2023-10-29 19:30:30
After two previous failures to win the UFC heavyweight belt, Frenchman Ciryl Gane did not hide his desire during UFC Paris in September to get a third chance to become the first French champion of the UFC history. A prospect which does not seem to be in the immediate plans of the American organization.
Published on: 10/29/2023 – 6:30 p.m.
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“Good Gamin” will have to be patient. While UFC 295, certainly the most anticipated MMA event of the year, will be held this Saturday, November 11 in New York, it is not everyone’s business. In particular those of Frenchman Ciryl Gane, current number one in the UFC heavyweight category and recent author of a resounding victory against the Moldovan Serghei Spivac during UFC Paris on September 2.
The reason ? The fight which was to pit the American Jon Jones, the current champion, against his compatriot Stipe Miocic in the heavyweight category to conclude the evening in apotheosis was canceled on October 25 due to an injury to Jones in training. “ He will need to have an operation and will therefore be out for eight months “, indicated Dana White, the president of the American organization. While waiting for his return, he immediately announced that this shock made in USA would be replaced by a fight for the interim heavyweight championship belt between Russian Sergei Pavlovich and Briton Tom Aspinall.
« Jones and Miocic were supposed to fight, but Jones got injured. If you are Pavlovich or Aspinall, then you have the opportunity to fight for the interim title now. But then the winner will have to wait until the Jones vs. Miocic fight takes place. This fight has been organized, it must take place. And whoever wins, it would be nice if he then stuck around to defend his championship title », Specified Dana White on October 26. A statement that reshuffles the cards in the category and puts Gane’s future towards the champion title on hold.
BREAKING NEWS…………… Sergei Pavlovich vs Tom Aspinall for the Interim Heavyweight Championship. Main Event is Jiri Prochazka vs Alex Pereira. #UFC295 is LIVE at MSG on ESPN+ PPV pic.twitter.com/SaPAwpyHi2
— danawhite (@danawhite) October 25, 2023
The return to the belt, the Frenchman’s main objective
During UFC Paris, the Frenchman declared that he wanted his next fight to be a new chance to win the heavyweight title, after having already failed twice: first against Cameroonian Francis Ngannou in January 2022Then facing Jon Jones himself in March 2023.
« Every fight is a risk, tonight it was a risk. When we enter the cage, it’s 50-50. If I ever get asked to fight for the belt in 6 or 7 months, of course I will accept rather than wait a year and take an extra fight and take risks again. So of course the answer is to wait for the belt “, declared the Frenchman at the end of the evening.
Present to witness his fight, the Briton Tom Aspinall, current number 4 heavyweight, did not hide his desire to be the next opponent to face the Frenchman. A perspective that Gane brushed aside in the cage and at a press conference: “ I had a good performance, it’s something that should be noted. My shortest route to the belt, unfortunately it’s not against Aspinall. If I am asked to fight for the belt against Aspinall, I also accept. All I want is the belt “. A message addressed to its president but which does not seem to have found an echo since.
???? “Today I want to move forward, I failed at the belt, I want to get back there. I proved tonight that I am ready.”
???????????????? A fight against Tom Aspinall does not seem to be in Cyril Gane’s plans. #UFCParis #RMCMMA pic.twitter.com/PQQg6bK8Y2
— RMC Sport Combat (@RMCSportCombat) September 2, 2023
Several possible scenarios for Gane
The establishment of this interim belt for the fight between Pavlovich and Aspinall thwarts the plans of the Frenchman, who is apparently no longer a priority in the eyes of the organization despite his first place in the category ranking. What prospects could therefore be offered to him in 2024?
After UFC 295, and in the best case scenario, he could be offered to face the winner of the Pavlovich vs Aspinall clash in a few months to steal the interim champion title. A rather unlikely prospect since Dana White does not seem to plan to put the interim belt back into play before the return of Jon Jones and his fight against Miocic, still in the UFC’s plans.
Gane will therefore likely have to return to the cage in the meantime to get back into the organization’s plans and have another chance to compete for the title. Among his potential opponents, the loser of the clash between the Russian and the British is possible. If we remove the fighters from the top 10 in the category that Gane has already beaten (Alexander Volkov, Serghei Spivac, Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis), there are few choices left: the American Curtis Blaydes (5th) and the Brazilian Jailton Almeida (9th), who will face Derrick Lewis (10th) on November 4 in São Paulo. Two possible scenarios but which would probably not be to the Frenchman’s taste. But despite his reluctance, the ball is no longer in the “Good Gamin’s” court for the moment.
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