Fighter Profile: Ciryl Gane

Ciryl Gane has had a quick rise to the top in MMA. The former Muay Thai fighter has only been fighting MMA since 2018 an amazing feat considering he is now the interim UFC Heavyweight Champion and will be fighting in a title unification bout against current Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 on Saturday January 22nd 2022 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. What Makes it more interesting is that Gane and Ngannou were training partners in France.  Add to that Gane is undefeated in all of his fights, Gane has never lost an MMA bout or a Muay Thai fight.

Gane was born on April 12, 1990 in La Roche-sur-Yon, France. Gane is of Guadeloupean descent on his father’s side. His father was an athlete who played soccer, Gane followed suit and played soccer and basketball. Eventually Gane took up Muay Thai and found that he had talent in the sport. Eventually he took a pro fight against Jérémy Jeanne for the Hurricane Fighting 3 promotion, he’d win by TKO. Gane won six more fights before transitioning to MMA in the summer of 2018. 

Gane showed amazing skill on his feet early in his MMA career, but also has submission skill that would come into play in his first fight against Bobby Sullivan who he beat by with a Front Choke, winning him the vacant TKO promotion’s Heavyweight Championship. He’d defend that title two times, the first against Adam Dyczka by TKO (punches) in September of 2018. He’d then face Roggers Souza and would again win by  TKO (punches) in the first round. Gane’s quick dominance caught the attention of the UFC.

Gane would make his UFC debut against Raphael Pessoa and would win via Submission (arm-triangle choke.) He’d then face Don’Tale Mayes and secured the win via Submission (heel hook.) Gane would then face Tanner Boser and would win via Unanimous Decision. He’d then face Junior dos Santos, and win via TKO. Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov would be next for Gane and he would win both fights by Unanimous Decision. Gane would then face Derrick Lewis for the Interim Heavyweight UFC belt  Gane would win by TKO (Punches) in round three.

Gane will be fighting in a title unification bout against current Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 on Saturday January 22nd 2022. It’ll be interesting to see which of these training partners comes out on top.