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A card that was expected to produce high-quality fights throughout, UFC Vegas 30: Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov largely delivered on its promise of entertainment.
The prelims saw only two fights go the distance. Jeremiah Wells showcased his freak power with a huge win over Warlley Alves, while Shavkat Rakhmonov continued his undefeated streak with a submission of returning veteran Michel Prazeres. Kennedy Nzechukwu produced a come-from-behind knockout win as well, setting the stage for a fiery main card.
Although there were only two finishes in the six main-card fights, we saw some exciting action unfold at the APEX facility in Las Vegas. Here are the best and worst moments from UFC Vegas 30: Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov.
#5 UFC Vegas 30 Best: Tim Means uses every bit of experience to outlast Nicolas Dalby
Two months into 2020, with only three wins in his last nine UFC fights, Tim Means wasn't in a great place. But now on a three-fight win streak, the 37-year-old has experienced a remarkable career resurgence that can be chalked down to his calm decision-making in the octagon.
An example of this came during his unanimous decision win over Nicolas Dalby at UFC Vegas 30. 'The Dirty Bird' fought through a vicious opening exchange, mixing up kicks with straight punches and clinching the first two rounds with some smart ground control.
However, in the third, he was in for a rude surprise. Means was caught flush by Dalby, who knew he had to pull a finish out of the hat to record a win. The New Mexico native was wobbled, but he refused to give 'Danish Dynamite' any breathing room and clinched desperately until time ran out.
A younger version of Means may not have handled the adversity he faced as well. Either way, a ranked opponent next seems inevitable.
#4 UFC Vegas 30 Worst: The ending of Andre Fili vs Daniel Pineda
Andre Fili had gone the distance in nine of his 10 fights before facing off against Daniel Pineda at UFC Vegas 30, but he has never been a boring fighter by any stretch of the imagination. And this weekend, 'Touchy' looked absolutely superb before an unfortunate eye poke brought about a distinctly anticlimactic end.
Fili landed head kicks and punches at will, with as many as 34 significant strikes in the first round. Judge Junichiro Kamijo scored it a 10-8 for the California native, who also had Pineda in all sorts of trouble with a perfectly-placed kick to the liver.
But as fate would have it, Fili's hand slipped off Pineda's chest and into his eye, rendering him unable to continue. 'The Pit' showed great heart by trying his best to convince the doctor that he was fine, but it was clear that his vision was significantly impaired.
Both Fili and Pineda showed class and dignity in defeat, but the ending was one that left a sour taste in the mouths of MMA fans around the world.
#3 UFC Vegas 30 Best: Timur Valiev pulls off a comeback for the ages against Raoni Barcelos
A contest that promised relentless action, Raoni Barcelos vs Timur Valiev has been a hot topic of debate since it went down at UFC Vegas 30.
Many believe that the fight should've been called a draw, with the two knockdowns that Barcelos landed in the second round possibly justifying a 10-8. But only one judge thought so, handing Valiev a brilliant comeback win due to sheer output. Irrespective of the judging, the fight was a supreme display of skill.
Barcelos started off extremely slowly, barely throwing anything in the first round as Valiev drifted in and out of range. And late in the second, 'Lucky' was almost out cold after being caught by a massive uppercut. But he made his way back to the stool, and came back a different fighter.
Valiev clinched the third round - and the fight - on volume alone, with the Brazilian once again bizarrely passive in the final stanza. Barcelos suffered his first UFC defeat, while Valiev extended his undefeated streak to nine fights.
#2 UFC Vegas 30 Worst: Lethargic Ovince Saint Preux doesn't have much of a future in the UFC
A listless performance from UFC veteran Ovince Saint Preux saw him fall to his fifth loss in seven fights. A second-round knockout from Tanner Boser helped 'The Bulldozer' get back in the win column after his loss to Ilir Latifi earlier this month, but it also probably drilled one of the final nails in OSP's coffin.
Saint Preux barely threw anything in the first round and didn't really attempt to take the fight to the ground either. In the second, he finally landed a takedown, only for Boser to make his way back up. Initially, it seemed like the Canadian had used the fence to get up, but replays showed that his fingers weren't outstretched.
Either way, soon after Boser got the fight standing, he landed a vicious right hand that had Saint Preux out of his senses. At 38 years old, the veteran doesn't seem motivated to continuously challenge for wins, even if his strategy was to tire Boser out by making him produce high output in the first round.
OSP announced that he will appeal the verdict as he "felt a hand on his back" from referee Jason Herzog, but it seems like he doesn't have a future in the UFC.
#1 UFC Vegas 30 Best - Incredible Ciryl Gane soars into title contention
Ciryl Gane is a class apart at heavyweight when it comes to technical skill and speed. The Frenchman had arguably the best display of his short UFC career when he cruised to a unanimous decision win over Alexander Volkov in the main event of UFC Vegas 30.
Gane used the first few minutes to feel out his opponent, but it was smooth sailing from there on. He used his jab, which incidentally was something Volkov didn't seem to trust as much as he did in his previous fights, to keep the Russian at bay. The speed of 'Bon Gamin' was a major standout, with his constant stance switches and smart use of takedowns - even if he didn't land them - keeping Volkov guessing.
In a battle between arguably the two most technical strikers on the UFC roster, Gane passed the test with flying colors. Scarily, he's only nine fights into his professional MMA career and is getting better at a rapid rate.
Does he have the power to make him a fearsome knockout artist? Maybe not. But his striking truly is a work of art. It won't be long before we see him compete for the UFC heavyweight title.
Also Read: 3 possible next opponents for Alexander Volkov after UFC Vegas 30
