MMA: clash of extremes between legend Jon Jones and French star Ciryl Gane
The French Ciryl Gane (left) will have a lot to do in front of the American Jon Jones.
© Montage RFI - Getty Images/Icon Sportswire - Getty Images/Jeff Bottari
Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
4 mins
French MMA fighter Ciryl Gane, who is aiming for the UFC heavyweight belt on the night of Saturday March 4 to Sunday March 5 in Las Vegas, will face the biggest challenge of her career when she faces American Jon Jones.
An opponent considered one of the best fighters in the history of mixed martial arts.
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It is without a doubt the shock of the year, the fight that makes fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) salivate a lot, in France and beyond.
The clash in Las Vegas, the temple of the show and spectacle of combat sports, between two MMA phenomena who covet the prestigious title of UFC under 120 kilos, whose belt has been vacant since Francis Ngannou left
the UFC
last January.
On the one hand, the French Ciryl Gane,
the MMA express
who ravaged (almost) everything in his path, less than five years after his first fight (11 victories).
He only has one
loss against Francis Ngannou in February 2022
.
On the other, Jon Jones, considered the "GOAT" of MMA, with 26 wins and only one defeat;
a disqualification for an illegal elbow while dominating his fight against Matt Hamill in 2009.
“He had everything to be the Michael Jordan of MMA”
The stakes of this fight of titans are immense for Ciryl Gane who is in front of a new mountain to climb.
“
It is undoubtedly the biggest fight of my career and I also think for French MMA
, believes Gane.
Someone of this caliber is not common.
»
‼️ TITANS SHOCK WEEK.
GANE VS JONES.⚡️
THIS IS TOTALLY CRAZY pic.twitter.com/bDyORXzG7X
— ARENA (@MMArena_) February 27, 2023
Arrived at the UFC in August 2008, Jon Jones is indeed considered the most talented fighter in the history of MMA.
Three years after his debut, he became UFC light heavyweight champion, at 23 years and 8 months, becoming the youngest fighter to win a title in the American organization.
He also holds the records for longest reign in history (1,501 days), most title defenses (11), and longest unbeaten streak (18).
“
He had everything to be the Michael Jordan of MMA , sums up Guillaume Duseaux, co-author of Le
Grand livre du MMA,
for AFP
.
Everything was done for him to reach the heights.
But what made him never become the Michael Jordan of MMA was his escapades outside the cage
.
The “
fraques
”: positive doping controls, arrests for driving while intoxicated and for domestic violence.
Gane: "
He doesn't really have a weak point"
Today, after having made the rounds of his category, the former king of the under 93 kilos has gained muscle and weight and wants to conquer a new category.
An incursion which could be "
an advantage
" in favor of Ciryl Gane, the Frenchman thinks.
Another could be the "inactivity" of the 35-year-old American who hasn't fought in three years.
“
He doesn't really have a weak point,
tempers Gane
.
He is a versatile person and above all who has a very good fight, good management of the cage, good overall management of the opponent.
So he's someone who has a very good
''fight IQ''
(tactical intelligence).
[…] He will bet a lot on his wrestling, he is a very great wrestler.
He has a wrestling background before MMA, so it's something that's in his DNA, which comes out automatically
.
»
For his part, Jon Jones, in a provocative style, believes that the French "
is the least complete fighter
" in the top 5 heavyweights.
“
He has very good footwork.
I watched his fights, but against Ngannou, who was considered the fastest heavyweight we had ever seen
[…].
It was not seen.
»
💥 Jon Jones says Ciryl Gane is the most incomplete fighter in the top 5 😳
He also says his striking was useless against Ngannou and won't be useless against him 🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/ 2PxjhRkx3U
— ARENA (@MMArena_) March 1, 2023
However, "Bon gamin" - Gane's nickname - is renowned for his ease of movement and his lightness for his size (193.m for 111 kilos).
His experience as a Thai boxing champion will still serve him in the cage to get the coveted belt.
The fight will take place from 3 a.m. UT, on the night of Saturday March 4 to Sunday March 5.
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