The UFC is close to finalizing a heavyweight bout between Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov to headline an event in June, multiple sources told ESPN.
Both sides have agreed to the heavyweight matchup, which will headline UFC Fight Night on June 26 at a location to be announced.
Gane (8-0), of France, improved his UFC record to 5-0 in February, by out-pointing Jairzinho Rozenstruik in a unanimous decision. The victory was Gane’s first appearance in a UFC main event. Last month, he was linked in headlined to a potential fight against Derrick Lewis, but the UFC has opted to pair him with Volkov.
Fighting out of Moscow, Volkov (33-8) will look to strengthen his own case for a UFC title shot — something he’s been working on since he signed with the promotion in 2016. He is an impressive 7-2 in the UFC, but has suffered inopportune losses to Lewis and Curtis Blaydes. He is coming off a win against Alistair Overeem in February.
The fact that Lewis (25-7) is still without an opponent is potentially noteworthy, as UFC president Dana White has indicated Lewis would receive a title shot if the UFC is unable to come to financial terms on a fight between former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and defending champ Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou does not currently have a targeted date for his first title defense.