Ciryl Gane Spars With NBA Star Rudy Gobert
Ciryl Gane was spotted training with NBA star Rudy Gobert as he gears up for his UFC return.
Gane has not had a UFC fight since stopping Serghei Spivac last year in his home country of France. It was the perfect response following his defeat to Jon Jones at UFC 285. Gane suffered a first-round submission loss, as he missed out on winning the UFC Heavyweight Title. There were suggestions that Gane would fight in France again. However, he has been scheduled to face ex-Bellator champion Alexander Volkov at UFC 308 on October 26.
Volkov has won his last four fights, setting up a competitive affair. Gane beat Volkov in their only clash in 2021 via a unanimous decision. To get himself ready, Gane chose to train with the NBA star. The following video shows Gane sparring with Gobert, a three-time NBA All-Star and player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gobert has dabbled in MMA training. While the sparring session was light, it gave Gobert a taste of facing an elite-level fighter.
Gane’s Sparring
Outside of the sparring, Gane knows he must come out on top in his next fight if he desires to secure another title shot. He has already been accused of ducking the best by not facing Tom Aspinall. Aspinall, the current UFC Interim Champion, previously said that Gane avoided facing him.
He also referenced the comments of Curtis Blaydes, who claimed that Gane had ducked him. Aspinall doubled down on those comments, stating he only fought Sergi Pavlovich because Gane did not take the fight.
Aspinall Vs. Gane
“He’s dismissed me on multiple occasions and I’m not the first guy he’s dismissed, I’m not the first guy that he’s ducked. It’s out there for people to see. The reason that I got the Pavlovich fight is because Ciryl didn’t want it.
So he ducked Pavlovich, he then ducked Curtis Blaydes — Curtis Blaydes has been on record saying that. I asked for him years ago, didn’t want it then. I then asked for him in Paris. They flew me over, we tried to make that fight, he didn’t want it then. So we’ll see what the UFC [wants] to do,” Aspinall said
Tom knocked out Pavlovich and Blaydes in first-round finishes, meaning he now has a title shot against Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic. They are expected to face off before the year out. Had Gane taken the Aspinall fight, he would have been in a title position now. But Gane denied suggestions that he was ducking.
“I never, ever say no to any challenge or any opponent. [Curtis] Blaydes was never an option. They said [Sergei] Pavlovich, I said yes. Don’t worry, I’ll see you in September. Stop tripping,” Gane stated
Gane is now lower down the pecking order for a title shot, meaning he must build his resume again. Wins over Pavlovich and Blaydes will go someway to doing that, as it offers victories against the best outside of Aspinall and Jones.
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