Kuniev wants Pereira after UFC 333 bout with Volkov, questions his No. 3 ranking

Rizvan Kuniev heads into Saturday's heavyweight bout with Alexander Volkov at UFC 333 already looking past it. Speaking to MMA Fighting at Wednesday's media day, Kuniev said he wants Alex Pereira next if a title shot does not come right away, preferring him over Sergei Pavlovich because he would rather not fight a countryman and because a win over Pereira would boost his media profile.

The pre-fight mood with Volkov is sour. Kuniev, who has trained alongside his fellow Russian in the past, said they are not friends and objected to Volkov raising his doping suspension from his PFL days. He accused Volkov and his team of masking fear, and argued that although both men beat Jailton Almeida and lost decisions to Curtis Blaydes, his showing against Blaydes was far stronger.

Kuniev also took aim at the UFC rankings, joking that AI must compile them. He suggested Pereira's two-division title history explains his No. 3 spot but said he should need a couple more heavyweight fights first. "To give him No. 3 right off the bat just seems off," Kuniev said.

A win over the top-ranked Volkov would put Kuniev in the title conversation, with the division's next moves set by Gane vs. Hokit and Pavlovich vs. Pereira later this year.