Alexander Volkov vs Ciryl Gane
June 26, 2021 11:45 pm EDT
The Line: Ciryl Gane -175 / Alexander Volkov +150
(Get latest betting odds)
Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov fight Saturday in UFC on ESPN+ 48 at the UFC Apex. Gane enters this fight with a 8-0 record and has won 38 percent of his fights by submission. Volkov enters this fight with a 33-8 record and has won 67 percent of his fights by knockout.
This will be Gane’s seventh fight since 2019, and he’s coming off a February win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He is averaging 5.04 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 55 percent. Gane is averaging 11.3 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 26 percent.
Gane is coming off a decision win at UFC Vegas 20 where he landed 128 total strikes and 57 percent of his significant strikes. He is now 5-0 under the UFC banner and two of his last three wins were decisions.
Gane comes from a Muay Thai background that includes a 7-0 pro record, and his combination of athleticism, power and size makes him an intriguing fighter in this division. He works well behind his jab, throws powerful overhands and can be tough to pick up at times due to an awkward style. Gane does some of his best work in the clinch and his cardio is impressive for his size.
Bon Gamin still has to prove he can wrestle and grapple, but up to this point he’s a dangerous and quickly rising 31-year-old out of France. This will be Gane’s third career fight in Las Vegas.
Volkov has won nine of his last 11 fights and is coming off a February win over Alistair Overeem. He is averaging 4.88 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 59 percent. Volkov is averaging 0.66 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 70 percent.
Volkov is coming off a knockout win at UFC Vegas 18 that earned performance of the night. He dominated the fight, landing 54 total strikes and eating just 10 strikes. He’s produced knockouts in four of his last fight wins.
Volkov is a striker at heart who is most comfortable standing up and now has 22 victories by knockout. He has a reach of 81 inches, very heavy hands and has been deadly accurate while throwing with a purpose. Volkov is always looking to stay busy in the octagon and has a very successful ground and pound if things are ever taken to the canvas.
With a black belt in Kyokushin, Drago is one of the cleaner strikers in this division. This will be Volkov’s fourth career fight in Las Vegas.
I get why Gane is the favorite here, as he hasn’t shown much weakness up to this point, he’s unbeaten and he just went the distance with a very dangerous fighter in Rozenstruik. However, we’re getting plus money with Volkov, the far and away more experienced fighter and somebody who is coming off two massive victories. Volkov has accomplished enough that if you see him in the underdog role, you almost feel like you have to take it. He has the ability to beat anybody on a good day and he has to like his chances here wherever the fight goes.
Give me Volkov based on the price.
