He has already had 5 fights postponed this year due to injuries from his opponents and the Covid.
So, as long as he is not in the cage on the night from Saturday to Sunday in Las Vegas, Ciryl Gane (1.98 m, 111 kg; 6 fights, 6 wins) remains cautious.
But if all goes well, the 30-year-old will face in the temple of MMA the Brazilian Junior Dos Santos, a former world champion.
After a meteoric rise, a success would put him in the UFC's World Top 10 heavyweights.
Why is this fight so important to you?
CIRYL GANE.
My opponent is a former UFC world belt holder.
He is therefore a former world champion.
If I can beat him, I will enter the World Top 10, in the big leagues.
I could then face the best, Stipe Miocic or Francis Ngannou in particular.
Behind, it can go very quickly for me.
This is the most important fight of my young career.
In the shadows we sharpen.
We sharpen all the tools 🪓
Back in the shadows, sharpening all of our tools.
pic.twitter.com/F61geT8y1G
- Ciryl Gane (@ciryl_gane) November 18, 2020
Who is Junior Dos Santos?
He is 36 years old.
He is aging and not a newbie like me who started late in MMA.
But he has enormous experience.
He fought against Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, three of the best in the world.
He lost those fights but it's not a shame to bow to such champions.
Is this your first time fighting in the United States?
Yes.
I have already fought twice in Asia and Latin America.
The USA is new to me.
It will allow the American public, the most important of the MMA planet, to discover me for the first time via pay-per-view.
It's a plus for my career.
Fighting in Las Vegas in the private room of the UFC even without an audience is something strong.
Is it additional pressure?
Well no !
Frankly, this is not a parameter that comes into play.
I do not think about it.
Doing so would be the best way to distort it.
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How do you approach this fight?
It may seem weird but I'm happy, happy to go back into the octagon (
Editor's note: the protective cage of MMA
), to fight.
Physically, I am ready to give a lot of intensity.
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐢𝐬, 𝐜'𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐞 é𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.
😉
🎥 Find the magnificent documentary by @beinsports_FR on @ciryl_gane, in full on https://t.co/2PmwGTWHHK pic.twitter.com/pwpRBXAT4M
- Fernand Lopez (@fernandlopez) November 30, 2020
Can you imagine yourself as the UFC world champion in 2021 or 2022?
It's funny but it's not what makes me dream the most.
I started late in MMA only a few months ago.
I don't have the same mindset as a youngster who was brought up with this goal, this culture.
If I ever become one, I'll take it as a logical continuation of my journey.
If I advance fight after fight, inevitably at some point, that should lead me to the belt.
Fernand Lopez, the MMA Factory trainer, says that soon you will be more famous than Teddy Riner…
Worldwide, I think so because of the fact that MMA is much more popular than judo globally, even if in France, it is still in its infancy. Being famous can happen to me, but it is not a something I'm thinking about and looking for.
I'll be back soon ✌🏾 # UFCFightIsland
🎥 @lasueur_off pic.twitter.com/f8F2CJGyqQ
- Ciryl Gane (@ciryl_gane) October 24, 2020
How did you go through this very special year?
I started breaking into the UFC the year it got tough.
I had started my career super well in 2019 by playing and winning 3 fights in 5 months, at lightning speed.
It's a great start.
And then, I got injured in February 2020.
Just before the start of the pandemic?
Exact.
The Covid would have prevented me from fighting anyway.
We then postpone my recovery fight in July but my opponent is injured.
Ditto in August then in September.
I finally had 5 fights called off this year.
It is really bad luck.
Is it complicated to find opponents for the world heavyweight number 13 that you are?
Absolutely, in the sense that I have no interest in playing guys who are far behind me in the standings.
Conversely, those in front have no more interest in taking me, who am at the start of my career, very young, without experience.
They don't necessarily want to challenge me.
I am at the turning point.
Have arrived in Vegas with the team 🛩️ Let's go for the #fightweek 👊🏽😉
Just arrived in Vegas with the Team!
Let's get the fight week going 🔥 # ufc256 pic.twitter.com/fU83W774a1
- Ciryl Gane (@ciryl_gane) December 8, 2020
Has 2020 been an economically complicated year?
I am lucky to be able to make a living from my profession.
The three fights that I played in 2019 allowed me to have a little bit of money for this year.
I always had food on my plate, a roof over my head.
I train and be patient because I think the best for me is yet to come.
Do you have any news of a future fight in France?
No, it's still unclear. As long as the pandemic is here, the water is too cloudy to have a clear idea on it. Playing the belt in France would be nice though, although I imagine that if I have to face Francis Ngannou who went through the MMA Factory in Paris like me, the Americans will want it to be done in the United States because of the pay-per-view. -view and time difference.
