French mixed martial artist (born 1990)
Ciryl Jacky Gane[4] (born April 12, 1990)[5] is a French professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. A professional fighter since 2014, Gane has also formerly competed for TKO Major League MMA where he was the Heavyweight Champion.[6] As of November 14, 2023, he is #2 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.[7]
Early life
Gane was born in La Roche-sur-Yon, and is of Guadeloupean descent through his father. His father, Romain Gane was a bus driver, and footballer in the Division d'Honneur. As a youth, Gane played football and basketball. Despite his sporting talent, Gane decided to work in sales at a furniture store and he joined a work-study program in Paris. During this time, a former classmate introduced Gane to Muay Thai.[8]
Muay Thai career
Gane made his professional debut on June 4, 2016, in a AFMT Muay thai heavyweight title fight against Jérémy Jeanne. He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[9]
After a decision win against Samih Bachar, Gane was scheduled to fight the K-1 veteran Brice Guidon at La Nuit Des Titans. He beat Guidon by a third-round knockout.[10]
Gane was scheduled to defend his AFMT title against Jonathan Gengoul at Muay Thai Spirit 5.[11] He won the fight by a first-round knockout.[12]
At Warriors Night, Gane beat Bangaly Keita by a third-round knockout.[13] He was then scheduled to fight the multiple-time WBC Muaythai champion Yassine Boughanem at Duel 2. Gane won the fight by decision.[14]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Coached by Fernand Lopez, Ciryl Gane made his professional MMA debut in 2018. He was first contracted to the Canadian MMA promotion TKO, where his first fight was for the vacant TKO heavyweight championship, against Bobby Sullivan. He won the title fight in the first round through a front choke.[15]
He defended the heavyweight championship a month later against Adam Dyczka, winning the fight in the second round via a TKO.[16] His third fight in TKO, and his second title defense, was against Roggers Souza, which he won in the first round by a TKO.[17]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Gane made his promotional debut on August 10, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 against Raphael Pessoa.[18] Gane won the fight by an arm triangle choke at the end of the first round.[19]
Gane faced Don'Tale Mayes on October 26, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren. Gane won the fight via a heel hook in the third round, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus.[20]
Gane faced Tanner Boser on December 21, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie.[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Gane was scheduled to face Shamil Abdurakhimov on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249.[23] However, on March 5, 2020, it was announced that Gane was forced to pull out from the event after suffering pneumothorax during training.[24] The bout was eventually rescheduled for July 11, 2020, at UFC 251.[25] Subsequently, the pairing was cancelled a second time and scrapped from this event in mid-June as Abdurakhimov was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons. In turn, Gane was expected to face Sergei Pavlovich on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174.[26] Pavlovich however had to pull out because of an injury.[27] Therefore the original fight against Shamil Abdurakhimov was scheduled again on September 26, 2020, at UFC 253;[28] however, the bout was rescheduled again to UFC Fight Night 180 on October 18, 2020.[29] The bout fell through once again as Abdurakhimov pulled out due to undisclosed reasons on September 28, 2020, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Ante Delija.[30] On October 14, 2020, it was announced that the bout was cancelled due to Delija's contractual problems with his previous deal with the PFL.[31]
Gane faced Junior dos Santos on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256.[32] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[33]
Gane faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186.[34] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[35]
Gane faced Alexander Volkov on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190.[36] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[37]
Gane faced Derrick Lewis on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265 for the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship.[38] He won the one-sided fight via technical knockout in round three.[39] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[40]
Gane faced Francis Ngannou for the UFC Heavyweight Championship on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270.[41] Gane was ahead after the first two rounds, but Ngannou switched to wrestling and controlled him for the majority rounds three through five. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, marking his first defeat in any martial arts competition.[42]
Gane faced Tai Tuivasa on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209.[43] He won the fight via knockout in round three.[44] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[45]
Gane faced Jon Jones for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285.[46] He lost via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.[47][48]
Gane faced Sergey Spivak on September 2, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 226.[49] He won the fight via TKO in the second round. The win also earned Gane his third Performance of the Night bonus award.[50]
Personal life
Gane and his wife have two daughters.[51] They live in Nogent-sur-Marne, in the eastern suburbs of Paris.[1]
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