what future for Ciryl Gane after her controversial victory against Volkov?

6 mins

Ciryl Gane won, but did he emerge victorious from his fight against Alexander Volkov? Nothing is less certain. The Frenchman won by split decision against the Russian after three rounds on the night of Saturday to Sunday in Nevada. A result which surprised quite a few observers and which sparked debate since, when the final bell rang, the general impression was that of a defeat for the “Good Gamin”. Finally, the native of La Roche-sur-Yon won after 15 minutes of fight which will be widely debated, for a second consecutive victory among the top heavyweights, after that against Serghei Spivac at UFC Paris of September 2023. However, this success raises questions and darkens its future almost more than anything else.

Gane is coming out of a streak during which he was widely reviled by the general public, after his express defeat against Jon Jones at the start of 2023, which highlighted his shortcomings in the areas of wrestling and ground combat. The man then discovered the lot inherent in a sport that becomes popular: the outpouring of criticism and sometimes hatred that comes with defeat. A sequence which affected the fighter psychologically and which he has already spoken about several times at a press conference.

Did Gane want to prove something?

In the eyes of Benjamin Bourbon, coach of MMA at the Kerner Team, a Parisian club, the content of his fight against Volkov proves it all the more: “ He showed that he was touched by the media hype surrounding his soil and his struggle. He really did ground fighting to show that he knew how to do it and it cost him, analyzes the coach. At the end of round 1, he attempts a guillotine [une technique de soumission par étranglement, NDLR] and he burns his arms. Before that, he does the same stupid thing as against Francis Ngannou and jumps back to attempt a failed ankle lock. »

In total, Gane totaled four submission attempts over a three-round fight, a ratio already high in MMA, even more so at heavyweight where the ground game is a much less present component than the fight on the feet/ standing fist. “ I find that this ground was too generous, it cost him, each time he came back to his feet you could see that physically, he was digging, adds Benjamin Bourbon. And he had trouble getting in/out, doing his footwork with his speed. » Ciryl Gane therefore proved that he learned during his big year without fighting, but also that he still has deep gaps in certain areas.

Rather than answering questions, he raises new ones. “ Cyril won, let’s not take away his victorysays Julien Cazier, head coach of Gracie Barra, a grappling and Brazilian jiujitsu academy, two ground combat sports made up of wrestling and submission techniques, whose reputation is well established. There are developments in terms of ground combat, but it is still criticized for the same technical shortcomings. I have the impression of seeing someone who has been shown soil and has not assimilated it. We would have shown him badly ? He’s not interested ? He has difficulty understanding the ground ? You feel like he saw it, but he’s missing a lot of details.. » Even though the Frenchman claims to have injured his foot at the very start of the fight and was seen leaving the room on crutches, he took with him his share of grist for the coming months.

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Instructions from your coaches to question

Because before questioning his future, Gane could question the way he prepares for his fights. During the last round, the “Good Gamin” attempted and insisted on a kimura, a submission technique by twisting the opponent’s shoulder. And this, in a position which did not allow him to finalize the movement. However, you could hear his coaches yelling at him to “ to tear out “, “ to pull “, ” give everything » in his attempt. “ Fortunately we weren’t over five roundsslips Julien Cazier. The kimura attempt he makes with his hips pinned under Volkov is impossible. He forces and burns his arms for nothing. »

A team which surrounds him in questions, therefore, but also in combat choices. What to do and when to do it are questions of great importance in a sport like MMA where every action can be decisive. “ He still proved that he was very strong and had weapons everywherecounterbalances Benjamin Bourbon. But it’s like a fighter just improved his boxing and is throwing spinning kicks and crazy punches to prove it. »

What about his next fights

The fact remains that this victory presents a taste of unachieved for Gane, even almost of defeat. Because with an undeserved victory, the Frenchman lost a little of his credibility to claim a third chance for a fight for the UFC heavyweight championship title, currently held by Jon Jones. “ Instead of looking up and saying let’s go, we shift to Tom Aspinall (the number 1 in the category just behind Jon Jones, Editor’s note), I think the UFC will force him to look backdeplores Julien Cazier. Jaiton Almeida (number 6) going to fight soon, there’s Curtis Blaydes (number 5) who could do the trick, the UFC could definitely tell him that. »

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Last hope for Gane, that Tom Aspinall or the UFC gets impatient while waiting to be able to organize the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Aspinall and the legend Jon Jones. Because ” Jones now only fights once a yearrecalls the grappling teacher. So if he faces Aspinall, it won’t be before the end of the year. That means we have to take care of Aspinall until then, and there aren’t many people there. Perhaps then Ciryl could do well on this cyclical side of the category and not on its performances. » Almost an admission of weakness for Gane, but he wouldn’t look away if the opportunity presented itself.