2023-08-26 17:35:03
Ciryl Gane will be the headliner of the second UFC Paris where he will face Moldovan Sergey Spivak on September 2. At 33, the former interim UFC heavyweight MMA champion is coming off a crushing loss in March to legendary American Jon Jones. He now has to deal with increasingly harsh criticism on social networks, a lot inherent in a sport that is becoming popular. In Paris, against an opponent considered affordable, defeat will be prohibited.
RFI : Several months ago, you faced legend Jon Jones for the heavyweight belt and suffered a crushing defeat by submission. How did you experience it? How have you been preparing since?
Ciryl Gane : It was a real shock. It was very difficult, especially in the aftermath, when we were still in Las Vegas. I was very angry, because I had moved my team, my sparring partners. I blamed myself a bit for working so hard and getting a result like this. We went back to the room, we got back to work. We had fun going directly to wrestling and floor training for several weeks. There, we are on a training camp [plusieurs semaines d’entrainement intensif avant le combat, NDLR] a little more complete.
Why go back to training so quickly, work on this fight?
It was a bit of the punishment we wanted to inflict on ourselves: ban on going on vacation to keep up the pace. We’re not going to do anything else, just work again and again.
How has your preparation been going since March?
Several weeks of specific ground training. At that time, we took two weeks of vacation with the little family and then friends. Since we are back in the room, we go into the tunnel until the fight.
Jon Jones (above) guillotined Ciryl Gane to win by submission in the first round on March 5. Getty Images via AFP – CHRIS GRAYTHEN
Many observers, mainly fans on social networks, have pointed out certain shortcomings after your fight against Jon Jones. How do you respond to these criticisms that have swept since your defeat in March?
I don’t have much to answer them. Should I answer them? We can express ourselves freely on social networks with our knowledge, our experience, so everyone says what they want. Sometimes people aren’t very nice. I don’t take that as a reference.
We talk about you as the standard bearer of French MMA. Everything was rosy until this loss to Jon Jones. How do we live this difficult passage, adored then strongly criticized?
In this case, I’m doing very well. I am aware of what social networks can represent. I was armed against that, I had trouble with these people who had this hatred, anonymous people like people who wanted to surf the buzz. I found it unfair sometimes. I think I’m respectful of the people around me, I kinda expect the same in return.
The UFC was still surprised by this wave of hatred
How to ignore these remarks, some athletes do not experience the avalanche of hatred on the internet badly. Does it feel like it makes you stronger?
Not stronger, but it answers a lot of questions. It makes me aware of certain things so yes, it reinforces as a human being. For once, it can be very dangerous when you do not necessarily have good foundations, a good entourage. Let’s imagine a scenario where I was a man who took networks too seriously by being big-headed. To take this kind of remarks after a defeat would have been very hard for me. In this case it is not the case, I have my little family. I know what real life is and what keeps me real.
Ciryl Gane, in Paris, on the occasion of a media day organized by the UFC, in July 2023. © Sophiane Amazian
Do you think the French public is too hard on their fighters?
No. I think these are things that also happen abroad. When we spoke with the UFC, the organizers were still surprised by this wave of hatred. I don’t know why, but France often tends to do that, to criticize. In reality, when I walk every day, it is only messages of love and encouragement that I receive.
Serguei Spivak, your opponent at UFC Paris, is not well known in France, how could you present him?
Precisely not a very high-sounding name, a little underestimated. But for as much very effective and it is what one asks of a fighter. Black belt in judo, so good wrestling and good ground of course. Not at all bad with his fists too, so a very complete fighter who is on a very good dynamic, he remains on several victories. A really good opponent.
It was already perfect in 2022, it will be hard to do better
They say your fight against Spivak will be less flashy than last year’s fight against Tai Tuivasa. How do you respond to these criticisms?
It is completely false. Do not rely on the UFC ranking (Spivak is ranked 8th in the heavyweight category, editor’s note). Tai Tuivasa is spectacular, with his memorable knockouts. Spivak is much more complete and efficient. For me, he has more weapons than Tuivasa and on this point I think he is more dangerous.
Do you have any messages to convey regarding this fight? Wrestling for example? What do you want people to see in September at Bercy?
It’s not a primary desire to show things to people. I’m not here for that. I want to win my fight first and prove things to myself. I’m not going to try to go fight to prove that I’ve progressed. My strong point is to fight standing up. I’m not in revenge mode.
Serguei Spivak sends a right to his Brazilian opponent, Carlos Felipe, during a fight in July 2020. AFP – JEFF BOTTARI
Personally, how do you feel about this fight in Paris, one year after your victory against the Australian Tai Tuivasa in a volcanic room?
I am very happy to repeat this event in Paris. The first edition, there was a feeling of euphoria that came over me. I also hope to find this same energy, this same atmosphere.
A word about the French public, the room will be packed, what do you expect from the French fans for this second edition of UFC Paris?
Now that we have a barometer, I hope they will do as well as in 2022, because better it will be impossible. It was already perfect in 2022. It will be hard to do better, but already they are having a great evening and all the French fighters finish with a victory, including me.
To listen tooTémoins d’actus – How MMA continues to grow in France
#Ciryl #Gane #redemption #goal #UFC #Paris