We're set to bring you another prediction and pick for this stacked UFC 293 Main Card from Sydney, Australia. The Co-Main Event takes place in the Heavyweight Division and features one of Australia's favorite sons. No. 6 ranked Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa will take on Russia”s No. 7 ranked Alexander Volkov. This fight is bound to bring fireworks! Check out our UFC odds series for our Tuivasa-Volkov prediction and pick.

Tai Tuivasa (15-5) has gone 8-5 in his time with the UFC since 2017. He's one of the most exciting heavyweights to watch and he's up there as one of Australia's favorite fighters. Tuivasa is coming in off two straight losses at the hands of top contenders Ciryl Gane and Sergei Pavlovich. Prior to that, Tuivasa reeled off five straight KO-wins in his run to the top. He stands 6'2″ with a 75-inch reach.

Alexander Volkov (36-10) has gone an impressive 10-4 in his time with the UFC. Volkov has been very active since 2020, notching a 5-3 record with respectable losses to Gane, Aspinall, and Blaydes. Beside that, Alexander Volkov has been one of the more consistent heavyweights of recent years and will hope to silence the crowd with his third win in a row. Volkov stands 6'7″ with an 80-inch reach.

Here are the UFC Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

UFC 293 Odds: Tai Tuivasa-Alexander Volkov Odds

Tai Tuivasa: +200

Alexander Volkov: -265

Over 1.5 rounds: -106

Under 1.5 rounds: -122

How to Watch Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov

TV: ESPN+

Stream: ESPN app, UFC Fight Pass, fuboTV

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT (Main Card)

*Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Tai Tuivasa Will Win

Tai Tuivasa is going to get one of the louder pops of the night when he walks out for his Co-Main event spot and the reception may be monumental if he's able to notch one of his signature knockouts. Tuivasa is a very skilled boxer, but he tends to throw caution to the wind when he's fighting. He's in there for an all-out brawl and fights with a “kill or be killed” mentality. Up until recently, it worked for him as he capped off his winning streak with a knockout over Derrick Lewis. However, when facing fighters with specific game plans like Gane and Pavlovich, Tuivasa couldn't get the job done.

The biggest hurdle for Tuivasa in this fight will be the height and reach discrepancy. Tai lands his hardest shots when he's in close and swinging from tight angles. If he's too wild in the striking, he could catch himself reaching forward as he tries to touch the chin of Volkov. He'll have to close the distance with his head movement and break Volkov down with the clinch. The dirtier this fight will look, the more it will favor Tai Tuivasa.

Why Alexander Volkov Will Win

Alexander Volkov has had very impressive performances in his last two fights with his knockout over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and his domination of Alexandr Romanov. He comes into this fight after moving his training camp to the United States for the first time, so it'll be interesting to see if he comes into this fight with a different approach. Volkov is at his best when he is marching forward and working his fundamental kickboxing. At 6'7″, he doesn't move as quickly as some heavyweights, but his strikes are thrown with great technique and a ton of power. If he can land clean to the body and be aggressive, he could break Tuivasa down over three rounds.

Alexander Volkov is at his best when he's pushing the pace, but he struggles mightily when being pressured back towards the fence. With a blitzing striker like Tuivasa, it'll be important for Volkov to gain his respect early and deny him anytime he attempts to close the distance. He's got the significant height and reach advantage, so he should use it accordingly and keep Tuivasa at the end of his jab. If Volkov can stay disciplined on the feet and not get into a war, he should win this fight as the sizable favorite.

Final Tai Tuivasa-Alexander Volkov Prediction & Pick

This fight is going to be very interesting and it'll be determined by who's more aggressive. Volkov is a completely different fight when he's pushing forward as opposed to when he's backing up. In a kickboxing environment, Volkov takes this fight each time and he knows he's got the more polished striking. However, it's a matter of if he decides to rush towards Tuivasa and bring the fight to him. I expect Tuivasa to get in Volkov's face and make him uncomfortable early. He'll have a massive rush from the Australian fans, so expect Tuivasa to fight to the very end. For the prediction, let's take a chance on his plus money fighting at home.

Final Tai Tuivasa-Alexander Volkov Prediction & Pick: Tai Tuivasa (+200); Wins by KO/TKO (+300)