"
To face someone of this caliber is not common, that's for sure,
" said Ciryl Gane a few days ago, before leaving for Las Vegas.
At 35, Jon Jones is seen as an MMA legend.
Undefeated since 2009, he dominated the UFC's light heavyweight division for years and challenged himself to move up the ranks.
Gane will have a lot to do to win, even if the Vendéen has seen others since his professional debut in Thai boxing.
Gane vs Guidon, TKO - “The Night of the Titans”, March 18, 2017, Tours
Ciryl Gane during her fight against the French Brice Guidon, during "La Nuit des Titans" in Tours, March 18, 2017. Brice Guidon
We are at the beginning of 2017. Chef Alexandre Bella Ola takes a man named Ciryl to his friend Fernand Lopez's room.
A promising boy who practices Thai boxing.
“When this young person tells me that he is a heavyweight,
remembers Fernand Lopez to our colleagues from Slate,
I think he is laughing.
He has a
baby face
and I find him thin.
Gane then explains to him “
that he is going to face Brice Guidon, a hitman in heavyweight Thai boxing.
There, I say to myself that either this guy is a mytho, or he will be cut up.
Lopez has his answer shortly after: Gane wins the fight by KO.
His first significant feat of arms.
Gane vs Boughanem, decision - “Duel 2”, October 28, 2017, Paris
Same year 2017, same outsider status.
And yet.
To everyone's surprise, Gane won against Yassine Boughanem, then world number 1 in Thai boxing among heavyweights.
A tight fight, with several takedowns on both sides.
Defeating a multiple world champion begins to make Gane aware of his status.
Read alsoMMA: Who is Ciryl Gane, the “Good Kid” who claims a title of champion at the UFC?
Gane vs Sullivan, submission – “TKO Fight Night 1”, August 2, 2018, Montreal
162: the number of seconds needed for Gane to take over Bobby Sullivan, who already has a lot of experience in amateur MMA.
This time there is a stake: it is the heavyweight belt of the TKO which is offered to them.
The gong sounds, the two fighters “check” each other, turn around, enter and leave.
Gane takes his opponent to the ground, continues with a "ground and pound", and ends with a guillotine.
More than four years later, it remains his fastest finish.
Gane vs Mayes, submission – “UFC Fight Night”, October 26, 2019, Kallang
Ciryl Gane during her fight against American Don'Tale Mayes at UFC Fight Night in Kallang on October 26, 2019. USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS
For his second outing in the elite, and for the first time on the main card, Gane still impresses.
Opposed to the American Don'Tale Mayes, straight out of Dana White's Contenders Series, the Frenchman masters the fight from start to finish.
He works his opponent in the body.
At the end of the first round, Gane hits the mark with a jump knee, but the mermaid saves Mayes.
Postponed.
Gane does not release the pressure and offers himself the luxury of passing an ankle lock at the very end of the third and last round.
The fans present in Singapore remain taken aback.
Gane proves once again that striking is not his only asset.
Read alsoMMA: rules, cage, dangerousness ... understand everything about this booming combat sport
Gane vs Volkov, unanimous decision – “UFC Fight Night”, June 26, 2021, Las Vegas
Faced with a taller, heavier opponent with more leg reach, Gane tries to remain impassive, despite taking a few blows, and is very close to paying dearly for his finger in the eye of Volkov.
But no penalty.
The Russian is also suffering physically, already exhausted after the second round.
Gane then rushes into the breach to continue hurting his opponent, until the final victory.
A first prestigious victory.
Gane vs Lewis, TKO (punches) – “UFC 265”, August 7, 2021, Houston
Ciryl Gane during her fight against American Derrick Lewis at “UFC 265” in Houston on August 7, 2021. ALEX BIERENS DE HAAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
In the overheated atmosphere of the Toyota Center in Houston, "Bon gamin" perfectly unfolds the game plan concocted by Fernand Lopez, who gives voice behind the fence.
Opposite, Lewis seems wait-and-see, even apathetic.
Unable to break the distance.
The American never managed to place his reputedly devastating right.
Gane uses it with low kicks and is precise with his left jab.
Tired, weary, Lewis finally breaks in the 3rd round on a sequence of Gane which pushes the referee to stop the fight.
First belt (interim this time) for Cyril Gane.
Gane vs. Ngannou, unanimous decision – “UFC 270”, January 22, 2022, Los Angeles (loss)
Ciryl Gane during her fight against Cameroonian Francis Ngannou, at “UFC 270” in Los Angeles, January 22, 2022. FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP
Undefeated so far among the pros in ten fights, Gane finally failed to snatch his heavyweight belt from the Cameroonian, winner by unanimous decision after five rounds of five minutes.
Unexpectedly, it was on the ground that the defending champion made the difference, dominating the Frenchman several times, especially in the 3rd and 5th rounds.
In legs at the start of the fight, managing to place jabs, low kicks, front kicks and even a return kick, Gane (112 kg) then had all the trouble in the world to free himself from the 116.5 kg of the "Predator" when the latter worked him in wrestling.
Gane vs Tuivasa, KO (punches) – “UFC Fight Night”, September 3, 2022, Paris
Ciryl Gane during her fight against Australian Tai Tuivasa, during “UFC Fight Night” in Paris, September 3, 2022. JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP
With the music "Haine&Sex" by rapper Gazo in the background, Gane makes a sensational entry into the octagon.
Apart from a few well-placed kicks, the first round between the two men was relatively calm.
They prefer to analyze their opponent's attitude in order to better establish their respective strategy for the rest of the duel.
The second round is accelerating.
Tuivasa hits Gane once in the face, who collapses on the ground, before reacting and chaining punches and knees on an already bloodied Australian.
A breathtaking recovery of the French against the one we nicknamed "Bam Bam".
And it is in the third round that Ciryl Gane wins the fight.
Already well sounded, Tuivasa could not resist the multiple powerful blows of the Frenchman in clinch.
Bercy explodes, Tuivasa on the ground, Gane exults.
