In Photos: Ciryl Gane trains with 6'7" "giant" with UFC 310 two months away

Former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane is gearing up for a rematch with Russia's Alexander Volkov at UFC 310 in December. Since the Frenchman will be facing the 6'7" 'Drago' in the octagon, he's employed a boxer of similar stature to help him prepare.

Gane had Russian-born French Olympic boxer Mourad Aliev as one of his sparring partners. Needless to say, having a tall punching specialist in your fight camp will certainly help 'Bon Gamin' in dealing with Volkov's height and reach.

Check out the photos from Cyril Gane's sparring session with Mourad Aliev:

Sharing the photos, Gane wrote in the caption:

"Training with a Giant 🥊"

While Gane has an inch advantage in reach over Volkov, he is at a deficit when it comes to height. The Frenchman's two-inch height deficit against the Russian slugger will make a difference when kicks come into play. It would be interesting to see how Volkov would use his legs against Gane, now that the latter is sharpening his hands ahead of their bout.

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Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov II at UFC 310 explored

Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov first met at UFC Vegas 30 in June 2021. Inside a largely empty UFC Apex facility, 'Bon Gamin' out-fought and out-lasted 'Drago' after five rounds of technical fighting.

Looking into their rematch in December, it's worth speculating what possible changes, if any, both fighters should make to get their hand raised. For Volkov, it seemed he wasn't able to use his height advantage and long arms to full effectivity against the constantly moving Gane.

It might pay for the Russian to utilize longer strikes like jabs, straights, and teeps to halt the Frenchman's rhythm and advances. Also, taking the center of the octagon was crucial in the first fight - something Volkov wasn't able to do back in 2021. Another route he could take is to mix in some grappling, as he's naturally a heavier and bigger fighter than Gane.

As for Gane, doing a repeat performance of his 2021 victory isn't a bad route to take. Use his signature footwork, speedy combinations, and octagon control to keep Volkov honest with his attacks. He just needs to adjust to the possible changes his Russian foe will make in the rematch.