A heavyweight rematch on the UFC 310 main card saw Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov run things back.
While Gane had won their first meeting, this time around, the stakes were a little higher. Though far from a official, a strong performance from either man could land them in a title fight. Against who would be the question, and likely would not be answered until the Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall situation was sorted.
The towering Volkov put Ciryl Gane off-kilter early, and Volkov pounced, earning a takedown inside the opening minute. “Drago” settled into side control, with France’s Gane looking to scramble out; Volkov would end up in half guard. Gane would then make his escape, using an underhook to return to his feet.
After a bit of back-and-forth on the feet, however, it was Gane landing a big takedown, scooping up the massive Volkov and planting him on his back. Volkov closed his guard and fired hammerfists off his back, not particularly effective. Gane transitioned to a heel hook, but that allowed Volkov to get back up. In the final minute of round one, Volkov hit the body with a kick, then caught a leg as Gane fired a knee to the body. Gane defended the ensuing takedown with a guillotine, and it was tight. That might have been it for Alexander Volkov, but he was saved by the horn.
In round two, a spinning back fist by Volkov landed clean in the opening minute, though Gane appeared to recover. The Russian heavyweight was staying on Gane, and nearly landed a high kick a short time later. Volkov’s bodywork was impressive, meanwhile, though Gane connected clean with a right hand. Ciryl followed that with several leg kicks, while Volkov continued to hold center. Gane would again land a right hand with under 90 seconds to go, with Volkov firing back. Gane then landed a takedown, with Volkov defending with a guillotine. Gane eventually backed off, and the pair went back to the feet for final moments of the round.
Alexander Volkov shot for a takedown early in round three, but it was Gane who turned the tables and nearly got on top. Volkov kept moving, circling around Gane, but the French heavyweight trapped an arm, hunting for a kimura. Gane tried to draw his leg up over Volkov’s head to get leverage for the submission, but couldn’t quite pull it off. That gave Volkov time on top, and Gane appeared to have tired. While Volkov was unable to do much in the way of offense, Gane was doing even less. And though the ref warned Volkov to work, he wasn’t about the take away the position, allowing the fight to end there.
While close, there was a clear argument to be made for a Volkov win. “Drago” appeared shocked when he heard the result, and Gane actually left the cage, before returning for his post-fight interview. In that, he informed Joe Rogan that he believed his toe was broken, off the very first kick in the fight. When asked why he’d left the cage after the decision was read, Gane admitted that “I was not happy” with the performance.
Official Result: Ciryl Gane def. Alexander Volkov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
