Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports
Rising heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane is expected to take on former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in his next Octagon appearance, per UFC president Dana White.
According to White, who revealed the news during his UFC Fight Island 6 pre-fight media scrum on Friday (replay HERE), the heavyweight pairing is currently in the works. The UFC president did not provide any additional information.
Dos Santos, 36, is coming off a tough knockout loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik back in August. It was the third-straight time that JDS has been finished via strikes inside of the Octagon. Before that, the former UFC heavyweight champion had won three straight, making it difficult to pinpoint where “Cigano” currently sits in his storied career. Regardless, a win over a talented up-and-comer like Gane will help dos Santos right the ship for one final march towards UFC gold in 2021.
Gane, 30, was expected to fight Ante Delija in UFC Fight Island 6’s co-main event before Delija was yanked due to contract issues with Professional Fighters League (PFL). It was a matchup that was supposed to propel Gane up the heavyweight ladder after the French prospect won his first three trips to the Octagon, including two submission victories. Gane hasn’t fought since December 2019 so it could be one full year until his next fight.
That said, a win for Gane over JDS will do absolute wonders for his UFC heavyweight stock. “Cigano” is one of the most recognizable names in the division today, but a more difficult test than what Delija would have been.