MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a deeper look at the main event of UFC Vegas 30, a five-round heavyweight bout between top-10 ranked title contenders Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov. The event takes place on Saturday, June 26 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ciryl Gane (-175)
Gane (8-0) is the No. 3 ranked heavyweight in the UFC. The 31-year-old Frenchman joined the UFC in 2019 and he has since gone 5-0 in the Octagon with notable wins over the likes of Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Junior dos Santos. Gane came from a Muay Thai background and he has mostly used his striking to win his fights in MMA so far, but he has also mixed in his wrestling as he’s shown a well-rounded game. Gane is an excellent technician on the feet and he’s able to throw with power, as well, but what makes him so special is that he is very hard to hit defensively. It’s been tough for his opponents to put their hands on him and he’s normally able to throw strikes back and counter effectively. Against Volkov, Gane will be going up against a heavy hitter in his prime. It could be an absolute war if it stays standing, but perhaps Gane will be able to utilize his grappling skills, as well.
Alexander Volkov (+155)
Volkov (33-8) is the No. 5 ranked heavyweight in the UFC. The 32-year-old Russian first joined the UFC in 2016 and so far he has gone 7-2 in the world’s leading MMA promotion with notable wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem, Walt Harris, and Fabricio Werdum, with his lone UFC losses coming against Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis. Prior to entering the UFC, Volkov was the Bellator heavyweight champion and he has actually improved his game since entering the UFC. Though he hasn’t fought for the UFC belt yet, Volkov has been hot lately with wins in three of his last four fights, and another win or two could earn him a title shot against UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Volkov is an excellent striker with big power and has the tools to be a UFC champion.
Fight Breakdown: This should be an excellent fight between two of the top-10 ranked heavyweights in the UFC. Gane has looked phenomenal since joining the UFC, while Volkov has looked equally good at times. This should be a very competitive fight between two men who prefer to stand and trade, but the thing that makes me lean towards Gane is that he appears to be the more well-rounded mixed martial artist. In a pure striking battle I can definitely see Volkov landing the heavier blows, but this is an MMA fight, and not only will Gane be able to stand trade, but he will also be able to take this fight to the ground if he has to. The fact that Gane can mix in his wrestling is the biggest X-factor in this fight and the reason why I am leaning towards the Frenchman to defeat the Russian in this fight. Give me Gane to get his hand raised by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Ciryl Gane
