Fight Coverage
Significant Stats | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov
Take A Deep Dive Into The Key Stats Of Some Of The Biggest Match-Ups At UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov
(All stats according to UFC’s Record Book as of June 23, 2021, and only include active athletes in their respective division unless noted otherwise)
Main Event: Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov
Ciryl Gane
Key Stats: +3.19 striking differential (7th all-time), 5.04 strikes landed per minute (6th all-time among HW), 69.6% significant strike defense (2nd all-time among HW)
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What It Means: Gane is a swift, technically strong fighter whose athleticism allows him to befuddle most other heavyweights. He moves lightly around the Octagon with a constant bounce, looking like a fighter two or three weight classes lighter, but packs the finishing instincts and power of a heavyweight. Defensively, Gane is sound, rarely putting himself in a bad position just for the sake of finding a big shot. He picks and chooses his shots and can often lead the dance because of his flurry of movement, and on the ground, he has shown prowess, locking up various submissions.
Alexander Volkov
Rise Of Alexander Volkov
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Rise Of Alexander Volkov
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Key Stats: +2.67 striking differential (4th all-time among HW), 5.35 strikes landed per minute (5th all-time among HW), 58.7% significant striking accuracy (6th all-time among HW)
What It Means: “Drago” is perhaps the most technically sharp striker in the heavyweight division. At 6-foot-7, Volkov utilizes his long legs and arms to keep opponents at distance with teep kicks to the body and long jabs. When he gets inside the pocket, his punches flow smoothly, and he rarely needs to load up on a strike for it to come with devastating force.
What to Look For in the Fight: This is definitely Gane’s toughest test of his young UFC career, and Volkov is the cleanest striker he has faced. How Gane manages the range Volkov can maintain is going to be interesting, and perhaps the Frenchman’s speed is how he can open windows on the Russian without taking too much damage himself. There’s also Gane’s grappling, which is strong and is something other fighters have exploited against Volkov. However, the Russian’s vast experience advantage is stark, and how that plays into his approach to this fight against the young upstart is of note. Few have been able to land clean on Gane, and if there’s a heavyweight with the tools to find some sort of open shot, it’s Volkov.
Co-Main Event: Tanner Boser vs Ovince Saint Preux
Tanner Boser
Key Stats: +1.95 striking differential (7th all-time among HW), 63.9% significant strike defense (4th all-time among HW), 52.8% significant strike accuracy (5th)
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What It Means: Boser is a tough, swift heavyweight with good mobility for the division. He likes to use his footwork on the outside to set traps, and his hands come with good speed when he gets into range. He does well to mitigate danger while also attacking from the outside, and he is mindful about getting trapped against the fence.
*Ovince Saint Preux
Key Stats: 11 finishes (2nd all-time among LHW), 2.68 strikes landed per minute, 1.19 takedowns per 15 minutes
What It Means: A longtime light heavyweight contender, “OSP” moves up to heavyweight for a second time. Saint Preux has the frame to compete at heavyweight, and his dynamic striking is well-suited to battles with the big men, as well. His long reach and legs make for difficult weapons opponents need to avoid, and his left high kick is particularly devastating. On the ground, he shows solid top control and is specifically proficient at pulling off the “Von Flue” choke more than anyone.
What to Look For in the Fight: Boser likes to stay in perpetual motion, which could give the selective striking of Saint Preux some fits. That said, Saint Preux probably has the pure power advantage, and his kicking game will allow him to strike from range. Although he likes to use his footwork to set things up, Boser is still tenacious and will likely be the busier striker of the two if it stays on the feet.
Other Fights to Watch (Andre Fili vs Daniel Pineda)
Andre Fili
Key Stats: 31 takedowns landed (4th all-time among FW), 49.2% takedown accuracy (5th), 3.73 strikes landed per minute
What It Means: One of the more experienced members of the featherweight division, “Touchy” Fili is a well-rounded, durable fighter who is relatively comfortable in every kind of fight. His wrestling base is solid, and he does well to maintain top control once he gets his opponent to the ground. He is sharp on the feet, as well, never really putting himself out of position, and his hands carry plenty of power. He can also sneak a kick up top and turn out the lights.
Daniel Pineda
Fighters You Should Know | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov
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Fighters You Should Know | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov
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Key Stats: 1.77 submissions per 15 minutes (4th all-time among FW), 49.3% significant strike accuracy (8th), 7:33 average fight time (4th shortest)
What It Means: Every single one of Pineda’s professional wins have come via finish, which should tell you all you need to know. He is an aggressive fighter with power and a good sense of how to lock up a submission to get the win.
What to Look For in the Fight: These two veterans are pretty evenly matched on paper, so the advantages probably won’t come out until they actually start fighting. Fili uses his wrestling a little more often, but both are comfortable wherever the fight goes, which means it could either be a slugfest or a well-rounded contest won in the margins.
*Hasn’t competed enough in current division to qualify in UFC Record Book
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