Tag: Ciryl Gane

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and interim champion Ciryl Gane stared each other down one last time before fight night as they get ready for the main event of UFC 270.

Ngannou and Gane came face-to-face at the UFC 270 ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of their highly anticipated heavyweight matchup. It is arguably the biggest heavyweight fight in recent memory.

Ngannou earned the heavyweight title by defeating Stipe Miocic, exacting revenge with a vicious knockout at UFC 260. He was widely expected to face former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones next, but the two sides couldn’t come to terms and the UFC ended up doing an interim title bout.

Gane would earn the opportunity at the interim title by earning big wins over the likes of Junior dos Santos, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Alexander Volkov. He went on to dominate Derrick Lewis via TKO at UFC 265 to win the interim championship.

Watch Francis Ngannou And Ciryl Gane’s Intense Staredown At The UFC 270 Weigh-Ins

The UFC 270 main event between Ngannou and Gane figures to be a prototypical power vs. technique matchup. But, Ngannou has also improved his grappling in a big way, as evidenced by his recent win over Miocic last year.

The Ngannou/Gane winner will cement themselves as the ‘baddest man on the planet’, but also more than likely get a shot against Jones next. While UFC president Dana White has remained cautiously optimistic that Jones will be next for either one of them, it seems like the fight to make.

UFC 270 will also be the first event since the promotion announced its partnership with Project Rock, their official footwear brand led by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

All eyes will be on Anaheim, CA on Saturday night, and the main event is anticipated to be a great show for the fans.

What are your predictions for UFC 270?

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is teasing the use of his vastly improved grappling against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.

Ngannou earned the heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 last year. While he’s mainly known as an elite striker with knockout power, he showcased superb takedown defense and stifled Miocic’s advances in the grappling department.

Ngannou will likely never be known as an elite wrestler as he is a striker, but he isn’t counting out the use of that toolbox in his matchup with Gane. During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on BT Sport, he explained why he feels he holds the advantage when it comes to grappling.

“I’ve gotta admit that it’s gonna be a tough fight, regarding his style,” Ngannou said. “But (this is) one of the first times that I worked to a fight and like, I feel pretty confident about like, ‘Okay, let’s say this guy will attempt a takedown or wrestling,’ I’m like, ‘This is not a fight, this is not a game.’ It’s not like when I was preparing for the Stipe fight, I (was like), ‘You better don’t let him touch your legs,’ you know?

“So, Ciryl has a good striking, but he kind of lacks in that area (wrestling), which is all in my favor because I have a little bit of experience there. When I look at him and his record, he hasn’t fought a wrestler, a good wrestler, yet. I was hoping sometime that he’d get Curtis Blaydes. Before you get past Curtis Blaydes, I don’t sign you off [LAUGHS].”

Gane has arguably the most unique skillset out of all the heavyweight contenders. He’s able to use his movement on the feet like a welterweight to go with his power as a heavyweight.

Ngannou and Gane used to train together briefly at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou parted ways with coach Fernand Lopez and moved to the United States. The two of them are familiar with one another’s strengths and weaknesses through their time under Lopez.

The Ngannou vs. Gane matchup has been pinned as a prototypical ‘power vs. technique’ matchup, but Gane has played that down. While striking will be the main form of attack from both men, expect the unexpected in this heavyweight battle.

What is your prediction for UFC 270?

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Expects Big Wrestling Advantage Over Ciryl Gane at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou is blaming the UFC for the betting odds on his upcoming main event against Ciryl Gane.

UFC 270 is just one day away and it will be headlined by a massive heavyweight title unification fight. Champion Francis Ngannou will be taking on his former training partner, interim champion Ciryl Gane. leading up to this fight the betting odds are swinging in favor of Gane, who is currently a very small betting favorite at around -120.

Ngannou disagrees with this line and is blaming the UFC’s hard push on Gane as the reason.

“Well, usually, I don’t look (at) those stuff, and I don’t care about it because the first time that I lost against Stipe, I was the favorite, by far the favorite,” Ngannou said in an interview with Max Kerllerman on ESPN’s This Just In. “And it didn’t go (my way). So those doesn’t matter much.

“And honestly, I think right here, the reason is just because in the past month, they’ve been doing everything to promote him and technically, I would say dispromote me. And people cannot sleep on my performance and forget about me.”

There has been a rough relationship between Ngannou and the UFC ever since he won the title. Just months after he was crowned that champion, the UFC set up an interim title fight.

Following that, there have been some contract negotiation issues that have placed Ngannou’s post-UFC 270 status in question. Although Dana White has been doing his best to downplay the severity of the disagreement, Ngannou still seems unhappy and could possibly leave the UFC with a loss on Saturday night. If he were to win, however, the ball would be in his court and perhaps he could get what he wants.

You can catch Ngannou’s full ESPN interview below.

Do you think the UFC has been promoting Ciryl Gane more than Francis Ngannou?

Continue Reading Ngannou Believes The UFC Is Responsible For Gane Being The Betting Favorite at MMA News.