UFC Fight Night Curtis Blaydes Vs Alexander Volkov: Latest MMA Odds and UFC Predictions

After another resounding success at UFC 250 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the UFC looks forward to its monumental heavyweight clash between Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov in the blockbuster main event at UFC Fight Night on the June 20. UFC 250 has paved the way with some mouths-watering leather on skin action. Amanda Nunes battered Felicia Spencer in the UFC 250 main event to assert her clear supremacy in the women’s featherweight division, while Coby Garbrandt unleashed a stunning stoppage TKO to cement his bantamweight status yet again.

UFC Fight Night will be looking to replicate the success of last week and with another explosive fight card, it is sure not to disappoint. In addition to Blaydes Volkov main event smasher, the fight card has a magnitude of jaw-dropping showdowns, including the co-main event with Marc-Andre Barriault taking on Oskar Piechota and Gillian Robertson throwing down fists with Taila Santos in the women’s flyweight bout. With the UFC back in complete full-swing, Bet Today USA has all the UFC predictions, tips and exciting news below.

Main Event: Curtis Blaydes Vs. Alexander Volkov

The fight between these two battle-born heavyweights was initially scheduled to go down in March, in Saskatoon, but due to the ongoing global catastrophe, the duo had to postpone the bout. Blaydes is riding a wave of momentum with three wins from his last three fights, beginning with a decision win over Justin Willis, followed by stoppages of both Shamil Abdurakhimov and Junior dos Santos.

Stopping Santos with a win in the second round propelled ‘Razor’ to the upper echelons of the heavyweight division and put the 29-year-old in a prime position to challenge for heavyweight supremacy if all goes to plan with Volkov. Blaydes has been defeated once in the Octagon by power-puncher Francis Ngannou back in 2018, other than that one loss the American has been flawless inside the eight walls of death.

Alexander Volkov was last seen plying his trade in November 2019, when he earned himself a unanimous decision over Greg Hardy. The Russian handed Hardy his first professional loss in his professional mixed martial arts career. The 31-year-old is the No.7 ranked heavyweight in the UFC and carries a 5-1 record with notable wins over Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson.

Both fighters will arrive at the Apex on Saturday with a bagful of confidence and will be looking for that all-important win. Blaydes, who fights out of Colorado, is looking to secure a potential title shot with a victory.

Co-Main Event: Marc-Andre Barriault Vs. Oskar Piechota

This middleweight matchup has generated a magnitude of excitement among fight fans. Candian striker Marc-Andre Barriault will be trading leather with Oskar Piechota in the co-main event of the evening. Barriault is looking for his first victory since signing for the UFC following a string of three losses. The 30-year-old knockout artist has dynamite in his hands and is feared when his striking game comes into effect. The Canadian was relishing the fact that he was going to fight on home turf in Saskatoon but after the global pandemic skewed all sport the event was postponed and moved to the Apex.

This is the Canadian's fourth time in the Octagon following a transition from the TKO promotion, after a light heavyweight championship win. Barriault's difficult start in the UFC is, generally, a death knell in the promotion and the 30-year-old will be doing everything in his power to avoid an early exit from the organisation. "Power Bar" is an excellent striker and has an all-round solid fight game, but the Canadian has a record of swallowing punches and getting hit more than what he outputs.

Oskar Piechota, on the other hand, is a powerful kickboxer and will be throwing his strengths at the Canadian to stupefy his attacks. The Polish fighter is a former cage warrior middleweight but came flying out of the UFC blocks on his debut, claiming a decision victory over Jonathon Wilson and a clinical knockout triumph over Tim Williams in February 2018. Like his opponent, Barriault, the 30-year-old has dropped a trio of blemishes to submission experts, Gerald Meerschaert and Rodolfo Vieira and a knockout loss to Punahele Soriano.

Gillian Robertson Vs. Taila Santos

Gillian Robertson will be plying her trade against a resilient Talia Santos in the flyweight bout of the evening. Robertson (7-4, MMA, 4-2) saw her winning streak snapped in a first-round TKO loss to Maycee Barber. Barber seemed to be too much for Robertson throwing a flurry of punches forcing the Niagra Falls native a stoppage TKO in the first round.

Robertson will be looking to bounce back quickly by dispatching Talia Santos with as little effort as possible. Taila Santos will also be wanting to get a W printed back on her fight card after losing her first bout via decision to Mara Romero Borella last February. This flyweight belt puts fire into the belly of the fight fans as both fighters have polar opposite fight styles, Santos opting for clear knockout power and Robertson relying on her strong jiujitsu skillset.