Tag: Ciryl Gane

Ciryl Gane Unsure Why Francis Ngannou Snubbed Him, Ex-Team Backstage At UFC 268

Francis NgannouAhead of his January UFC heavyweight title unification clash with former teammate, Francis Ngannou — interim division champion, Ciryl Gane has claimed he is unsure why the Batie native appeared to blank him and his coach, Fernand Lopez, as well as middleweight contender, Nassourdine Imavov whilst walking through the corridors of Madison Square Garden. Slated […]

Francis Ngannou

Ahead of his January UFC heavyweight title unification clash with former teammate, Francis Ngannou — interim division champion, Ciryl Gane has claimed he is unsure why the Batie native appeared to blank him and his coach, Fernand Lopez, as well as middleweight contender, Nassourdine Imavov whilst walking through the corridors of Madison Square Garden.

Slated to headline UFC 270 in January from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California — Ngannou looks to successfully unify the heavyweight titles after the introduction of an interim crown back in August at UFC 265 — which Gane won via a one-sided third round ground strikes knockout win over common-foe, Derrick Lewis.

As a result, Gane will now challenge, brief former training partner, Ngannou in a heavyweight championship unification bout at the beginning of next year to kick off the promotion’s flagship schedule for the annum.

However, the pair were both pictured backstage at UFC 268 last weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City — with Ngannou appearing to snub a potential interaction with the aforenoted trio of Lopez, Gane, and Imavov whilst passing them in a corridor.

Gane, who was present in the corner of Imavov for the 25-year-old Imavov’s impressive second round ground strikes knockout triumph against Edmen Shahbazyan explained that he was unsure as to why Ngannou appeared to blank him at UFC 268 backstage.

Ciryl Gane questions why Francis Ngannou snubbed Nassourdine Imavov especially

“Why? Just why? It was not necessary,” Ciryl Gane told MMA Junkie reporter, Farah Hannoun. “But it’s like that. Some people think differently than me. Some people are different. So for me, it was not necessary. But he did it. This is his [Francis Ngannou] story, so that’s it. …“

“I’m surprised because maybe he has something against me, maybe he has something against his former coach, Fernand Lopez, but Nassourdine Imavov?” Ciryl Gane questioned. “Nassourdine Imavov just finished his fight, and he won, and in MMA Factory, maybe Nassourdine Imavov was Francis’ biggest sparring partner. So, Fernand, Ok. Me, I’m the future opponent, Ok. But Nassourdine Imavov, it’s a little bit of a shame.“

Whilst a narrative regarding their past training sessions and history as teammates looms large in the background, Gane maintained that he is not out to exact revenge in January.

“At first, I was a little bit uncomfortable with that because too many people try to put me in the headlines like, ‘The guy with the revenge,’ but this is not my story,” Gane maintained. “Let me do my thing, and now I’m comfortable with that. When I started my career in the UFC, maybe my first three fights after every fight, the journalists talk about: ‘And Francis and Francis.’ You, stay focused on me please. I just arrived; I’m gonna do my thing. Francis was already in the top five, so this is the feeling.“

Francis Ngannou Shades Ciryl Gane In Backstage Encounter At UFC 268

A rivalry is really starting to form between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

This is not something that has been the case for long, but Ngannou has gone on record to voice his frustrations with the UFC over the way they handled Gane and Derrick Lew…

Francis Ngannou Ciryl Gane

A rivalry is really starting to form between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

This is not something that has been the case for long, but Ngannou has gone on record to voice his frustrations with the UFC over the way they handled Gane and Derrick Lewis fighting for the interim heavyweight title. In their promotion of this fight, they painted a picture of the heavyweight champ choosing not to defend his title because he was on vacation, when he was just looking to fight about a month later.

Now, it seems that Ngannou is beginning to take this out on Gane to a certain extent too, as seen backstage at UFC 268. Video emerged that shows the heavyweight champ and the interim champ having a brief encounter that saw Ngannou give Gane the cold shoulder, walking past him without any acknowledgement, leaving the French fighter stunned and confused.

On the one hand, it is hard to not feel for both Fancis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane in this situation. While Gane has not necessarily done anything wrong, only accepting the opportunities that were gifted him, Ngannou may feel like he is a part of the situation that disrespected him, meaning that he looks as Gane as an enemy.

Either way, the look on the face of Gane was that of surprise, as few expected to see this type of animosity between these two heavyweight behemoths. Surprising or not though, they will have the chance to settle the score when Ngannou steps into the Octagon and attempts to defend his title and get revenge on the UFC for the way he feels they have slighted him, hopefully at UFC 270, early next year.

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Shades Ciryl Gane In Backstage Encounter At UFC 268 at MMA News.

Ngannou: Gane Unification Bout Isn’t On The Same Level As A Jones Fight

UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou doesn’t hold the same excitement towards his upcoming fight with Ciryl Gane as he would have for a clash with Jon Jones. Ngannou hasn’t fought since his championship crowning in March. In the UFC 260 main event, he entered the Octagon with Stipe Miocic for the second time. Having previously […]

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UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou doesn’t hold the same excitement towards his upcoming fight with Ciryl Gane as he would have for a clash with Jon Jones.

Ngannou hasn’t fought since his championship crowning in March. In the UFC 260 main event, he entered the Octagon with Stipe Miocic for the second time. Having previously come up short against the former champ in 2018, “The Predator” was given a second crack at gold after going on a tear in the division. In four fights, Ngannou secured four first-round knockouts, leaving the bodies of Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik in his wake.

After displaying his improved takedown defense and evasive wrestling in the opening round, Ngannou brutally KO’d Miocic in the second frame to become the UFC’s third active African champ.

Despite being prepared to defend his belt for the first time last month, the UFC’s desire to have Derrick Lewis headline Houston’s UFC 265 card saw them create an interim title. Opposite “The Black Beast” in August was Gane. “Bon Gamin” dominated and recorded his third main event win of 2021. In doing so, he set up a blockbuster unification bout for UFC 270.

Despite most being intrigued to see whether Gane’s technical style can solve the Ngannou power puzzle, many are still disappointed not to see the champ’s first defense come against former light heavyweight king Jon Jones. That includes “The Predator” himself.

Ngannou recently made an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour. When asked if he has the same excitement for his clash with the Frenchman as he would have if he was facing “Bones,” Ngannou suggested the matchups aren’t on the same level.

“Not particularly,” Ngannou said. “But it’s a good fight. You have to be aware of the danger of any fight, so it’s a fight, he’s a good opponent, but not on the level of a Jon Jones fight for example if that’s what you’re asking. It’s not the same thing.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

With Ngannou’s title victory and Jones’ quest to move up to heavyweight, most believed a matchup between the pair was the biggest fight the UFC could make, and was one they had to. However, after failed negotiations and the promotion’s refusal to match Jones’ demands, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion’s divisional debut was pushed back to 2022.

During an interview at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony last month, where Jones was inducted into the Fight Wing for his 2013 clash with Alexander Gustafsson, the 34-year-old revealed he was targeting his first heavyweight appearance for the second quarter of 2022. However, the former champ was arrested in Las Vegas for battery domestic violence just hours later, and it remains to be seen if his UFC status will be affected.

Are you less excited for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane than you would be if Jon Jones was challenging for the Cameroonian’s gold?

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Francis Ngannou: Ciryl Gane Is A Good Fight But Not On Level Of Jon Jones

Ngannou GaneFrancis Ngannou doesn’t believe a matchup with Ciryl Gane is on the same level as Jon Jones. Although not official, Ngannous is expected to face Gane in a heavyweight title unification clash at UFC 270 which takes place early next year on January 22. Gane, of course, won the interim strap when he TKO’d Derrick […]

Ngannou Gane

Francis Ngannou doesn’t believe a matchup with Ciryl Gane is on the same level as Jon Jones.

Although not official, Ngannous is expected to face Gane in a heavyweight title unification clash at UFC 270 which takes place early next year on January 22.

Gane, of course, won the interim strap when he TKO’d Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 in August. But it could have very easily been Jones facing Ngannou instead as it looked like the matchup to make — until Jones ran into pay issues with the UFC again.

And while Ngannou believes a matchup with Gane is still a good fight, the reality is it’s nothing compared to one with Jones.

“Not particularly,” Ngannou said when asked if it was as exciting as a fight with Jones (via MMA Fighting). “But it’s a good fight. You have to be aware of the danger of any fight, so it’s a fight, he’s a good opponent, but not on the level of a Jon Jones fight for example if that’s what you’re asking. It’s not the same thing.”

One may think that Ngannou and Gane being former teammates in France would make the matchup even more interesting with a backstory and everything.

However, “The Predator” played down the extent of their relationship stating that they were not close friends and that Gane was briefly helping him out for his fight with Cain Velasquez.

That is also one reason why fighting Gane won’t be awkward for Ngannou.

“That will not be awkward,” Ngannou added. “Fighting for me is my job first of all. I take it as a job. Maybe some people take it as a personal issue, but it’s just a job.”

Who do you see coming out on top?

Francis Ngannou Accuses The UFC Of Discrediting & Sabatoging Him

Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou believes the UFC machine is not behind him. After seizing heavyweight gold from Stipe Miocic’s grasp in March, the world has been waiting for the next Francis Ngannou fight. Many were surprised when the UFC announced that the interim heavyweight championship would be on the line between Ciryl Gane and Derrick […]

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Accuses The UFC Of Discrediting & Sabatoging Him at MMA News.

Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou believes the UFC machine is not behind him.

After seizing heavyweight gold from Stipe Miocic’s grasp in March, the world has been waiting for the next Francis Ngannou fight. Many were surprised when the UFC announced that the interim heavyweight championship would be on the line between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis in August.

After all, “The Predator” had just won the title less than five months ago. Prior to UFC 265, it was implied by Dana White that Ngannou was taking a vacation, but the champion is refuting those claims. After receiving some flak about the interim title fight, Dana White shut down critics and said there are fights every Saturday if a fighter wants to fight.

Speaking on The MMA Hour, Ngannou accredited Gane’s win and explained that the company wanted to sabotage his name and title.

“He deserves it. He deserved to win the fight. He had a very good fight, a very good run. I do not have a problem. My only problem is that they want to discredit my title. That’s the only problem, but I can not control what other people do… You cannot blame him for anything. He did everything right,” Ngannou said.

When pressed on if he believes the UFC’s marketing machine is behind him, the heavyweight champion is adamant that if they are discrediting him, then they are certainly not in the business of promoting him.

“Honestly, that’s not a feeling that I have. Ngannou stated. I don’t know, I might be wrong, but I don’t feel that because in my opinion, right now, from what I’m seeing, the UFC tried to discredit me. That’s what I know. Those who promote somebody can not work together with discrediting him. You don’t do that to somebody that you want to promote,” Ngannou said.

Recently, the anticipated heavyweight unification bout between Ngannou and Gane has been announced for UFC 270. The two titans are set to take the Octagon by storm on January 22. As the marquee event draws closer, given Ngannou’s perceived issues, it will be interesting to see how the UFC promotes both fighters ahead of their showdown.

Do you believe Francis Ngannou is not being promoted effectively?

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Accuses The UFC Of Discrediting & Sabatoging Him at MMA News.

Ciryl Gane Reveals He Was 50/50 Between Entering MMA Or Boxing

UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has suggested he was close to choosing a career in boxing over mixed martial arts. Despite only making his professional MMA debut in 2018, Gane attracted the UFC’s attention within a year, After three finishes, he was signed to MMA’s biggest promotion in 2019. Two submissions over Raphael Pessoa […]

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UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has suggested he was close to choosing a career in boxing over mixed martial arts.

Despite only making his professional MMA debut in 2018, Gane attracted the UFC’s attention within a year, After three finishes, he was signed to MMA’s biggest promotion in 2019. Two submissions over Raphael Pessoa and Don’Tale Mayes and a decision win over Tanner Boser later, and “Bon Gamin” had established his name in the division and secured a clash opposite a former champion.

After finishing Junior dos Santos on the feet, Gane entered 2021 with a 7-0 record. In two UFC Fight Night main events, the Frenchman controlled and dominated powerhouse Jairzinho Rozenstruik and elite striker Alexander Volkov. When an interim belt was created for the UFC 265 headliner, Gane was the obvious choice to face Derrick Lewis.

In an absolute masterclass, the technical heavyweight stifled “The Black Beast” and had gold wrapped around his waist following a third-round TKO. After an immensely successful year, Gane will be hoping to go one step further and secure the undisputed throne in 2022.

Despite finding remarkably quick success in MMA, Gane’s post-Muay Thai combat sports path wasn’t set in stone. During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, “Bon Gamin” was asked whether he’d follow in the footsteps of Conor McGregor, Vitor Belfort, and Anderson Silva by crossing over to boxing at some point.

After leaving the door open to a venture into the ring, Gane revealed he almost ended up pursuing a career in the squared circle instead of the cage.

“To cross the line to do a boxing match? Why not? Why not my man? And you know what? Before I started in MMA, it was 50/50 with the boxing. When I switched to MMA, it was 50/50 because I had a friend in the boxing club and he asked me to come because they had more money in boxing than in Muay Thai. He told me, ‘You could have something good in boxing.’ It was 50/50 and I chose the MMA. But it’s not finished, maybe sometime I’ll cross the line, maybe.”

Thankfully for UFC fans, Gane’s chosen path has seen him develop into one of the best heavyweights in the world, something he’ll hope to further prove when he faces Francis Ngannou at UFC 270.

The pair will clash at the opening pay-per-view of the year in a blockbuster unification showdown. With former UFC champions Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic potentially waiting in the wings for the victor, 2022 looks set to be huge year for the heavyweights. Gane will look to ensure he leads it with an impressive performance against “The Predator” on January 22.

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 270, Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou?

Continue Reading Ciryl Gane Reveals He Was 50/50 Between Entering MMA Or Boxing at MMA News.