media and interviews, creating what should be the perfect recipe for an explosive matchup.

But here’s the twist – Volkov apparently wants nothing to do with Almeida inside the octagon.

“I’m looking for opponents that make sense for my career trajectory,” Volkov reportedly told media members this week. “Fighting down the rankings against someone with Almeida’s limited striking doesn’t advance my position.”

Why Volkov Is Avoiding This Fight

Reading between the lines of Volkov’s dismissal reveals some fascinating insights:

• Stylistic nightmare – Almeida’s grappling-heavy approach presents serious problems for Volkov
• Risk vs. reward calculation – A loss to a lower-ranked opponent could derail Volkov’s title aspirations
• Strategic positioning – Volkov likely believes bigger names offer clearer paths to championship contention

The 6’7″ Russian has been carefully selecting opponents who play into his striking strengths. Almeida, with his relentless takedown attempts and ground control, represents exactly the type of fighter Volkov seems determined to avoid.

Almeida’s Frustration Boils Over

Meanwhile, Almeida isn’t taking the rejection lightly. After his dominant victory over Derrick Lewis, the Brazilian has been publicly campaigning for the Volkov matchup, even questioning the Russian’s courage.

“He talks big on social media but runs when they offer the contract,” Almeida fired back through an interpreter last week. “I will follow him until he has nowhere to hide. This is the fight that makes sense.”

What This Means For The Heavyweight Division

The UFC heavyweight landscape finds itself at an interesting crossroads with this situation. With Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic preparing for their long-awaited showdown, the division needs clear contenders establishing themselves.

This standoff between Volkov and Almeida creates a bottleneck in the rankings that affects multiple fighters’ paths forward. The question becomes: will the UFC force this matchup, or allow both men to pursue separate opponents?

Fan Reaction: The Fight Everyone Wants To See

I’ve been monitoring social media, and fans aren’t holding back their opinions. The consensus seems clear – this is exactly the type of stylistic clash that makes for compelling MMA. The technical striking of Volkov against the smothering grappling of Almeida represents the classic striker vs. grappler narrative that built this sport.

One Twitter user summed it up perfectly: “Volkov doesn’t want this fight because it’s high risk/low reward, but it’s EXACTLY why we want to see it. Those are always the best matchups.”

What’s Next For Both Fighters?

If this fight doesn’t materialize, both men have options:

For Volkov, potential matchups with Sergei Pavlovich in a rematch or the winner of Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Romanov make sense from a rankings perspective.

Almeida might look toward bouts with Tai Tuivasa or perhaps Marcin Tybura as he rebuilds following his first UFC loss.

But the MMA community’s message is clear – the fight to make is Volkov vs. Almeida.

Will The UFC Force Their Hand?

History shows us that when tensions rise between fighters, the UFC often finds ways to channel that energy into the octagon. With limited marquee matchups available in the heavyweight division, this could be exactly the type of rivalry the promotion needs.

Don’t be surprised if UFC matchmakers apply pressure to make this fight happen despite Volkov’s resistance. After all, bad blood sells tickets, and this potential matchup has plenty of it.

My Take: This Fight Needs To Happen

As someone who’s covered this sport for years, these are precisely the matchups that answer important questions about fighters’ abilities. Can Volkov defend the takedown against an elite grappler? Is Almeida’s ground game enough to neutralize a technical striker with significant reach advantages?

The answer to these questions would reveal a legitimate contender in the heavyweight division – and that’s exactly why I think Volkov is hesitant.

What do you think? Should the UFC force this matchup, or allow both fighters to chart their own paths? Let me know in the comments below.

Update: We’ve reached out to both fighters’ camps for additional comments and will update this story as more information becomes available.