UFC 270: Ciryl Gane on Francis Ngannou title clash, Paris homecoming, and facing Jon Jones

Interim heavyweight belt-holder takes on undisputed champion in headline bout this weekend

The UFC’s first pay-per-view of the year takes place this weekend, with a must-watch heavyweight title showdown between undisputed champion Francis Ngannou and interim belt-holder Ciryl Gane.

Former teammates and sparring partners, there is no love lost between the two. Frenchman Gane, 10-0 in professional mixed martial arts, spoke to the media ahead of Sunday morning’s huge clash in Anaheim, California.

You have a 100% takedown defence, so do you think Francis is going to risk trying to bring you to the ground knowing you have high level striking?

Yes. This is really possible; everything is possible. I don't know exactly, this is an option. I can see Francis trying to catch me and take me down - this is an option, and we are ready for that.

In the Octagon, EVERYONE can hear you scream ⚔️

[ @Ciryl_Gane | #UFC270 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/Nr2IHwyyOv ] pic.twitter.com/btiRZgXwMf

— UFC (@ufc) January 17, 2022

You are undefeated in both MMA and kickboxing, are you worried about experiencing defeat for the first time?

Yes, that's true in competition I don’t have defeats, but in my gym, I learned a lot. I deal with this a lot, I got a really good sparring partner, in wrestling, everywhere. And so yes, I know what it is.

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I want to ask you about the heavyweight division as a whole. Apart from Aspinall, who do you think is a future threat? Someone that you know, could cause a few problems?

I love my generation. Tom Aspinall is a really good guy, and I really appreciate it, he’s really well rounded. There’s a lot of names in the new generation: I think this is the future of the division.

Is it safe to say that it's a big dream of yours to bring a UFC event to France?

If I win, I think I can ask the UFC, I can work for this a little bit more because I would be the champion. Yes, of course. This is a dream for a lot of fans in my country, and this is my dream also. I want to bring the UFC to Paris with me in the headline.

Get ready, because #UFC270 fight week is 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄! 🥳

[ #UFC270 | Jan 22 | @HondaCenter | Tickets 🔗 Link In Bio ] pic.twitter.com/WKtSOYMgnC

— UFC (@ufc) January 17, 2022

I want to ask you about former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones - obviously there's a lot of talk about him finally making his heavyweight debut this year. If you get past Francis, is that a fight that interests you?

Yes of course, if I win against Francis, and even if I lose, I think this fight can happen. A lot of fans, a lot of media, a lot of specialists of MMA talk about this fight because you have a really good matchup. Jon Jones is an aspiration when I started my career; media would ask me if you have a model and some inspirational fighter, and every time he’s on my list. Jon Jones is well rounded; I want to be this kind of fighter.

Updated: January 18, 2022, 7:17 AM