Here’s a bold statement: UFC 321’s matchup between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida has left fans and analysts fiercely divided, and it’s all because of one controversial decision. But here’s where it gets controversial... Did Volkov truly deserve the win, or did Almeida’s control overshadow the Russian’s damage? Kamaru Usman, a former welterweight champion, has weighed in, and his take might just surprise you.
Usman firmly believes Alexander Volkov’s aggressive striking and relentless effort to finish the fight outshined Jailton Almeida’s dominant control during their UFC 321 bout. Despite Volkov being taken down seven times and spending over 10 minutes on the defensive, he secured a split decision victory—a result that has sparked heated debates. And this is the part most people miss... Usman points out that while Almeida focused on maintaining top position, Volkov was the one actively working from the bottom, constantly threatening and landing significant strikes.
On his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman broke down the fight in detail. “I had Volkov winning the fight,” he stated confidently. “If you look at the stats, especially in the first round, Volkov landed the bigger, more damaging strikes. He was the one trying to advance the fight, to finish it.” Usman highlighted Volkov’s impressive 123 strikes compared to Almeida’s mere 27, even when Volkov was on his back. “That tells you who wanted to fight, who was pushing for the finish,” Usman added. He also noted Volkov’s near-submission attempts, like the triangle choke in the second round, proving he was a constant threat in every position.
Here’s the bold part: Usman, a seasoned grappler himself, wasn’t impressed with Almeida’s performance. “I was very disappointed with Almeida,” he admitted. “He’s big, he’s strong, but he needs to work on his striking. You can’t just rely on wrestling and control. You’ve got to be willing to strike, to take risks.” Usman believes Almeida’s reluctance to engage in meaningful ground-and-pound until the third round cost him the fight. “Even then, he threw maybe 10 good shots, but he took 20 from Volkov,” Usman observed.
This fight raises a thought-provoking question: Should control or damage weigh more in a judge’s decision? Usman’s stance is clear—Volkov’s damage and fight-finishing intent tipped the scales in his favor. But what do you think? Did the judges get it right, or should Almeida’s control have earned him the win? Let’s spark a debate in the comments—agree or disagree, but let’s keep it respectful and insightful!
