The race for a heavyweight title shot takes place on June 20 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, when Curtis Blaydes takes on Alexander Volkov in the main event of UFC on ESPN.
The two big men top a 12-fight card as the UFC continues to hold events without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blaydes is riding a three-fight winning streak with victories over Justin Willis, Shamil Abdurakhimov and Junior dos Santos. After suffering a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou, the No. 3 ranked heavyweight is possibly a fight or two away for competing for the title.
Volkov is looking to derail Blaydes' plans and become a contender himself. The Russian has won seven of eight fights, including a unanimous decision over Dan Hardy his last time out. The 31-year-old is ranked No. 7 by the UFC in the heavyweight division and has an opportunity to put his name into the top tier of heavyweights in the UFC.
The co-main event is an exciting featherweight showdown between the heavy-handed Josh Emmett and the surging Shane Burgos.
Here's everything you need to know about UFC on ESPN.
What time is UFC Fight Night: Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov?
- Date: Saturday, June 20
- Prelims: 5 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. PT
- Main card: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
- Blaydes vs. Volkov fight: 10:15 p.m. ET (approx.)
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov takes place Saturday, June 20, with the main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Blaydes and Volkov are expected to hit the Octagon around 10:15 p.m. ET, although the exact time depends on the length of the earlier fights.
Where is UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov?
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov will take place in Las Vegas, and will be held at the UFC Apex. There will not be fans in attendance because of the coronavirus.
How to watch UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov TV, streaming info
In the United States, the prelims, beginning at 5 p.m. ET, will be simulcast on ESPN, ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass in English and Spanish. The ESPN main card will kick off at 8 p.m. ET.
In Canada, the prelims (6 p.m. ET) and main card (8 p.m. ET) are available on TSN.
In the UK and Ireland, the prelims (11 p.m. BT) and main card (1 a.m. BST Sunday) are available on BT Sport.
In Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain, the main card (2 a.m. CET Thursday) is available on DAZN, the global sports streaming service.
You can learn more about how to watch in other countries at UFC.com.
How much does UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov cost?
In the U.S., UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov is available on ESPN, as well as ESPN+. It is not a PPV event but requires a subscription to one of the ESPN platforms.
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov is also available on UFC Fight Pass, which has monthly and annual subscription options.
In Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain, the main card is available on DAZN, which has monthly and annual subscription options.
Pricing options for UFC content varies globally, depending on region and platform.
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov odds
According to FanDuel, Blaydes is listed as a -440 favorite, meaning that you would need to bet $440 to win $100. Meanwhile, Volkov is the underdog at +320, meaning a $100 bet would net you $320.
Curtis Blaydes record, bio
Name: Curtis Blaydes
Nationality: American
Born: Feb. 18, 1991
Height: 6-4
Reach: 80"
Total fights: 16
Record: 13-2 (1 No Contest)
Alexander Volkov record, bio
Name: Alexander Volkov
Nationality: Russian
Born: Oct. 24, 1988
Height: 6-7
Reach: 81"
Total fights: 38
Record: 31-7
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov full fight card
Main card
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov; Heavyweight
- Josh Emmett vs. Shane Burgos: Featherweight
- Raquel Pennington vs. Marion Reneau; Women's Bantamweight
- Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad; Welterweight
- Jim Miller vs. Roosevelt Roberts; Catchweight (160 pounds)
Prelims
- Clay Guida vs. Bobby Green; Lightweight
- Tecia Torres vs. Brianna Van Buren; Women's Strawweight
- Marc-André Barriault vs. Oskar Piechota; Middleweight
- Cortney Casey vs. Gillian Robertson; Women's Flyweight
- Frank Camacho vs. Matt Frevola; Lightweight
- Roxanne Modafferi vs. Lauren Murphy; Women's Flyweight
- Joe Solecki vs. Austin Hubbard; Lightweight