Ciryl Gane joined the UFC less than two years ago. In that time he has stepped into the octagon for five fights. The French fighter has won each of those contests and climbed to No. 3 in the official UFC heavyweight rankings. He’s also put his name in the all-time UFC record book and in the UFC heavyweight record book.
Gane is tied for first all time with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Tyson Nam with 0:00 bottom position time and 0 percent bottom position percentage.
On Saturday, Gane looks to keep his name among the UFC undefeated when he faces Alexander Volkov in the main event of UFC Vegas 30. Volkov, is the No. 5 ranked fighter in the official UFC heavyweight rankings.
Volkov, who has held titles in Bellator and M1 Global doesn’t sound interested in testing Gane’s takedown defense headed into the bout.
“This fight, I think it will be one of the best this year because it’s two big, really high-level striking fighters, and it’s going to be a really interesting fight,” Volkov told MMA Junkie. “I’m more excited with it because I look at him, he’s a really good striker, and one time I feel like I (will) meet him anyway. I think it’s a good time for both of us. I want to fight with anybody who uses their striking skills, but not their wrestling or something. That’s why it’s a good fight for me. I hope he will not go to wrestling after some punches hit him, and we will continue this fight in the standup.”
As for Gane, he looks at this matchup as the biggest test of his young MMA career.
“This is a big opportunity, because for me, I think it’s the biggest challenge I have of my career,” Gane told MMA Junkie. “Volkov, for me, is one of the best of the division. (The) more the challenge is big, the more I’m excited about that. Because I’m new to MMA. I want to prove because I really don’t know myself. I want a challenge, and maybe this fight is going to prove a new version of myself, and maybe I’m going to show something new.”
UFC Vegas 30 takes place at UFC Apex on Saturday. The entire event streams on ESPN+.
Below is a look at where Gane and Volkov stand in the UFC record book.
UFC Vegas 30: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkanovski
| Ciryl Gane | Alexander Volkov |
|---|---|
| Ciryl Gane | Alexander Volkov |
| Overall UFC records | Overall UFC records |
| Gane is tied for first in UFC history in bottom position time with 0:00 | |
| Gane is tied for first in UFC history in bottom position percentage at 0.00% | |
| Gane ranks seventh in UFC history in striking differential at plus 3.19 | |
| Overall UFC Heavyweight Records | Overall UFC Heavyweight Records |
| Gane ranks first in UFC heavyweight history in bottom position time with 0:00 | Volkov ranks fourth in UFC heavyweight history in striking differential at plus 2.67 |
| Gane ranks first in UFC heavyweight history in bottom position percentage at 0.00% | Volkov ranks fifth in UFC heavyweigh history in strikes landed per minute with 5.35 |
| Gane ranks second in UFC heavyweight history in striking differential at plus 3.19 | Volkov ranks fifth in UFC heavyweight history in longest average fight time at 14:15 |
| Gane ranks second in UFC heavyweight history in significant striking defense at 69.6 percent | Volkov ranks sixth in UFC heavyweight history in significant striking accuracy at 58.7 percent |
| Gane ranks sixth in UFC heavyweight history in strikes landed per minute at 5.04 | Volkov ranks seventh in UFC heavyweight history in significant strikes landed with 687 |
| Gane ranks seventh in UFC heavyweight history in longest average fight time at 13:18 | Volkov ranks ninth in UFC heavyweigh thistory in total strikes landed with 901 |
| Gane is tied for eighth in UFC heavyweight history with a five-fight winning streak | |
| Gane ranks ninth in UFC heavyweight history in strikes absorbed per minute with 1.85 | |
| UFC Heavyweight Single Fight Records | UFC Heavyweight Single Fight Records |
| Gane has the most total leg kicks landed in a UFC heavyweight fight with 71 vs. Jarizinho Rozenstruik on 2.27.21 | Volkov has the second largest striking differential in a UFC heavyweight fight at plus 94 vs. Stefan Struve on 9.2.17 |
| Gane has the latest submission in UFC heavyweight history at 4:46 of Rd. 3 vs. Don’Tale Mayes on 10.26.19 | Volkov is tied for third largest striking differential in a UFC heavyweight fight at plus 90 vs. Roy Nelson on 4.15.17 |
| Gane is tied for most leg kicks landed in a UFC heavyweight fight with 46 vs. Jarizinho Rozenstruik on 2.27.21 | Volkov ranks fourth in leg kicks landed in a UFC heavyweight fight with 33 vs. Stefan Struve on 9.2.17 |
| Gane has the third latest finish in UFC heavyweight history at 4:46 of Rd. 3 vs. Don’Tale Mayes on 10.26.19 | Volkov is tied for seventh largest striking differential in a UFC heavyweight fight at plus 82 vs. Derrick Lewis on 10.6.18 |
| Gane has the sixth most leg kicks landed in a UFC heavyweight history with 29 vs. Junior dos Santos on 12.12.20 | Volkov ranks seventh in significant strikes landed in a UFC heavyweight fight with 135 vs. Stefan Struve on 9.2.17 |
| Gane is tied for sixth most takedowns attempted in a UFC heavyweight fight with 14 vs. Jarizinho Rozenstruik on 2.27.21 | Volkov ranks eighth in distance strikes landed in a UFC heavyweight fight with 114 vs. Stefan Struve on 9.2.17 |
| UFC Heavyweight Single Round Records | UFC Heavyweight Single Round Records |
| Volkov ranks fourth in significant strikes attempted in a UFC heavyweight round with 118, Rd 2 vs, Stefan Struve on 9.2.17 | |
| Volkov ranks eighth in significant strikes landed in a UFC heavyweight round with 56, Rd 2 vs, Stefan Struve on 9.2.17 | |
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