Ciryl Gane secured a split decision victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310, marking his second consecutive win since his title fight loss to Jon Jones. However, the Frenchman expressed dissatisfaction with his performance due to an apparent injury sustained early in the bout.
In the first round, Gane injured multiple toes on his left foot during his initial teep kick. This inssue significantly impacted his fighting style, limiting his mobility and effectiveness in both striking and grappling exchanges. He elaborated on this during the post-fight press conference.
My first teep. You see, this changes a lot of my style because I love to be on my feet and be fast, in and out, land my jab. So I was really focused on it.
The toe injury compelled Gane to alter his strategy, opting to grapple more with Volkov. However, the injury hindered his ability to push off his foot, reducing the effectiveness of his grappling techniques.
I was frustrated about my fight because of this. I was frustrated because I started my training in July for this fight, and you started your fight like this. Like the first second you land.
Looking ahead, Gane expressed a desire to return to action promptly but acknowledged the necessity of allowing his toes to heal fully before resuming training.
The victory over Volkov was also not without controversy.
The split decision was met with boos from the crowd, and even UFC CEO Dana White believed Volkov deserved the win. Gane himself appeared uncertain of the outcome, as he began to exit the Octagon in disappointment immediately after the result was announced.
This fight was a rematch of their 2021 encounter, which Gane won via unanimous decision. Since then, both fighters have experienced different trajectories, with "Bon Gamin" competing for UFC gold three times and "Drago" steadily climbing the rankings.
Gane's recent performances, including this contentious win, have sparked discussions among fans and analysts about his standing in the heavyweight division and potential future matchups.