Rizvan Kuniev is trying to do two things at once: get through Alexander Volkov at UFC 333 and force the heavyweight conversation to include his own name. The first task is the only one that matters on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, but Kuniev made it clear on Wednesday that he is already thinking beyond that fight — and beyond the current shape of the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Kuniev said he wants Alex Pereira next after Volkov, and he did not hide his skepticism about Pereira being placed No. 3 in the division. That complaint has some obvious edge to it. Pereira is listed at 0-1 at heavyweight, yet he remains high in the standings, largely because of what he accomplished before moving up and the kind of name value he brings with him.
Why Kuniev is pushing the Pereira fight
The callout is not just about attitude. Kuniev is coming off two wins, and he framed Pereira as a fight that would matter in more ways than one. In his view, a win over a major media name would do a lot for him beyond the usual resume boost, which is exactly why he said Pereira would be the better target than Sergei Pavlovich.
Kuniev explained that he would rather avoid Pavlovich, in part because he does not want to face a countryman when there are other top-10 heavyweights available. That is practical matchmaking logic, but it also reveals his calculation. He wants the clearest route to relevance, and in his mind Pereira offers that because the payoff would be larger if he wins.
There is also a competitive argument underneath the callout. Kuniev pointed to Pereira’s loss and suggested the ranking does not make much sense. He even joked that it feels like AI is doing the rankings, before arguing that Pereira’s two-division championship background is what is propping up the No. 3 spot more than his heavyweight results.
The heavyweight picture around him
The timing matters because the division is moving around him. Ciryl Gane is scheduled to defend his title against Josh Hokit on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden, while Pavlovich is set to fight Pereira on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas at UFC 335. Those fights sit right in the middle of the title conversation, which means Kuniev’s performance against Volkov could put him closer to the edge of that picture if he handles business first.
That is the key point. Kuniev is not yet in a position where a callout alone changes the division, especially with a 0-1 record at heavyweight hanging over him. But his two recent wins give him something to work with, and the fight against Volkov is the kind of test that can either validate the ambition or expose it as premature.
His critique of Pereira’s ranking also taps into a bigger issue that always surfaces in MMA: how much should legacy at one weight class matter when a fighter moves into another? Pereira’s name, trophies and reputation clearly carry weight. Kuniev is betting that a clean heavyweight win should matter more.
For now, that argument is only theory. Saturday in Abu Dhabi will decide whether Kuniev has earned a louder voice in the division. If he beats Volkov, the Pereira callout will sound a lot more pointed. If he does not, the debate over UFC heavyweight rankings will be the least of his problems.
