Tag: Ciryl Gane

Report: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov 2 Targeted For Abu Dhabu-Held UFC 308

Top UFC heavyweights are expected to run it back in the Middle East this coming October. After returning to the Etihad Arena for UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov early next month, the mixed martial arts leader will be back in Abu Dhabi for its annual October pay-per-view there. And the UFC 308 […]

Continue Reading Report: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov 2 Targeted For Abu Dhabu-Held UFC 308 at MMA News.

Top UFC heavyweights are expected to run it back in the Middle East this coming October.

After returning to the Etihad Arena for UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov early next month, the mixed martial arts leader will be back in Abu Dhabi for its annual October pay-per-view there.

And the UFC 308 numbered event looks close to having its first major matchup confirmed, with Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight reporting that former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane (12-2) will run it back with seven-time UFC headliner Alexander Volkov (38-10) on October 26.

Gane Ends Year Layoff Against Familiar Foe At UFC 308

When he makes his long-awaited return later this year, Gane will be tasked with stalling the resurgence of a longtime heavyweight veteran in Volkov.

The Frenchman hans’t competed since the UFC FIght Night in Paris last September. For the second straight year, he recorded a main event knockout win in front of his home fans, this time at the expense of Serghei Spivac. That result marked a rebound performance six months on from a quick submission loss for Gane at the hands of Jon Jones in their vacant title fight.

According to reports, “Bon Gamin” turned down the chance to challenge for Tom Aspinall’s interim gold this month at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, owing to acting committments. He’ll now also miss a France-held card for the first time, with Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis headlining at Accor Arena on September 28 instead.

Volkov, meanwhile, is flying high having won five of six since his loss to Gane in 2021. And following a defeat to Aspinall the following year, the Russian has reeled off four cosnecutive triumphs, most recently outpointing his fellow countryman Sergei Pavlovich at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia last month.

“Drago” will now return to the Middle East looking for redemption opposite Gane.

Continue Reading Report: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov 2 Targeted For Abu Dhabu-Held UFC 308 at MMA News.

Report – Ciryl Gane makes return in rematch fight with Alexander Volkov at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi

Ciryl Gane set to fight Alexander Volkov in rematch at UFC 308 in Abu DhabiFormer interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane return to the Octagon in October at UFC 308 according to reports overnight,…

Ciryl Gane set to fight Alexander Volkov in rematch at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi

Former interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane return to the Octagon in October at UFC 308 according to reports overnight, taking on surging Russian striker, Alexander Volkov in a potential title-eliminator rematch in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Gane, who currently holds the number two rank in the heavyweight division, has been sidelined since he took headlining honors at UFC Fight Night Paris back in September of last year, landing a knockout win over Serghei Spivac.

Ciryl Gane reflects on home robbery during UFC Paris he did a great job
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Ciryl Gane set to book Alexander Volkov rematch for UFC 308

As for Volkov, the former Bellator MMA and M-1 Global heavyweight champion, is currently riding an impressive four-fight winning spree, most recently turning in an impressive unanimous decision win over compariot, Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia last month.

Ciryl Gane claims Jon Jones wasn't quick at UFC 285 He was not fast
Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam – USA TODAY Sports

News of Ciryl Gane’s rematch clash with Alexander Volkov at UFC 308 was initially reported by Brazilian outlet, AgFight.

First sharing the Octagon back in 2021 in a main event showdown, Gane turned in a one-sided unanimous decision win over Volkov, before going on to defeat common-foe, Derrick Lewis in a another lopsided win, this time finishing the veteran heavyweight with a knockout win to clinch the interim divisional crown.

In between championship fight losses to both Francis Ngannou, and a dominant guillotine choke submission defeat to Jon Jones, Gane has racked up knockout finishes over both Tai Tuivasa, and the above-mentioned Spivac. 

38-10 as a professional, Moscow striker, Volkov has gone on a tear since his UFC Fight Night London submission loss to current interim champion, Tom Aspinall back in 2022, embarking on a lengthy winning spree.

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Before his judging win over Pavlovich, Volkov had scored victories over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexander Romanov, and the above-mentioned, Tuivasa – landing finishes over the trio.

UFC 308 takes place on October 26. from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE – with an official main event fight yet to be booked by the organization at the time of publication. 

Who wins in a UFC 308 rematch: Ciryl Gane or Alexander Volkov?

Ciryl Gane confirms plan for UFC Paris comeback fight: ‘I’m still at the top in my weight class

Ciryl Gane confirms plan for UFC Paris return I'm still at the top in my weight classFormer UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane plans on making his return to the Octagon at UFC Paris in…

Ciryl Gane confirms plan for UFC Paris return I'm still at the top in my weight class

Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane plans on making his return to the Octagon at UFC Paris in September.

Gane hasn’t fought since last September at UFC Paris when he scored a TKO win over Serghei Spivac. Since then, he has yet to be booked and both Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes have taken shots at him saying he is turning down fights.

Ciryl Gane offers to fight Tom Aspinall at UFC Paris amid ducking claims stop tripping
Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam – USA TODAY Sports

However, Ciryl Gane says the layoff has been disappointing as he’s looking to return at UFC Paris in September.

“I don’t want to wait because my last fight was already last September… You have Jon Jones, and now you have Tom Aspinall who has the interim belt, who are in front of me. And they’re looking for each other a little, the other is looking for the other. So basically, it doesn’t really tell the time and it doesn’t really give me the time either. So in fact, it’s not easy,” Gane said on the French version of Hot Ones (via Championship Rounds on X).

Ciryl Gane UFC Paris MMA

It is an interesting comment from Gane who wants to fight at UFC Paris which has typically been the first Saturday of September, so it is only three months from now. Who he will fight in his return is uncertain, but Gane plans to make his return in September at UFC Paris.

Ciryl Gane reportedly turned down UFC 304 interim title fight

Although Ciryl Gane says he wants to fight at UFC Paris, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall claimed that the Frenchman turned down the interim title fight at UFC 304 in England.

“The UFC wanted me to fight Ciryl Gane, I said, ‘Okay, the UFC wanna do it, we can do it.’ I’m not bothered, I feel like I’m the champion of the world, I’m ranked No. 1 in the world, I’ll fight anybody you don’t have to talk me into anything. The UFC are my bosses, they want me to fight Ciryl Gane, count me in, that’s okay, we’ll do it,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel.

Tom Aspinall scoffs at Ciryl Gane call out as soon as I get the title he wants to fight me UFC
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“Ciryl, on the other hand, he’s out there doing a film, Ciryl is trying to be the French Arnold Schwarzenegger right now, and fair play to him. If he wants to do films and be an actor, go and enjoy yourself, Ciryl go and do your thing, make some money, do whatever you doing. But, he didn’t take the fight, he wanted to do his film, so Curtis Blaydes, they’ve thrown him in, very happy with it,” Aspinall continued.

With Gane turning down the UFC 304 interim heavyweight title fight, it’s uncertain who the Frenchman will fight in his return.

Ciryl Gane is 12-2 as a pro and is 9-2 in the UFC. Both off his losses came for the undisputed heavyweight title as he dropped a decision to Francis Ngannou and was submitted by Jon Jones. He does hold notable wins over Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, Alexander Volkov, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik among others.

Video – ‘Pillow Hands’ Ciryl Gane fails to make man flinch with three vicious blows to the body

Video - 'Pillow Hands' Ciryl Gane fails to make man flinch with three stiff body shotsCiryl Gane failed to drop a man half his size with a series of nasty-looking body shots. Gane, a…

Video - 'Pillow Hands' Ciryl Gane fails to make man flinch with three stiff body shots

Ciryl Gane failed to drop a man half his size with a series of nasty-looking body shots.

Gane, a former interim UFC heavyweight world champion, was in attendance at the Ares Fighting Championship 22 card in Paris when he was challenged to repeatedly punch an unidentified individual in the body. In the video clip, which you can see below, ‘Bon Gamin’ uncorks three vicious body blows.

However, the man taking the strikes doesn’t flinch once, other than a brief moment when he feigns being in pain before dapping up Gane.

Gane has not competed inside the Octagon since scoring a second-round KO against Serghei Spivac at UFC Paris in September 2023. He was reportedly offered an opportunity to challenge Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 304 in Manchester, but ‘Bon Gamin’ is currently busy filming a movie.

No return date has been revealed but with the promotion heading back to The City of Light on September 28, it’s probably safe to assume that Gane will once again capitalize on the opportunity to compete in his home country.

UFC Fans have a field day with Ciryl Gane’s lack of power

As soon as the clip hit social media, fans flooded the comments and absolutely shredded the Frenchman’s “pillow hands.”

Ciryl Gane
Ciryl Gane
Ciryl Gane

Jailton Almeida calls for UFC Paris fight with Ciryl Gane after dominant win in New Jersey: ‘I’m waiting’

Jailton Almeida calls for UFC Paris fight with Ciryl Gane next I'm waitingJailton Almeida has called out Ciryl Gane for a main event fight after his UFC 302 submission win over…

Jailton Almeida calls for UFC Paris fight with Ciryl Gane next I'm waiting

Jailton Almeida has called out Ciryl Gane for a main event fight after his UFC 302 submission win over Alexandr Romanov.

Almeida returned to the win column in a big way at UFC 302 and after his victory, he called to return in September at UFC Paris. Then, taking to social media, Almeida made it clear that he wants to headline the card and believes him vs. Gane is the perfect main event.

“Hey @ciryl_gane , lets go bro!! Main Event in France, September 28! The winner fights for the title! It’s me and you. You already fought everyone at the top, except me I’m waiting…,” Jailton Almeida wrote on X.

Gane Paris

Almeida vs Gane does make sense as the main event of UFC Paris, as the winner would likely get a title shot. However, Gane has yet to respond to Almeida’s request and whether or not he has interest in the fight is uncertain.

Jailton Almeida vows to finish Ciryl Gane

If Jailton Almeida does get his wish and fights Ciryl Gane next time out, he not only thinks he wins, but he believes he will finish the Frenchman.

Jailton Almeida betting favorite to beat Curtis Blaydes at UFC Sao Paulo
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

A fight is always different, but I would be for sure looking for the finish,” Almeida said after UFC 302 (via MMAJunkie). “I don’t know if I could get it early like Jon Jones was able to because I don’t think Ciryl was expecting that, but I can see myself finishing him in the third round or fourth round if it’s a (five-round fight).”

Jailton Almeida UFC 302

Should Almeida get the fight and finish Gane at UFC Paris it likely would secure the Brazilian a heavyweight title shot next time out.

With the win at UFC 302, Almeida is now 21-3 as a pro and is 7-1 in the UFC. The Brazilian holds notable wins over Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Shamil Abdurakhimov among others.

Tom Aspinall mocks Ciryl Gane over failed fight at UFC 304: ‘Who would turn me down to do a film?’

Tom Aspinall mocks Ciryl Gane over failed fight at UFC 304 who would turn down me to go do a filmInterim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall has again needled at former gold holder, Ciryl Gane following a failed title clash…

Tom Aspinall mocks Ciryl Gane over failed fight at UFC 304 who would turn down me to go do a film

Interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall has again needled at former gold holder, Ciryl Gane following a failed title clash at UFC 304 later this summer, questioning how the Frenchman would reportedly turn down a clash in favor of starring in an upcoming film.

Aspinall, the current interim heavyweight champion, is slated to co-headline UFC 304 at the end of July, taking on perennial contender, Curtis Blaydes in a rematch clash – attempting to follow in the footsteps of Renan Barao and successfully defend an interim title.

tom aspinall belt

And constantly linked with a showdown against former interim champion Gane this year – particularly in a return to Manchester at UFC 304, reports emerged prior to his booking with Blaydes, that Aspinall’s quest for a clash with the former was put on ice with Gane preparing to take part in an upcoming film. 

Tom Aspinall accuses Jon Jones of playing games I don't know what's going on
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Tom Aspinall pokes fun at Ciryl Gane

Poking fun at Gane’s skirting of an interim title clash, Aspinall starred in a video for TNT Sports ahead of his return against Blaydes, questioning he who would turn down a title fight with him in favor of shooting a movie – needling the Frenchman once more.

Himself sidelined from the Octagon since he returned to winning-ways at UFC Fight Night Paris back in September of last year, Gane landed an eventual second round TKO win over common-foe, Serghei Spivac.

Ciryl Gane UFC Paris MMA

Landing the number two rank at heavyweight as a result, Gane, who failed in his attempt to land the vacant heavyweight championship in March of last year, dropped a first round guillotine choke. Gane has since confirmed that he will return in another edition of UFC Paris later this year in his return to active competition.

Who would win in a future title fight: Tom Aspinall or Ciryl Gane?