Gane Dismisses Ngannou Loss, Credits Jones Defeat

Ciryl Gane has dropped two UFC fights, but he only acknowledges one as a genuine defeat.

The French contender told UFC on Paramount+ that his 2023 submission loss to Jon Jones at UFC 285 stands as the real turning point in his career, as reported by MMA Mania. His earlier decision loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 barely registers in his mind, despite Ngannou controlling him on the mat for over eight minutes and landing four takedowns. Gane out-struck Ngannou but lost on the cards.

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Jones Submission Changed Gane's Mindset

Jones ended the UFC 285 title fight in two minutes with a submission finish. That result hit differently than the Ngannou scorecard, arriving four years into a run that took Gane from newcomer to heavyweight title challenger faster than nearly anyone in division history. Social media backlash after the Jones loss pushed him to reconsider everything, he said.

Gane admitted he briefly thought about walking away from the sport after the defeat. "I was disappointed," he said, per the interview. But his competitive drive pulled him back into training with something to prove to himself rather than critics online.

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The 14-2 heavyweight returns at UFC 334 this weekend at Madison Square Garden, facing unbeaten contender Josh Hokit in a fight that could push him back toward title contention. Gane has been out of the heavyweight picture for more than two years since Jones submitted him.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Francis who? UFC 334’s Ciryl Gane suggests Jon Jones defeat the only ‘real loss’ of his career