Ciryl Gane, fresh off his unanimous decision over Alexander Volkov at UFC Vegas 30 last Saturday, is now scheduled for an interim heavyweight title bout against Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. However, that championship development was something the Frenchman was well aware even before his most recent bout.

Gane (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) told MMAJunkie on Thursday that the UFC informed his camp before his headlining bout that he was penciled in for an interim title fight in August.

Ciryl Gane knew a title opportunity was possible before UFC Vegas 30 win

“We knew already because just before the fight, UFC sent a message to [my trainer] Fernand Lopez. A message like, ‘Yes, this is the semifinal, so do your job, and we’ll see after that,’” Gane said. “I think it was an interim title shot, yes. But I’m not sure because they didn’t text with me. It was Lopez, and Lopez told me, ‘Man, do your job, and after the fight, you’re going to be happy.’”

Gane did his job. Outclassing the former Bellator heavyweight champ for five rounds in a one-sided bout that he won 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 on the scorecards.

The undefeated 31-year-old now will prepare to square off with second-ranked heavyweight stalwart Lewis (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), in the headliner of the August 7 UFC 265 pay-per-view. Which takes place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

–Field Level Media