UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov Preview

The UFC will set up at it’s APEX center in Las Vegas this Saturday night. Heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov clash in the main event, the co-main event is another battle in 265-pound division as Tanner Boser steps in to take on Ovince St. Preux.

With 41 fights under his belt Alexander Volkov is the vastly more experienced fighter that his rival Ciryl Gane. On paper, this sure does look like a mismatch. Gane, even though he is so young into his career, is way more experienced than his record suggests. The Frenchman is undefeated in his first 8 fights and has already picked up big wins over Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Volkov is a former Bellator heavyweight champion and has won in his last two outings. The Russian knocked out Walt Harris and Alistair Overeem in the second round of their respective fights. Volkov stands at a huge 6’7″ in height and he uses that height and range excellently in all of his fights. That is something that Gane will need to figure out inside the octagon on Saturday night. I think this scrap will mainly play out of the feet and should be an interesting tactical battle throughout.

Tanner Boser was left disappointed when he dropped a close split decision to Ilir Latifi earlier this month. He has a quick turnaround when he steps in to lock horns with Ovince St. Preux who moves back up to the 265-pound division. Both fighters are coming off losses and will be eager to get their hands raised as the winner. Should be a fun co-main event. Raoni Barcelos is unbeaten in nine and has only been defeated once in his 17 fights so far in his professional career. The Brazilian will make the walk to take on Timur Valiev in the bantamweight division. The Russian is on a 7-fight win streak and has only tasted defeat once in his career.

Andre Fili was beaten by Bryce Mitchell the last time he stepped into the octagon. His opponent Daniel Pineda also tasted defeat in his last outing when he took on Cub Swanson and was on the receiving end of a knockout loss. Both bantamweights will come into this fight with fire in their bellies and eager to get back in the winners circle. “The Dirty Bird”, Tim Means has had somewhat of a career resurgence and has won his last two bouts. His opponent is Denmark’s own Nicolas Dalby, the former Cage Warriors champion has not tasted defeat since 2018 and looks to make a move inside the UFC welterweight rankings.

Jai Herbert, another former Cage Warriors world champion, is out of the frying pan and into the fire as he fights his second fight under the UFC lights. “The Black Country Banger” steps in to take on UFC veteran Renato Moicano in the lightweight division. Moicano has not set the world on fire in recent times with only one win in his last four. The Brazilian is still very dangerous but Herbert is just as dangerous and this fight should be a belter to open up the main card.

Kennedy Nzechukwu has won his last two fights heading into his light heavyweight tilt with Danilo Marques. Brazilian born Marques has amassed an impressive run himself having won each of his last four fights. That fight will headline the prelims section of the card. UFC veteran Michel Prazeres locks horns with undefeated prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov, Warlley Alves will share the cage with Jeremiah Wells who is making his debut under the UFC banner.

Polish fighter Marcin Prachnio picked up a win over Khalil Rountree to snap a three fight losing skid. He collides with Isaac Villanueva, who is 1-2 inside the octagon, in the light heavyweight division. Julija Stoliarenko is searching for her first win inside the UFC, she faces off against Julia Avila in the women’s bantamweight division. Charles Rosa and Justin Jaynes both will be desperate to get back inside the win column when they throw down in the 145-pound division. Bosnian lightweight Damir Hadžoić will open up the card when he squares off against Yancy Medeiros at 155. UFC vet Medeiros has lost the last three on the bounce and this fight could be last chance saloon for the Brazilian.

UFC Vegas 30 takes place Saturday June, 26, see the official fight card and start times below.

Main Card (BT Sports / ESPN+, 1pm ET)

Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Heavyweight: Tanner Boser vs. Ovince St. Preux
Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos vs. Timur Valiev
Featherweight: Andre Fili vs. Daniel Pineda
Welterweight: Tim Means vs. Nicolas Dalby
Lightweight: Renato Moicano vs. Jai Herbert

Preliminary card (BT Sports / ESPN+, 4pm, ET)

Light Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Danilo Marques
Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Michel Prazeres
Welterweight: Warlley Alves vs. Jeremiah Wells
Light Heavyweight: Marcin Prachnio vs. Isaac Villanueva
Women’s Bantamweight: Julia Avila vs. Julija Stoliarenko
Featherweight: Charles Rosa vs. Justin Jaynes
Lightweight: Yancy Medeiros vs. Damir Hadžović