The UFC’s pay-per-view return in Abu Dhabi just lost a heavyweight clash between Gane and Volkov, who will now move to Las Vegas in December.
UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi has taken a big hit as the main card rematch between Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov has been scratched from the card due to a Volkov injury.
There’s no details on what injury Volkov sustained during training, but according to reports from French outlet La Sueur, the fight will be delayed from October 26th to UFC 310 on December 7th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gane vs. Volkov was originally set to sit near the top of UFC 308, sometimes being advertised as the co-main but eventually being dropped to third slot behind the main event between Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway and a five round fight between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev. With Whittaker vs. Chimaev appearing on the poster for UFC 308, that was all settled — at least until Volkov withdrew from the bout.
BREAKING NEWS
Selon nos sources, la revanche entre Ciryl Gane et Alexander Volkov est reportée à l’#UFC310, le 7 décembre à Las Vegas, en raison d’une blessure du Russe. pic.twitter.com/x1AmjL9kDa
— La Sueur (@LaSueur_off) September 22, 2024
With this news being so fresh, we still have no clear answer as to which fight will be elevated from the prelim undercard to appear on the pay-per-view portion of the event.
Ciryl Gane hasn’t fought since defeating Serghei Spivac in the main event of UFC Paris in September 2023. Volkov’s last fight was also a win over Spivac in June 2024, which improved his record to four straight wins. The two men faced off back in June 2021 in a closed door pandemic fight at the UFC Apex. Gane would earn a dominating 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 decision after Volkov failed to handle Gane’s reach or movement across five rounds.
UFC 310 is still a card in flux as the promotion has yet to announce a main event for the Vegas event at the T-Mobile Arena. Originally expected to be Conor McGregor’s return date, it now features just a few confirmed bouts including Dominick Reyes vs. Anthony Smith and Tatiana Suarez vs. Virna Jandiroba. Gane vs. Volkov is a solid ranked heavyweight bout to flesh out the card, as Gane is ranked No. 2 in the division and Volkov is No. 3.
We’ll keep you informed as updates are made to UFC 308 to reflect the injury. We’re also expecting to learn what Dana White and company decide as far as a title headliner for UFC 310 in the coming weeks.