Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa

Round 1
Our preliminary headliner comes in the form of heavyweight rumble for as long as it lasts, when “Skyscraper” Struve (29-12, 13-10 UFC) encounters the thunderous strikes of “Bam Bam” Tuivasa (9-3, 3-3 UFC). Chins will likely be tested and so will the cage floor with 530 pounds of fury between the two, and these two have won just three decisions across their total 38 wins between them. The much smaller referee Jason Herzog may have his hands full here, but the respect comes early as the two touch gloves. Struve jumps forward with a front kick to the body, and then lands another with his incredibly long legs. Tuivasa avoids a head kick that zooms by his head, and Struve connects another front kick. Tuivasa swings and miss with a crazy right hand, but the seven-footer is able to roll with it. The Aussie kicks the lead leg once, and he presses forward into the clinch. Tuivasa pushes heavy on his taller foe while getting off a few knees to the thigh, and Struve attempts a trip takedown that does not succeed. Tuivasa rips the body once, and Struve considers a guillotine choke but Tuivasa breaks the grip. “Bam Bam” pushes away, and he gets kicked in the torso for his effort. Tuivasa returns fire with a big right hand, but Struve’s chin stays together. The Dutchman kicks the lead leg and keeps his distance, but he wades forward and slaps Tuivasa in the face with a slow kick. Tuivasa bull-rushes him with a few looping punches, and he closes the distance to get Struve tied up against the cage wall. Tuivasa rings off an elbow on the break, and he misses with the subsequent strikes. Tuivasa chops at the lead leg, and he absorbs a body kick around the liver. The Aussie again targets the leg, and he manages to avoid one that comes back while attacking it again. Tuivasa kicks the other leg while Struve keeps a long distance, and Struve connects with a few kicks to the midsection. Tuivasa hammers the lead leg of “Skyscraper” to force Struve to turn around and change his stance. Tuivasa blitzes with some big punches, and an uppercut hurts Struve.
The Aussie throws him down to the ground like a Tim Boetsch toss, and when Struve scrambles back up, Tuivasa is on him with a barrage of deadly punches. Two left hands, a few rights and a couple to the body bust up Struve, but the felling blow comes in the form of an uppercut that splits the uprights and sends the seven-foot fighter crashing down to the ground.
Herzog leaps in to stop the fight with mere seconds left in the round, and Tuivasa celebrates by jumping over the fence to search of a shoe – but UFC officials do not allow him to pour beer in it. Rest assured, there will be shoeys backstage.

The Official Result
Tai Tuivasa def. Stefan Struve R1 4:59 via KO (Punches)

Alexander Volkov vs. Stefan Struve

Round 1
English referee Marc Goddard is the third man in the cage for tonight's heavyweight main event, scheduled for five rounds. Volkov goes body-head with his first combination, eats a straight right from Struve in return. The Dutchman is busy with leg kicks in the opening 90 seconds, but Volkov slows that down with a clinch on the fence. Struve breaks out and resumes his jabbing as he presses forward on the former Bellator champion. Volkov catches the incoming "Skyscraper" with a stiff jab to the grill. Volkov catches a kick and trips Struve to the floor, but Struve comes back up with guns blazing and zaps the Russian with a big uppercut. Volkov eats it and pushes Struve against the cage, but he can't keep the massive Dutchman trapped for more than a few seconds. Volkov tries to creep into the pocket, gets a knee to the chest and a straight right to the face. Volkov, looking a bit drained from the heavy shots he absorbed, manages to get hold of Struve and deliver a hard knee to the gut. Struve pushes Volkov backward and comes flying in with a knee that cuts "Drago" open. Volkov catches the flying Struve and hustles him to the floor, regaining some ground in the final 20 seconds by roughing up Struve with heavy punches.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Volkov
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Struve
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Struve

Round 2
Volkov emerges for round two sporting a nasty cut on a mouse underneath his left eye. Struve keeps his measured striking approach, using his enormous reach to work his way into range against the Russian. The outstretched hand of Struve catches Volkov in the right eye, however, and referee Goddard is forced to pause the fight for the foul. Goddard determines that the eye poke was accidental, so Struve is not docked a point for the infraction. Struve comes over the top with a right hand as action resumes, but Volkov slugs him with a huge uppercut that has Struve bending backward like a tree in the wind. Another massive right hand from Volkov forces Struve backward, briefly covering up against the fence. Volkov gets another poke to the eye in an exchange; despite a prior warning, Struve does not lose a point for the second foul. Action resumes with 90 seconds on the clock and the massive heavyweights trading low kicks. Volkov is turning up the heat as the final minute ticks down, banging Struve around the outside with punches to the body and head. Struve is on the retreat, his nose bloodied as the round draws to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Volkov
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Volkov
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Volkov

Round 3
The opening minute of round three sees a double eye poke between the heavyweights, and a stern warning from referee Goddard for both fighters to mind their fingers. Volkov backs up Struve to the fence with a right hand over the guard of the "Skyscraper." Struve comes back to the center, swinging punches, but his lead leg buckles as Volkov lands a heavy low kick. Another right hand from Volkov turns the Dutchman's head, now midway through the round and the fight. Volkov looks to be taking charge of the fight here, really roughing up Struve on the outside and turning up the volume on his punches. An uppercut, a left hook and another uppercut force Struve to cover up, then drop to his seat at the fence. Volkov looks to tee off and finish the fight, but referee Marc Goddard is already on his way in for the stoppage.

The Official Result
Alexander Volkov def. Stefan Struve via TKO (Punches) R3 3:30