There is a bit of a logjam atop the heavyweight rankings but this is a pivotal fight within the division. No. 3-ranked Ciryl Gane collides with No. 5-ranked Alexander Volkov in this week’s main event of UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov.
This event takes place once again at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Looking at the main event, Gane vs Volkov odds are set with the higher-ranked fighter as the betting favorite.
Gane has continued his winning ways after scoring a decision win in his first UFC main event in February. That victory over Jairzinho Rozenstruik moved his record to 8-0 and he has a title shot in his clear sight.
Volkov enters this fight having won his last two bouts by knockout. It is his first winning streak since he won six in a row at the beginning of his UFC career.
Volkov vs Gane Odds
Online sportsbook [Sportsbook not available for your region] has released the Gane vs Volkov odds with Gane coming in at -165 and Volkov the +135 underdog. This means a $165 bet on a Gane win would profit you $100 while a $100 bet on Volkov would profit you $135.
Our sports betting calculator tells us that the odds of -165 for Gane represent an implied win probability of 62.26 percent while Volkov’s odds of +135 have an implied win probability of 42.55 percent.
The largest favorite in the UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov odds comes in the women’s bantamweight prelim fight with Julia Avila (-360) favored over Julija Stoliarenko (+270). The tightest betting line comes from the light heavyweight main card tilt with Kennedy Nzechukwu (-125) favored over Danilo Marques (+105).
Gane vs Volkov Odds & Fight Card
- Main Card
- Heavyweight – Ciryl Gane (-165) vs Alexander Volkov (+135)
- Heavyweight – Tanner Boser (-175) vs Ovince Saint Preux (+145)
- Light Heavyweight – Kennedy Nzechukwu (-125) vs Danilo Marques (+105)
- Featherweight – Andre Fili (-230) vs Daniel Pineda (+185)
- Welterweight – Tim Means (-130) vs Nicolas Dalby (+110)
- Lightweight – Renato Moicano (-250) vs Jai Herbert (+200)
- Prelims
- Bantamweight – Raoni Barcelos (-225) vs Timur Valiev (+180)
- Welterweight – Shavkat Rakhmonov (-325) vs Michel Prazeres (+250)
- Welterweight – Warlley Alves (-240) vs Jeremiah Wells (+190)
- Light Heavyweight – Marcin Prachnio (-210) vs Ike Villanueva (+170)
- Women’s Bantamweight – Julia Avila (-360) vs Julija Stoliarenko (+270)
- Featherweight – Charles Rosa (-170) vs Justin Jaynes (+140)
- Lightweight – Yancy Medeiros (+120) vs Damir Hadzovic (-140)
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- Date/Time: June 26, 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Arena: UFC Apex
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ciryl Gane | -165 |
| Alexander Volkov | +135 |
Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane (-165) only competed once in 2020, scoring a knockout victory, but he is poised to have a busier 2021 with this being his second bout of the year already. Meanwhile, Alexander “Drago” Volkov (+135) knocked out two of his first four UFC foes but it took over two years for him to score a victory in that manner again – his last two counterparts were knocked out.
- Gane made his UFC debut in 2019, holding a 3-0 record at the time. He now stands at 8-0 with six stoppages – three knockouts and three submissions.
- Bon Gamin began his UFC career with back-to-back submission victories despite being known as a kickboxer. He is remarkable on his feet, moving like a middleweight, though he tips the scale at 245 pounds.
- He has great conditioning and footwork and that has led to him being able to hit his target while not absorbing damage in return. Gane averages 5.04 significant strikes per minute while absorbing only 1.85 and he has outstruck all five of his UFC foes.
- Bon Gamin also mixes in 1.13 takedowns per 15 minutes, but the standup is primarily where he does his best work. He was criticized in his win over Rozenstruik for not getting in the pocket to exchange, rather staying on the outside landing and maintaining distance.
- Gane’s last three fights were Tanner Boser (win – unanimous decision), Junior dos Santos (win – knockout) and Jairzinho Rozenstruik (win – unanimous decision).
- The former M-1 and Bellator heavyweight champ looked like he was well on his way to UFC gold before running into Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes. Volkov carries a 33-8 record with 22 knockout wins, while half of his losses have been finishes – two knockouts and two submissions.
- Drago is a boxer, though he has scored takedowns in five of his nine UFC bouts. On the feet, he averages 4.88 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.48.
- He is a more aggressive fighter than Gane and is much more a stationary target, planting his feet and looking to land heavy if his foes engage with him. He also slowly inches forward trying to bait his opponents into a brawl.
- Volkov is a big heavyweight at six-foot-seven but will be at a one-inch reach disadvantage in this fight. His kicks have steadily improved and that could be a way to slow down Gane’s movements and make this more of a boxing match.
- Volkov’s last three fights were Curtis Blaydes (loss – unanimous decision), Walt Harris (win – knockout) and Alistair Overeem (win – knockout).
Prediction: Ciryl Gane (-165) via decision
Tanner Boser vs Ovince Saint Preux Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tanner Boser | -175 |
| Ovince Saint Preux | +145 |
Wasting no time in getting back in the cage is Tanner “The Bulldozer” Boser (-175), who took a split-decision loss at the start of June and is fighting again three weeks later. Ovince “OSP” Saint Preux (+145) hopes his heavyweight bout has a better result than his first as he jumps up to the division once again after his last two bouts were at light heavyweight.
- Boser had a two-fight winning streak to open 2020, both knockouts, before his current two-fight skid. Overall, his record sits at 19-8-1, with just one knockout loss, while 12 of his wins were stoppages – 10 knockouts and two submissions.
- The Bulldozer has secured exactly zero takedowns through his six-fight UFC career, much rather keeping the fight standing where he can use his speed and footwork to score a victory.
- He averages 4.21 significant strikes per minute while absorbing just 2.26. Boser has a good jab and really good leg kicks which he uses to slow his foes down as well as set up his crisp and powerful 1-2 that can end the night if he lands.
- Boser’s last three fights were Raphael Pessoa (win – knockout), Andrei Arlovski (loss – unanimous decision) and Ilir Latifi (loss – split decision).
- A veteran of the cage who made his UFC debut in 2013, this is his 24th bout in the promotion. Saint Preux is 25-15 with 20 of his wins being stoppages (12 knockouts and eight submissions) while nine of his defeats have been decisions.
- OSP doesn’t have a high output, averaging just 2.68 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.03. While he has some submissions on his record, he averages just 1.19 takedowns per 15 minutes.
- His lack of output can be matched by his lack of urgency in the cage, standing rather flat-footed, chipping away with kicks looking to counter when his foes enter his punching range. He tends to struggle against faster, more active fighters as he can’t keep their pace but can capitalize on their mistakes.
- Saint Preux’s last three fights were Ben Rothwell (loss – split decision), Alonzo Menifield (win – knockout) and Jamahal Hill (loss – knockout).
Prediction: Tanner Boser (-175) via decision
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Danilo Marques Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | -125 |
| Danilo Marques | +105 |
A winning streak will come to a close when these two light heavyweights meet. Kennedy “African Savage” Nzechukwu (-125) has won back-to-back fights after losing to Paul Craig in his UFC debut. Meanwhile, Danilo Marques (+105) is riding a four-fight winning streak, including two victories in the Octagon.
- Nzechukwu earned a UFC contract in Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series but lost his UFC debut. He’s now 8-1 with his lone defeat being a submission, while five of his eight victories have come by knockout.
- The African Savage is a huge light heavyweight at six-foot-five with an 83-inch reach. Despite his big frame, he has a good output, averaging 5.38 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 5.80. He hasn’t landed a takedown in the UFC but has been taken down six times, including his two Contender Series fights.
- When under pressure, he doesn’t punch his way out of danger but rather just holds a high guard to protect himself hoping his foes punch themselves out before he goes on the attack. He will constantly stalk forward and does a good job throwing straight punches.
- Nzechukwu’s last three fights were Paul Craig (loss – submission), Darko Stosic (win – unanimous decision) and Carlos Ulberg (win – knockout).
- Marques had his perfect record snapped in 2016 and he lost his second bout two fights later. Outside of those bouts, it was smooth sailing for him as he is 11-2 with nine stoppage wins (four knockouts and five submissions), while he’s been stopped once – a knockout.
- He is aggressive in searching for takedowns, scoring eight combined in his two UFC bouts for an average of 4.83 takedowns per 15 minutes. When it comes to striking, he averages just 1.81 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 1.41.
- When he gets a takedown, he doesn’t do a lot with it, rather maintaining control while slowly working toward a submission. His tempo slows toward the end of the first round from his all-out attack on grappling. On the feet, he has nice kicks and throws straight punches but it’s clear he only wants the takedown.
- Marques’s last three fights were Cleiton Caetano (win – unanimous decision), Khadis Ibragimov (win – unanimous decision) and Mike Rodriguez (win – submission).
Prediction: Kennedy Nzechukwu (-125) via knockout
Andre Fili vs Daniel Pineda Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Andre Fili | -230 |
| Daniel Pineda | +185 |
Two featherweights looking to get back in the win column collide here. After being unbeaten in seven fights, Daniel “The Pit” Pineda (+185) was stopped via knockout in December against Cub Swanson. As for Andre “Touchy” Fili (-230), he is on a win-one, lose-one streak over his last four fights on the heels of a decision loss to Bryce Mitchell.
- Fili has had difficulties with consistency throughout his UFC career, never having a streak (winning or losing) of more than two since entering the promotion in 2013. He is 21-8 with half of his defeats being stoppages (two knockouts and two submissions) while nine of his 21 wins were knockouts.
- Touchy has an active lead hand, constantly reaching out for distance control while also snapping out that left with his jab. He is also a creative striker with good knees and kicks while his right hand has serious power behind it.
- He’s not solely a striker, though, as he also averages 2.50 takedowns per 15 minutes and has good grappling skills when defending or getting up from the bottom.
- Fili’s last three fights were Sodiq Yusuff (loss – unanimous decision), Charles Jourdain (win – split decision) and Bryce Mitchell (loss – unanimous decision).
- Pineda would have been on a seven-fight winning streak and not an unbeaten streak had he not tested positive in back-to-back fights. Not only would he have won seven in a row but they were all stoppages. In fact, all 27 of his wins have been finishes (nine knockouts and 18 submissions) while nine of his 14 defeats were stoppages.
- The Pit is a well-rounded fighter, averaging 1.55 takedowns per 15 minutes while also averaging 3.41 significant strikes per minute and absorbing 2.72. On the feet, he doesn’t take too many steps backward, rather holding his ground when his foes pressure him.
- He also has really good grappling with the ability to reverse when he’s on bottom. He is not afraid to take his opponent down and soften them up with ground and pound before looking for a submission.
- Pineda’s last three fights were Jeremy Kennedy (no contest), Herbert Burns (win – knockout) and Cub Swanson (loss – knockout).
Prediction: Daniel Pineda (+185) via decision
Tim Means vs Nicolas Dalby Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tim Means | -130 |
| Nicolas Dalby | +110 |
Tim “The Dirty Bird” Means (-130) heads into this fight looking for a third straight win for the first time in over six years. Looking to prevent that streak from continuing is Nicolas “Lokomotivo” Dalby (+110), who hasn’t tasted defeat in over three years, riding a seven-fight unbeaten streak.
- Means had been struggling to find his footing recently, dropping five of eight fights, but has picked up consecutive wins heading into this bout. His record now stands at 31-12-1 with one no contest. Of his wins, 24 have been stoppages, including 19 knockouts, while seven of his defeats were finishes, with five submission losses.
- The Dirty Bird is a fundamentally good fighter. He has a snappy jab, he puts his weight into his power punches, he has good knowledge of range and he has great conditioning that allows him to put on a gritty performance.
- His pace is probably his X factor, averaging 5.16 significant strikes per minute, and it seems that he just tries to wear on his opponents, constantly touching them until they eventually fall. A typical Tim Means fight results in two men standing in the pocket trading punches.
- Means’s last three fights were Daniel Rodriguez (loss – submission), Laureano Staropoli (win – unanimous decision) and Mike Perry (win – unanimous decision).
- Dalby was cut from the UFC back in 2016 after going 1-2-1 in four fights. He left and went on to win the CWFC welterweight championship and is now 2-0 with a no contest in his return to the UFC. Overall, he is 19-3 with each loss coming by decision while 10 of his wins have been stoppages (six knockouts and four submissions).
- Lokomotivo likes to maintain distance with his wide stance and cracking kicks. However, when he wants to throw a punch, he typically lunges in. He has good power but can put himself in danger with that approach if he walks into a power punch.
- At times, Dalby can be cornered and works on side-to-side movement to get out of danger but will drop his hands, which leaves him vulnerable to hard shots.
- Dalby’s last three fights were Alex Oliveira (win – unanimous decision), Jesse Ronson (no contest) and Daniel Rodriguez (win – unanimous decision).
Prediction: Tim Means (-130) via decision
Renato Moicano vs Jai Herbert Odds & Prediction
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Renato Moicano | -250 |
| Jai Herbert | +200 |
Renato Moicano (-250) looks to bounce back from his first defeat in his new weight class. Similarly, Jai “The Black Country Banger” Herbert (+200) seeks his first victory in the UFC after his debut ended in a knockout loss.
- Moicano jumped up to lightweight following back-to-back knockout losses in featherweight and is now 1-1 in his new division. His record is 14-4-1 overall with half of his wins being submissions and each of his defeats coming by stoppage (three knockouts and a submission).
- Moicano is an aggressive fighter, averaging 5.40 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.74. He also averages 1.28 takedowns per 15 minutes and that is where he’s most dangerous with his submission skills on the floor.
- He’s not lost on the feet, though, with really good kicks and long straight punches as well. Defensively, he checks kicks well and he dares his foes to meet him in the center of the cage as if strikes don’t hurt him while he looks to counter. He has been knocked out three times, however.
- Moicano’s last three fights were Korean Zombie (loss – knockout), Dami Hadzovic (win – submission) and Rafael Fiziev (loss – knockout).
- Herbert had been on a six-fight winning streak, including being the Cage Warriors lightweight champ, prior to his UFC debut, which he lost. He is now 10-2 with two knockout losses while nine of his wins have been stoppages (eight knockouts and one submission).
- The Black Country Banger has a really long reach for the lightweight division at 77 inches, five longer than Moicano’s. He uses the reach well with a snappy jab and he’s extremely light on his feet, always moving.
- His left jab is crisp and accurate but the damage really comes when he sits down on his right hand. I’d like to see a little more variety in his strikes; he primarily relies on the jab and right straight, and intelligent fighters will read and counter.
- Herbert’s last three fights were Jack Grant (win – knockout), Cain Carrizosa (win – knockout) and Francisco Trinaldo (loss – knockout).
Prediction: Renato Moicano (-250) via submission
UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Volkov Best Bets
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Heavyweight – Ciryl Gane | -165 |
| Heavyweight – Tanner Boser | -175 |
| Light Heavyweight – Kennedy Nzechukwu | -125 |
| Featherweight – Daniel Pineda | +185 |
| Welterweight – Tim Means | -130 |
| Lightweight – Renato Moicano | -250 |
