Volkov defeated Malhadinho in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC
Alexander Volkov won Jailton Malhadinho by split decision in UFC 321, held last Saturday (25), and did not spare criticism of the Brazilian's style. The Russian mocked his rival's posture and stated that Malhadinho's behavior does not match the profile of a challenger for the heavyweight belt (up to 120,2kg). In an interview with 'Full Send Podcast', the Russian mocked his rival's strategy.
"I don't think the UFC wants a fighter like him fighting for the belt. He should change his style. It was funny how he avoided any standup exchanges," Volkov said.
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The fight, marked by long periods of ground control and little aggression, generated negative reactions among fans and analysts. Even after dominating part of the fight with takedowns and positional control, Malhadinho was accused of adopting an overly conservative stance, not seeking significant strikes or submissions. UFC president Dana White also criticized the performance.
“You can’t win just by staying on top,” the director said at a post-event press conference.
The loss halted the Brazilian's winning streak and distanced Malhadinho from a potential title shot in the division. A performance deemed "boring" and "predictable" called into question the style that had propelled him to the top 5 in the heavyweight rankings.
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