A Brief History of Former Teammates Turned Rivals- Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane

Published 07/25/2021, 10:43 AM EDT

Ciryl Gane is set to return to the UFC Octagon at UFC 265 as he takes on Derrick Lewis for the interim heavyweight title. ‘Bon Gamin’ last fought Alexander Volkov and managed to earn a lopsided unanimous decision in his favor. Gane has been touted as a problem for the heavyweight division including the current champion, Francis Ngannou.

Gane and Ngannou used to be training partners for quite a while. They have sparred together and shared the same coaches. Gane has previously mentioned the only condition under which he will fight Ngannou. ‘Bon Gamin’ has said he will take on ‘The Predator’ only if the heavyweight title is on the line.

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There are also several footages available on the internet where the duo can be seen training together. The French fighter and the Cameroonian are both masters of their respective styles.

Ngannou relies on his heavy-hitting and supreme power to take his opponents out. Gane, on the other hand, takes a much more technical approach in his fights and often leaves his opponents frustrated with his flair.

Ciryl Gane vs Francis Ngannou: a fight bound to happen?

If Gane can keep his undefeated record intact and capture the interim belt at UFC 265, he will most definitely fight Ngannou next. Bettering Lewis will obviously seal him as the next in line to challenge for the belt. But, Lewis is a big roadblock for the French fighter, to say the least.

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Stylistically, a fight between Gane and Ngannou will be a fascinating spectacle for the fans. It will be a power vs technique match-up one can expect. Gane has shown previously that he is a nightmare for power punchers in his fight against Rozenstruik. His fight against Lewis will be another indication of his actual potential.

Ngannou, too, has evolved immensely recently. He tries to use his power with technique these days rather than throwing wild haymakers. So, if the duo indeed clashes in the near future, one can expect a barn-burner of a contest on display.

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Written by:

Apratim Banerjee is an MMA author for EssentiallySports and has been writing professionally for almost a year. Before his current gig, Apratim worked as a UFC writer for Sportskeeda. A long-time MMA fan, Apratim has developed a critical eye for the sport that has helped him transfer his vast knowledge to his copies and give hardcore and casual readers a detailed insight into the fights and fighters.

A Brief History of Former Teammates Turned Rivals- Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane

Ciryl Gane vs Francis Ngannou: a fight bound to happen?

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