After a year away from the Parisian spotlight, the French heavyweight Ciryl Gane is ready to step back into the octagon next weekend. This is when he will be facing the Russian powerhouse Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.
Ciryl Gane may have bounced back from his infamous first-round stoppage to Jon Jones with an emphatic TKO victory in his most recent fight. However, there is no denying that his title clash with Jon Jones continues to loom large in the mind of the French fan favourite.
Ciryl Gane Reflects on Jon Jones Loss: ‘A Spirit of Revenge’ Driving UFC 310 Return
UFC heavyweight Ciryl Gane has dominated everyone in his path except for Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. However, the Frenchman has been candid about his underwhelming performance against Jon Jones.
“When I look back at it, it was obvious that I was not there,”
Gane went and admitted on the UFC 310 Countdown show when reflecting on a night where months of preparation failed to translate under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
“It represented exactly how I felt on the day of the fight. It was a total misunderstanding of what was happening… I don’t recognize myself there. It’s something I’ve never done in my life. I’ve never fought that way before. My distance management, my movement, the alertness I love to show—none of it was there.”
While Gane may view that title loss as a blemish on his otherwise stellar record. Gane is channelling the disappointment into fuel for UFC 310.
“Looking back, I think that experience may have been beneficial. For me personally, it helped me to refocus on myself. It gave me a spirit of revenge, a competitive spirit.”
Gane Promises a Dominant Rematch Against Alexander Volkov
Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov first faced off against each other in 2021, with the Frenchman securing a dominant unanimous decision victory over the towering Russian. As their rematch approaches, Ciryl Gane insists that there will be “no surprises” when facing Volkov. Gane even stated “I train with guys much taller than me”
While preparing for the 6 foot 7 Russian, Ciryl Gane has been sharpening his skills at the MMA Factory in Paris. Working alongside 6 foot 5 kickboxer Paulin Begai and 6 foot 8 boxer Maxine Vaz, all under the guidance of head coach Fernand Lopez.
“Our goal is to end the fight well before the final bell,” Lopez teased, explaining that Ciryl Gane has been perfecting his offensive boxing and wrestling skills.
“In boxing, we focus on power, but with finishing moves. When it comes to the ground, we approach it offensively, not defensively—it excites me knowing he’s mastered these techniques.”
While Alexander Volkov has been in strong form recently, Ciryl Gane believes his speed and technique will be too much for him on December 7th.
“I’ll show him movement, I’ll show him technique, I’ll give him more than he’ll give me. That’s how it is, and I hope we’ll put on a great show.”
UFC 310 is coming from the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday 7th December.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
