Alexander Volkov vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik is the headline event for UFC Fight Night betting on June 4 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This should be an intriguing showdown between a pair of Top-10 heavyweights who prefer to stand up and duke it out. UFC betting lines opened with Volkov as a -161 favorite with Rozenstruik coming back at +130.
Here are our best free UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik picks and predictions for tonight.
Volkov vs Rozenstruik fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Volkov vs Rozenstruik method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Alexander Volkov | Jairzinho Rozenstruik |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +210 | +200 |
| To win by Points | +260 | +700 |
| To win by Submission | +1,400 | +3,400 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on May 31, 2022.
Volkov vs Rozenstruik picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you’re signing up for a new sportsbook for UFC betting, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users can bet $20 and get $200 in free bets with Caesars! Sign Up Now
B) New users can get two risk-free bets up to $2,000 at PointsBet! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only
Volkov vs Rozenstruik betting preview
Alexander Volkov is the No. 7-ranked heavyweight contender and is fresh off a lopsided first-round submission loss to surging young contender Tom Aspinall in March.
The former M-1 Global and Bellator heavyweight champion is 8-4 under the UFC banner since making his promotional debut in 2016 but has been consistently outclassed by the elite fighters in the division.
Nicknamed "Drago" after the iconic Russian villain in Rocky III, Volkov has high-level kickboxing ability and lands 4.83 significant strikes per minute while absorbing just 3.04.
Jairzinho "Bigi Boy" Rozenstruik is one spot below Volkov in the heavyweight rankings after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Curtis Blaydes last September.
After beginning his UFC career with four straight knockout victories, Rozenstruik has lost three of his last five. That said, those defeats came against some of the best fighters in the division like Blaydes, No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane, and champion Francis Ngannou.
As a former professional kickboxer, it's little surprise that "Bigi Boy" is a technical striker with knockout power. That said, his wrestling game is non-existent and he has a low output for a striking specialist.
Volkov vs Rozenstruik tale of the tape
| Alexander Volkov | Jairzinho Rozenstruik | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Age | 34 |
| 6-foot-7 | Height | 6-foot-2 |
| 250 lbs | Weight | 242 lbs |
| 80 inches | Reach | 78 inches |
| 34-10 (22 KOs) | Record | 12-2 (11 KOs) |
Volkov vs Rozenstruik UFC prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Rozenstruik ML (+134)
Both fighters have proven to be the perfect gatekeepers for the division. Both are clearly better than guys on the periphery or outside the Top 10, but they fold when they face the top guys in the division. When it comes to their striking ability, Volkov is more of a distance fighter who likes to stay on the outside with his length and kicks.
He throws with a lot more volume than Rozenstruik but Bigi Boy is a very dangerous counter-striker who has more power in his shots. This matchup will likely come down to whichever fighter can come forward and put the other on his back foot.
While Rozenstruik can be a bit trigger-shy at times, he has also shown the ability to close distance and get on the inside where he can throw looping shots. That could prove problematic for Volkov who can be a bit hittable when opponents get inside the pocket.
The smaller octagon at the Apex should benefit Rozenstruik and that, combined with how plodding Volkov has looked since beefing up, has us leaning towards Bigi Boy at plus money.
Prediction: Rozenstruik ML (+134 at FanDuel)
Best bet: Rozenstruik by KO/TKO (+215)
Rozenstruik might look a bit soft but he remains a dangerous striker and knockout threat even in the later rounds because he doesn't gas himself out with volume. His victory against Alistair Overeem three years ago is a good example of that since he was outpointed for most of the fight and then knocked him out with just seconds left in the fight.
Volkov has only been knocked out twice in his career but has eaten some big shots lately. With this fight scheduled for 25 minutes, we're not sure he'll be able to make it until the final bell, especially against someone like Rozenstruik, whose last seven wins (including all six of his victories in UFC) have come by way of knockout.
Pick: Rozenstruik by KO/TKO (+215 at DraftKings)
