# UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov
**UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov** (also known as UFC Vegas 18 and UFC Fight Night 184) was a mixed martial arts event held by the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship) on February 6, 2021, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the heavyweight main event, Alexander Volkov defeated [Alistair Overeem](https://www.edgepedia.org/alistair-overeem) by technical knockout at 2:06 of the second round.[1](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-february-6-2021) • [2](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | February 6, 2021, UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada[1](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-february-6-2021) |
| Main event result | Alexander Volkov def. Alistair Overeem by TKO (punches) at 2:06 of Round 2; referee Jason Herzog[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov) |
| Entrant records | Overeem 47-18, 1 NC; Volkov 32-8[3](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing) |
| Co-main event | Bantamweight bout: No. 2 ranked Cory Sandhagen vs. No. 4 Frankie Edgar[4](https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-february-6-exclusively-on-espn/) |
| Broadcast | Prelims at 5 p.m. ET and main card at 8 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN+[4](https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-february-6-exclusively-on-espn/) |
| Betting line | Volkov a -190 favorite; both men measured at 80 inches in reach[5](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Prime-Picks-UFC-Fight-Night-184-Overeem-vs-Volkov-177558) |
## Background and stakes
The event matched two ranked heavyweight contenders near the top of the division. ESPN's viewers guide listed Overeem as its [No. 6](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-6)-ranked heavyweight and Volkov as No. 7, while ESPN's press release billed the bout as No. 5 Overeem against No. 6 Volkov, and UFC's Brazilian-language coverage placed Volkov sixth in the rankings.[3](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing) • [4](https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-february-6-exclusively-on-espn/) • [6](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/alexander-volkov-nocauteia-alistair-overeem-na-luta-principal-do-ufc-vegas-18)
**Overeem's final run.** Overeem, 40 years old, entered on a two-fight winning streak with a decision over [Augusto Sakai](https://www.edgepedia.org/augusto-sakai) and a TKO of Walt Harris, and he had spoken openly of retirement while pursuing one more heavyweight title shot under the banner of his #onefinalrun quest. He had won his first professional fight on October 24, 1999, and this was his fourth UFC main event. A win over Volkov, he hoped, would extend his streak to three and keep alive his goal of closing his career with titles in the UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1.[3](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing) • [4](https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-february-6-exclusively-on-espn/) • [2](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov)
Volkov, a 32-year-old former Bellator champion, came in having beaten [Walt Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/walt-harris-fighter) by second-round TKO the previous October, which put him back in the win column after a decision loss to [Curtis Blaydes](https://www.edgepedia.org/curtis-blaydes) that June. He was 3-1 in his previous four fights.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov) • [7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270755/alexander-volkov-finishes-alistair-overeem-with-brutal-series-of-punches-in-ufc-vegas-18-main-event)
The matchup was framed as a striking contest between two finishers: the two men combined for 66 career finishes, 42 by Overeem (25 knockouts, 17 submissions) and 24 by Volkov (21 knockouts, 3 submissions). Sherdog's preview noted Overeem as the most accurate significant-strike hitter in UFC history at just under 75 percent, but also carrying 14 knockout losses in MMA and three more in kickboxing against a sharp boxer in Volkov.[3](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing) • [5](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Prime-Picks-UFC-Fight-Night-184-Overeem-vs-Volkov-177558)
## The main event
Referee [Jason Herzog](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-herzog) officiated. In the first round Volkov pressed forward while Overeem repeatedly retreated to the fence and covered up. Volkov landed a counter right that put Overeem down, then backed him to the cage again and landed a stinging right hand that bloodied Overeem's nose; MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 for Volkov.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov)
**The finish.** In the second round Volkov raised his tempo and battered Overeem's guard with his jab and straight punches. A straight right and left hook combination dropped Overeem, and when he fell to his hands and knees Herzog stepped in and stopped the contest at 2:06 of the round, awarding Volkov the TKO victory.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov) • [8](https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-fight-night-results-highlights-alexander-volkov-makes-light-work-of-alistair-overeem-with-tko/live/) Reporting on the finish described the decisive blow as a flush left hook that knocked Overeem down.[7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270755/alexander-volkov-finishes-alistair-overeem-with-brutal-series-of-punches-in-ufc-vegas-18-main-event) • [9](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/7/22270858/after-stopping-alistair-overeem-at-ufc-vegas-18-alexander-volkov-is-looking-to-be-a-champion)
After the fight Volkov said he had worked heavily on his jab and wrestling and had been waiting for a clean punch once he saw the cuts and blood on Overeem's face. He also said Overeem blocked all of his kicks.[7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270755/alexander-volkov-finishes-alistair-overeem-with-brutal-series-of-punches-in-ufc-vegas-18-main-event) • [9](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/7/22270858/after-stopping-alistair-overeem-at-ufc-vegas-18-alexander-volkov-is-looking-to-be-a-champion)
## Aftermath
Overeem said he suffered a broken nose in the first round, and Sherdog reported that he and five other fighters from the card faced medical suspensions of up to six months.[10](https://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-Fight-Night-184-Overeem-vs-Volkov-87802) For Volkov, the stoppage was his seventh UFC win and his second consecutive knockout in the promotion, and he stated his goal of fighting for the heavyweight belt.[11](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-results-winners-vegas-18) • [7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270755/alexander-volkov-finishes-alistair-overeem-with-brutal-series-of-punches-in-ufc-vegas-18-main-event) The win did not immediately lead to a title shot: on June 26, 2021, at [UFC Vegas 30](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-fight-night-gane-vs-volkov), [Ciryl Gane](https://www.edgepedia.org/ciryl-gane) outclassed Volkov over five rounds, snapping the two-fight winning streak that had included the knockouts of Harris and Overeem.[12](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/26/22552117/ufc-vegas-30-results-ciryl-gane-outclasses-alexander-volkov-over-five-rounds-in-main-event)
## Fight card
The main card, broadcast on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, consisted of:[3](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing) • [4](https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-february-6-exclusively-on-espn/)
- Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
- [Cory Sandhagen](https://www.edgepedia.org/cory-sandhagen) vs. [Frankie Edgar](https://www.edgepedia.org/frankie-edgar) (bantamweight)
- Michael Johnson vs. [Clay Guida](https://www.edgepedia.org/clay-guida) (lightweight)
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Manel Kape (flyweight)
- Diego Ferreira vs. Beneil Dariush (lightweight)
The preliminary card at 5 p.m. ET included Mike Rodriguez vs. Danilo Marques, Timur Valiev vs. Martin Day, Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith at a 160-pound catchweight, Karol Rosa vs. Joselyne Edwards, Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio, Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal, and Ode' Osbourne vs. Jerome Rivera.[3](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing)
## References
1. [UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Volkov, UFC.com event page](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-february-6-2021)
2. [UFC Vegas 18 live blog: Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270691/ufc-vegas-18-live-blog-alistair-overeem-vs-alexander-volkov)
3. [UFC Fight Night viewers guide: Near end of road, Alistair Overeem is still climbing, ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/30823277/ufc-fight-night-viewers-guide-end-road-alistair-overeem-climbing)
4. [UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov, February 6 Exclusively on ESPN+, ESPN Press Room](https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-february-6-exclusively-on-espn/)
5. [Prime Picks: UFC Fight Night 184 'Overeem vs. Volkov', Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Prime-Picks-UFC-Fight-Night-184-Overeem-vs-Volkov-177558)
6. [Alexander Volkov nocauteia Alistair Overeem na luta principal do UFC Vegas 18, UFC.com.br](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/alexander-volkov-nocauteia-alistair-overeem-na-luta-principal-do-ufc-vegas-18)
7. [Alexander Volkov finishes Alistair Overeem with brutal series of punches in UFC Vegas 18 main event, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/6/22270755/alexander-volkov-finishes-alistair-overeem-with-brutal-series-of-punches-in-ufc-vegas-18-main-event)
8. [UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Alexander Volkov makes light work of Alistair Overeem with TKO, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-fight-night-results-highlights-alexander-volkov-makes-light-work-of-alistair-overeem-with-tko/live/)
9. [After stopping Alistair Overeem at UFC Vegas 18, Alexander Volkov is 'looking to be a champion', MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/2/7/22270858/after-stopping-alistair-overeem-at-ufc-vegas-18-alexander-volkov-is-looking-to-be-a-champion)
10. [UFC Fight Night 184 - Overeem vs. Volkov, Sherdog event page](https://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-Fight-Night-184-Overeem-vs-Volkov-87802)
11. [UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Volkov Results, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-night-overeem-vs-volkov-results-winners-vegas-18)
12. [UFC Vegas 30 results: Ciryl Gane outclasses Alexander Volkov over five rounds in main event, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/26/22552117/ufc-vegas-30-results-ciryl-gane-outclasses-alexander-volkov-over-five-rounds-in-main-event)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › UFC Fight Night events › UFC Fight Night events 2019–2021*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license