Bellator targets Alexander Volkov vs. Vitaly Minakov for fall season

With a second-round submission win over Blagoi Ivanov (11-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) at this past Saturday’s Bellator 120, Alexander Volkov (22-4 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) is set for a rematch with the man who took his belt, heavyweight champ Vitaly Minakov (14-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA).

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said post-event that the promotion already has a targeted timeframe for the title bout, announcing it will take place this fall on Spike TV.

“It’s going to be a spectacular fight of two unbelievable heavyweights,” Rebney said at Landers Center in Southaven, Miss., where the pay-per-view event took place.

The 6-foot-7 Volkov’s first meeting with Minakov lasted less than three minutes when he was overwhelmed with punches in the first round at this past November’s Bellator 108. It was his first title defense after winning the belt left vacant by retired champ Cole Konrad.

Volkov got back to work four months later by enrolling in Bellator’s Season 10 heavyweight tournament and notched two first-round stoppages against Mark Holata and Siala-Mou “Mighty Mo” Siliga, respectively, in the tourney’s opening rounds.

The tournament final saw Volkov use his length to repeatedly score with straight punches before landing a blow that allowed him to take Ivanov’s back and secure a rear-naked choke at the 68-second mark of the second round.

Volkov’s tournament berth came two years after a near-fatal stabbing in his native Bulgaria. Doctors said he was lucky to be alive after several complications that left him in a medically-induced coma.

“I respect my opponent; he’s a very tough guy,” Volkov said afterward. “He has great wrestling. But I prepared for this fight very hard. I’m ready for a title shot, and I’m very excited.”

Volkov’s defeat against Minakov is his only setback in the Bellator cage. He has won 13 of his last 14 bouts.

Minakov defended his title this past April with a unanimous decision over UFC vet Cheick Kongo.

For complete coverage of Bellator 120, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of the site.