This past Saturday at UFC Vegas 20, the heavyweights took center stage and were in the main event. Undefeated prospect, Ciryl Gane (8-0), took on Jairzinho Rozenstruik (11-2). The matchup between these two looked to be a pivotal matchup for the UFC’s heavyweight division.
Both Gane and Rozenstruik were being built up as finishers heading into this contest. Rozenstruik had the one punch knockout power while Gane had a repertoire that included elite striking and great submissions for a heavyweight.
After the Derek Lewis knockout at UFC Vegas 19, there was high expectations for this matchup. Well, it didn’t turn out to be the firefight that some people were expecting. However, it was incredibly one-sided.
It was apparent early on what the strategy was for both men. Rozenstruik was looking for one big shot to end the night while Gane was staying light-footed and striking from the outside. While Gane’s performance wasn’t flashy, it was incredibly effective.
Rozenstruik struggled to get any offense off during the five rounds. Gane stayed on the outside and just popped Bigi Boy with jabs and kicks. In the end, UFC Vegas 20 was a disappointment if you wanted to see a finish. However, if you’re a fan of Ciryl Gane, you had to enjoy his dominance.
What’s next after UFC Vegas 20?
When the scorecards were read at UFC Vegas 20, all three judges scored the contest 50-45 for Ciryl Gane. The French heavyweight stayed unbeaten and he is bound to be in the top four of the rankings at heavyweight when they come out tomorrow.
Dana White wasn’t thrilled with the performance, but at the end of the day, a dominant win is a dominant win. Gane did what he had to do and it was a complete shutout. You can’t fault the man for that.
So what will the UFC do with Ciryl Gane after this victory? Well, I think the perfect opponent for Gane would be the winner of the UFC Vegas 18 headliner. Alexander Volkov (33-8) should be next for Gane.
When the rankings come out tomorrow, both of these men should be ranked inside the top five. Both carry winning streaks and both probably need another win or two before they earn themselves a UFC title shot. I believe this is the path the promotion should go, and I believe they ultimately will go this route.