Ciryl Gane is just days away from his next heavyweight title defense, with Josh Hokit set to challenge him in the main event of UFC 334. The matchup came together after Tom Aspinall was forced to vacate the championship following further complications with his right eye, which had been injured again during his recovery.
Hokit will enter Madison Square Garden with an unbeaten 10-0 record and considerable momentum. His recent victories over Curtis Blaydes and a 41-year-old Derrick Lewis have helped propel him into the title picture.
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However, his rapid rise to a championship opportunity has raised questions about whether he has done enough to leapfrog more established contenders. Alexander Volkov is among those who have every reason to feel overlooked.
The Russian heavyweight has won seven of his last eight fights, with his only defeat during that stretch coming against Gane at UFC 310. Even that result remains a point of contention among fans, many of whom believe Volkov deserved the decision.
Dana White had promised to address the situation following their controversial encounter, but the expected opportunity never materialized. Instead, Hokit has landed the next shot at Gane, leaving Volkov on the outside once again. Interestingly, even the champion appears puzzled by the promotion’s decision.
Ciryl Gane Understands Alexander Volkov’s Frustration Over Josh Hokit Getting Heavyweight Title Opportunity
During a recent interview with RMC Sport Combat, Gane was asked whether Hokit deserved to be fighting for the title ahead of Volkov. The Frenchman acknowledged that the American’s personality may have played a significant role in securing the opportunity.
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However, he also admitted that he would be frustrated if he were in the position of the contenders who had been overlooked.
He said, “If I put myself in the shoes of the guys in the top five, I wouldn’t be happy. Naturally, I wouldn’t be happy. I’d be thinking, ‘How’s this possible?’ I’ve been here for a while, I’ve earned my spot.”
Gane also brought up his own history with Volkov, acknowledging that their second meeting was far closer than the result suggested. He added, “You see the first Volkov fight I won, the second fight was super close, borderline controversial, practically a draw. I still deserve my shot to go there, you know? I understand the frustration and the desire to talk on social media. To defend yourself. But, you have to understand the game.”
However, Gane believes that simply maintaining a strong position in the rankings is not always enough to secure opportunities in the UFC. According to the champion, fighters need spectacular finishes and memorable performances to strengthen their negotiating position.
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He further explained, “Without that, you can’t negotiate. If you have lackluster fights, kind of whatever, you need a great, pristine record or have lost to guys like that. It’s all pawns. That’s how it is.”
Volkov’s situation could have looked considerably different had the judges awarded him the split decision against Gane in their 2024 meeting. Instead, the Russian has spent considerable time trying to work his way back into title contention.
His recent victory over Rizvan Kuniev at UFC 333 has at least kept him in the conversation. With Gane and Hokit now preparing to settle the heavyweight championship at UFC 334, Volkov will be hoping for an opportunity to finally fight for undisputed gold against whoever emerges victorious at Madison Square Garden.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
