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Fernand Lopez: Gane Is Ready To Take Jones If Ngannou Isn’t

Ciryl Gane is willing to welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division. Although the heavyweight championship belt did not change hands at UFC 270, challenger Ciryl Gane is not discouraged. He is still a force to be reckoned with in the division, and with some uncertainty looming with champion Francis Ngannou in both health and […]

Continue Reading Fernand Lopez: Gane Is Ready To Take Jones If Ngannou Isn’t at MMA News.

Ciryl Gane is willing to welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division.

Although the heavyweight championship belt did not change hands at UFC 270, challenger Ciryl Gane is not discouraged. He is still a force to be reckoned with in the division, and with some uncertainty looming with champion Francis Ngannou in both health and contract, Gane is willing to step into the big opportunities.

Ngannou might be out of competition for an extended period of time. The champ needs surgery following his win over Gane. This fact, paired with the unstable relationship he has with the UFC, could put his future in the organization in jeopardy. This is where Gane can step up. He was the interim champion and still the number one contender. If the UFC needs a big fight while Ngannou is out it could be Gane vs. Jon Jones.

Jones has been teasing a move to heavyweight for over a year. He too has been having some contract trouble along with some personal issues throughout his transition. However, Jones will most likely be making his heavyweight debut in the near future and Gane could be the man to welcome him according to his coach.

“If they (the UFC) solve the problem with Francis, what they would like to do, what everyone would like to have, is Jon Jones vs. Francis,” Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez told MMA Fighting. “I’m realistic, Jon Jones is number one. This is how it works, it’s a business… If that does not happen, and they have any issues having Francis onboard in the company, then obviously, we are ready to take Jon Jones.”

It may be unlikely to see Jones come to the heavyweight division and fight for anything less than a title fight. Ngannou may be out for a while and the UFC could easily strip him or create another interim title. If either of these options were to happen, Gane vs. Jones could be a perfect fit.

Do you want to see Ciryl Gane vs. Jon Jones in the heavyweight division?

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Ciryl Gane: The Man Who Made Francis Ngannou Is On My Side

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane says it’s the presence of Fernand Lopez on his side that makes him confident heading into his unification showdown with former teammate Francis Ngannou.

Gane’s rise from unknown prospect to championship s…

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane says it’s the presence of Fernand Lopez on his side that makes him confident heading into his unification showdown with former teammate Francis Ngannou.

Gane’s rise from unknown prospect to championship status has been as impressive as it’s been rapid. In the four years since making the transition from Muay Thai to MMA, “Bon Gamin” has made it to the sport’s premier promotion, extended his unblemished record to 10-0, defeated former world champions, and had UFC gold wrapped around his waist.

However, his next challenge will be his toughest to date. In the UFC 270 main event this weekend, Gane will lock horns with reigning titleholder Ngannou. With a battle of power versus a new technical approach to heavyweight fighting, the opening pay-per-view headliner of 2022 promises to be enthralling.

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Gane Explains Where His Confidence Derives From

One of the main storylines heading into the January 22 event is the previous history and connection the two heavyweight champs share. Prior to his move to Xtreme Couture in 2018, Ngannou was one of the top names out of Paris’ MMA Factory gym, where he trained under Coach Fernand Lopez.

But after a bitter split and a soured relationship, one that has become more public in the weeks and months leading up to UFC 270, the feud between Ngannou and Lopez has added an extra level of intrigue to the contest, as the 43-year-old looks to take down his former student with the help of his current pupil.

For Gane, this unique dynamic is what makes him so confident heading into his unification clash with “The Predator.” While many would expect his experience sparring with Ngannou to help the most, Gane told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that it is the presence of Lopez on his side that has boosted his self-belief.

“We have improved a lot (since I sparred Ngannou). So, no, this is not what exactly makes me confident. This is more because I’ve got Fernand Lopez on my side,” said Gane. “This is a better thing to make me confident because he knows him, he make him, you understand? So this gives me more confidence than the sparring.”

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With the clash of styles, the heated feud between Ngannou and Lopez, and the champion’s ongoing contractual dispute and uncertain future, not many heavyweight contests have had as many compelling stories in the build-up as Gane vs. Ngannou. We’ll see if that makes for exciting action inside the Octagon come January 22.

Do you think having Fernand Lopez in his corner will help Ciryl Gane to defeat his former teammate Francis Ngannou at UFC 270?

Continue Reading Ciryl Gane: The Man Who Made Francis Ngannou Is On My Side at MMA News.

Fernand Lopez Hopes To Bury The Hatchet With Francis Ngannou

Fernand Lopez feels that it is time for him and his former student, Francis Ngannou to settle their differences and move forward. Lopez will be cornering Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270 this weekend for the heavyweight title against Ngannou. It will be the first time that he has coached against a […]

Fernand Lopez feels that it is time for him and his former student, Francis Ngannou to settle their differences and move forward.

Lopez will be cornering Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270 this weekend for the heavyweight title against Ngannou. It will be the first time that he has coached against a former pupil of his in a title bout. There has been some tension between the two camps during the build up to this fight.

However, Lopez does seem to want to move on from the bickering for good now. He spoke with Submission Radio about where he stands on the rivalry.

“I’m totally sick of it,” Lopez said. “I’m tired. I can’t do that anymore. The problem is, being authentic is not easy to do. Whenever you’re authentic, you get in trouble at some point.

“I’m a father, I have two sons. You want me to tell you who is better than who? This gets me in trouble because the other son will say, ‘Oh you see, he’s trying to pin me down again, he’s trying to say (bad things) about me again.’ So, let it be.”

Backstage at UFC 268 was when the rivalry really kicked up. Ngannou dismissively walked past Gane, Lopez, and other members of the MMA Factory without even acknowledging them. ‘The Predator’ would go on to clarify that his beef was not with Gane but with Lopez over past disagreements when he was training there.

Still, despite their war of words with each other, Lopez would like to move on and become cordial once again.

“I don’t want to sound like the ex-wife who can’t let go because they split,” Lopez said.

“I’m really open to shaking his hand any time or talk with him any time, but I can’t work with him anymore,” Lopez continued. “It’s like you were working in a very complicated job, and you discovered how to work in a comfort zone, in the best comfort zone that you can have. So, yeah, I will not go back to work with Francis ever. But, I think as a gentleman, we should be able to say hello, how are you doing? That’s it, and be polite.

“We choose our friends, and you can be friends with this guy and not be friends with that guy. I don’t think we really can keep working or do any friendship. I think we just have to be polite to each other and be respectful.”

The full interview with Submission Radio is available below.

Do you want to see Fernand Lopez and Francis Ngannou be back on good terms?

Francis Ngannou Says Therapist Warned Him About Fernand Lopez Years Ago

Francis Ngannou has known that his ex-coach would be a problem for years.

Francis Ngannou is getting ready to defend his heavyweight belt for the very first time this Saturday at UFC 270. He will be facing off against interim champion Ciryl Gane. …

Francis Ngannou has known that his ex-coach would be a problem for years.

Francis Ngannou is getting ready to defend his heavyweight belt for the very first time this Saturday at UFC 270. He will be facing off against interim champion Ciryl Gane. Ngannou and Gane have a common bond. They used to be training partners, and Gane is still coached by Ngannou’s former head coach Fernand Lopez.

In the leadup to this fight, Lopez has been trying everything he can think of to get in the head of Ngannou. There has been some drama between Lopez and his former student. Ngannou isn’t all that surprised by this tactic taken by Lopez and says he knew that it would be a problem back a few years ago.

“I won’t say I’m surprised knowing the person (Lopez). I always knew that something like this could come from him,” Ngannou said in an interview with UFC’s Megan Olivi. “I was in Paris two years ago after the Derrick Lewis fight, and I was dealing with some personal stuff on my end.

Francis Ngannou Fernand Lopez — (via Francis Ngannou’s social media)

“I was so in the bad place that I decided to see a psychiatrist. If you look at the psychiatrist’s notes, it’s funny because even two years ago she pointed out Fernand as a problem and to watch out. I thought she was like, crazy. She started to break it down and put it on the note. Now I think she was all right.”

Ngannou has had to deal with a lot leading up to this fight. He has been having some negotiation problems with the UFC and could be getting ready to leave the organization. Add in all the trouble he has had to deal with from Lopez, including threatening to leak a sparring video of him and Gane sparring.

Ngannou might not only be fighting for his UFC belt on Jan. 22 but also perhaps his peace of mind. He will be looking to put Gane, Lopez, and possibly the UFC behind him.

What do you think of a therapist warning Ngannou to watch out for Lopez?

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Says Therapist Warned Him About Fernand Lopez Years Ago at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou Reveals Psychiatrist Warned Him About Former Coach Fernand Lopez

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s relationship with former coach Fernand Lopez got so bad that a psychiatrist warned him to stay away. Ngannou is set to face his former MMA Factory teammate, Ciryl Gane for the UFC unified heavyweight title at UFC 270. The two fighters appear to be cordial with one another, but Ngannou […]

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s relationship with former coach Fernand Lopez got so bad that a psychiatrist warned him to stay away.

Ngannou is set to face his former MMA Factory teammate, Ciryl Gane for the UFC unified heavyweight title at UFC 270. The two fighters appear to be cordial with one another, but Ngannou has a strained history with Lopez, who now trains Gane.

Ngannou was allegedly kicked out of the gym by Lopez for failing to pay training fees, allegations that Ngannou has denied. But during a recent interview with Megan Olivi, Ngannou revealed that things got even worse than most had realized.

“At some point, I thought we were okay,” Ngannou said. “Because even when I was in Vegas, I was friendly and connected to him. That’s why sometimes I will ask him to come to my corner even though I wasn’t in his gym anymore. You know just as a friend. Obviously, that wasn’t enough. So many things was on his mind. And I couldn’t bring a solution to that. I always knew something like this might come from him. I was in Paris three years ago after the Derrick Lewis fight. I was dealing with some personal stuff on my end. I decided to see a psychiatrist. It’s funny because even three years ago she pointed out that Fernand was a problem so watch out. I thought she was crazy. But she started breaking it down and putting it in the notes. Now, I think she was all right.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

Fernand Lopez Has Attacked Francis Ngannou’s Character In Recent Interviews

Lopez had made the rounds in the media, including an exclusive interview with LowKickMMA just days ago. He has called Ngannou a liar for denying that he attempted to stop the UFC from signing Gane when he was still developing his MMA skillset.

Ngannou is looking forward to putting everything to bed with his first title defense at UFC 270. If he’s able to defeat Gane, he may be able to silence Lopez and his former team for good.

What are your thoughts on the Francis Ngannou/Fernand Lopez tension?

Ex-Coach: Ngannou Lacks The Dedication, Sacrifice, & Skill To Be A Boxer

Francis Ngannou’s dreams of becoming a boxer might be over before they began.

Francis Ngannou is just one of the UFC fighters who are looking to make some extra money by trying their hand at boxing. The road paved by Jake Paul has given former UFC …

Francis Ngannou’s dreams of becoming a boxer might be over before they began.

Francis Ngannou is just one of the UFC fighters who are looking to make some extra money by trying their hand at boxing. The road paved by Jake Paul has given former UFC fighters a chance to make a huge paycheck in a “celebrity” style boxing match. Ngannou has been toying with this idea himself and has been asking for a shot at Tyson Fury.

One man who is not so sure of Ngannou’s chances against “The Gypsy King” is his former coach Fernand Lopez.

“I think the fight makes sense for Francis because he thinks he can cash out. There’s also something there for Tyson Fury, he doesn’t care that it’s not a competitive fight, he just wants to make money and make some news,” Lopez told The Mac Life. “It would take at least three years for Francis Ngannou to be competitive from a boxing standpoint with Tyson Fury, and I mean three years only dedicated to boxing. Realistically, he would have to stop everything else and probably do nothing else for three years, only boxing. No grappling, nothing else. The way that his body and muscles are built, it will not allow him to keep throwing punches after the third round.”

Ngannou is known for his power in the UFC heavyweight division. Who can forget when he sent Alistair Overeem into the shadow realm at UFC 218, but can his power translate over to the squared circle? Lopez thinks not.

“I’m not sure Francis can ever challenge the stamina or endurance of Tyson Fury,” Lopez said. “All he can do is have a high defense; be elusive, close footwork, change direction. But eventually, Tyson will wear him down, get him tired, work the body and then go up with the uppercut, and sooner or later Francis will give up because of the volume, because of the pressure shots and he will just go down.

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“I don’t see how he can win the match. This is an opportunity for him to cash out. I’m not sure if you’re a UFC fighter it’s worth letting it all go and have three years boxing training–how would you live your life, what would be your income? And after three years, you may be competitive enough to stand there and keep throwing punches.”

Lopez was Ngannou’s first MMA coach in France. He led him to the UFC and saw him rise up the ranks. However, the two have since had a falling out and Lopez is now the head coach of Ngannou’s upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane. Having trained Ngannou for years, Lopez thinks he knows what to expect in the main event of UFC 270. He and Gane are preparing for Ngannou and all of his strengths and weaknesses.

“We are not expecting anything brilliant, Francis is not a boxer,” Lopez said. “You train a lot to be a boxer. Boxing needs dedication, boxing needs sacrifice, you need years and years to train. So we know the outcome of that fight. The question is how much Francis Ngannou can cash out, because he only has one shot. Because objectively speaking, he cannot think about having a boxing career because his boxing skill will not be enough for him to become a boxer.”

Do you think Francis Ngannou would have what it takes to succeed at boxing?

Continue Reading Ex-Coach: Ngannou Lacks The Dedication, Sacrifice, & Skill To Be A Boxer at MMA News.