Rizvan Kuniev surprises Alexander Volkov with a birthday cake before their UFC 333 fight
The icing on the octagon-shaped cake read "Happy Birthday" and "New Record 40-12", and Volkov covered his face then laughed.
Rizvan Kuniev handed Alexander Volkov a birthday cake backstage at UFC 333 fight week in Abu Dhabi, ahead of the two heavyweights meeting on the card.
The chocolate cake was shaped like the octagon, and its icing read "Happy Birthday" and "New Record 40-12". Volkov covered his face with both hands when Kuniev, smiling, presented it, then laughed and looked at the cake.
Speaking in Russian, Volkov said, in the English subtitles on the footage: "I am even feel a little uncomfortable now." He added: "What a man!"
Earlier in fight week Kuniev said Volkov and his team were trembling before the fight, while Volkov posed as a UFC rookie at the pre-fight press conference to ask Dana White how to get a title shot.
Kuniev and Volkov fight on the UFC 333 card on Saturday. The UK start time and how to watch are on our event page.
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Reported by the Combat Sports UK desk. Times are UK and Irish time, and we update the report when the facts change. How we work.