Ciryl Gane demonstrated exceptional dominance in his one and only UFC title fight victory, a performance that left a lasting impression on combat sports enthusiasts.
The spotlight is soon to return to the UFC heavyweight division, as the championship title will be defended for the first time since Jon Jones` victory over Stipe Miocic almost a year prior.
After being promoted to undisputed champion following Jon Jones` brief retirement, Tom Aspinall is now set to put his title on the line against Ciryl Gane. This highly anticipated clash will headline UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
Known as ‘Bon Gamin’, Gane aims to secure the coveted throne on his third attempt, having previously fallen short against both Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. Notably, when he faced Ngannou, Gane entered the octagon with an interim UFC belt around his waist, which he had earned through a completely one-sided and decisive beatdown of his opponent.
Joe Rogan Declares Ciryl Gane the `Best-Moving Heavyweight` Ever After Battering Derrick Lewis
Gane’s main event triumph over Alexander Volkov marked his sixth consecutive UFC victory, elevating his then-perfect professional record to 9-0 and securing him a shot at championship gold.
Amidst uncertainties regarding then-champion Francis Ngannou`s status and the promotion`s apparent desire for Derrick Lewis to headline in his home state of Texas, Ciryl Gane found himself battling ‘The Black Beast’ for the interim heavyweight belt at UFC 265 in August 2021.
Despite Derrick Lewis`s fearsome knockout power – he is the all-time leader in UFC knockouts – he proved utterly incapable of closing the distance or landing any significant offense against Gane during their bout.
‘Bon Gamin’ delivered a masterful performance, dominating every moment of the fight. He landed a staggering 112 strikes, while his American opponent managed only 16. Gane ultimately secured a third-round knockout, bringing a definitive end to the thoroughly lopsided pay-per-view main event.
Joe Rogan was among those profoundly impressed by Gane’s showing, going so far as to describe the Frenchman as the “best-moving heavyweight” the sport has ever seen.
“Ciryl Gane beat the s*** out of him,” Rogan recounted on an episode of his podcast. “He shut him out. It was a shutout.
“Ciryl Gane, who is 6’5”, 247 pounds, moves like a 170-pounder. It’s crazy. He’s bouncing like ‘Wonderboy’ (Stephen Thompson) the entire fight, bouncing, throwing feints.
“He completely changed the standard of heavyweight striking, and I’m not exaggerating,” Rogan continued. “There’s no question he is the best-moving heavyweight I’ve ever seen. Every time Derrick Lewis goes to set up, to move towards him, Ciryl Gane is nowhere to be found… I was severely impressed.”
Alex Pereira Echoes Sentiment, Predicts Tough Night for Tom Aspinall at UFC 321
Joe Rogan is not the only prominent figure to be captivated by Gane’s exceptional agility as a heavyweight. Alex Pereira, a two-time light heavyweight champion who is a potential future contender in the division, has also taken notice of Gane`s unique skill set.
Prior to his recent victory over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Pereira offered his analysis of the upcoming Aspinall vs. Gane bout, predicting a challenging night ahead for the current champion in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s a tough fight,” Pereira stated through a translator during media day.
“Tom is a complete fighter, but I do feel like he’s fought a lot of aggressive guys, and I think Gane is a guy who’s gonna do a lot of moving, he’s gonna be a little more cautious, and that moving around a lot might frustrate Tom.”
Pereira further elaborated, “First, second, third round, maybe Tom can’t find Ciryl Gane. I think it’s gonna be a different fight.”
