Bellator champ Volkov: Winner of Minakov bout is best Russian heavyweight fighter today

If you haven’t noticed, Bellator MMA is the place to see Russian talent.

Through a relationship with agent Alexei Zhernakov, the Viacom-owned promotion has become a pipeline for talent from the country. With 10 fighters currently on the roster, their ranks are second only to fighters from Brazil, who number 25. That gap could narrow next year.

With the memory of the great Fedor Emelianenko fading into history, the Russians all aim to make their mark in the sport.

The most successful on Bellator’s roster is Alexander Shlemenko, who succeeded Hector Lombard as the promotion’s middleweight titleholder. In September, he defended the belt with a decision victory over Brett Cooper and extended his winning streak to 11.

The latest fighter from the country to capture gold is Alexander Volkov (19-3 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who owns the heavyweight title and holds a 10-fight winning streak. On Friday at Bellator 108, the 25-year-old champion meets “Summer Series” tournament winner Vitaly Minakov (12-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA).

With so many Russians competing on a major stage, Volkov said the winner of the fight could be the best Russian fighter in MMA today.

“I think there are other tough Russian fighters who do not have a chance to showcase their skills on an international level yet and whom I haven’t faced yet,” he said. “So it’s hard to say if the winner of this fight will be the greatest current Russian fighting. The toughest opponents are not the ones who are already on the top, but the ones who are climbing there.

“So, officially, the one who wins would be the best Russian heavyweight fighter today. But realistically, it would be hard to know this for sure.”

Bellator 108 takes place at Ovation Hall at Revel Atlantic City in New Jersey. The event’s main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

Volkov’s fight against Minakov is the first defense of his title since winning the tournament. With a dearth of talent at heavyweight, he’s been forced to wait most of the year to meet a tournament winner.

That also means he’s already trained with Minakov, who’s undefeated in 12 pro bouts and is a multi-time sambo champion in Russia.

“The desire to stay and become a champion and the desire to be the best, that’s what Minakov and I have in common, Volkov said. “We differ by our base – he’s a wrestler and sambo [practitioner], and I’m a karate practitioner. So I think he will try to take me down, and I’ll have to keep it standing.”

Volkov, though, said he has an advantage in that he’s already fought in five-round bouts.

“Beating Minakov and retaining my title would mean that I’m still evolving, that I’m progressing as a fighter, and that I’m ready to fight on this level and keep defending the belt,” Volkov said. “Bellator recently signed some other tough heavyweights, and I would be glad to defend my title against them.”

The way things are going, it probably won’t be the last time he squares off against one of his own.

For the latest on Bellator 108, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.