Heavyweight Ciryl Gane is one fight away from a possible title bout with his former training partner, Francis Ngannou. What stands in between is Derrick Lewis, one of the most devastating punchers the UFC has ever seen. 

Ranked no.2 in the Heavyweight division, Derrick Lewis was initially in talks with the UFC for a possible title fight with Francis Ngannou. However, with the champ delaying negotiations, again and again, we now have an interim title bout between the second and third-ranked fighters in the division.    

In a recent interview with MMA Mania, discussing the potential threats while facing Derrick Lewis, this is what Ciryl Gane had to say,

“Yes, 100 percent he is one of the best guys in this division. He’s not well-rounded. When you have someone who cannot fight everywhere like me or [Alexander] Volkov or guys like that, it’s not good for him. That’s why sometimes it didn’t work [out for Lewis]. 

Undoubtedly one of the greatest knockout artists in the UFC, some assert that Derrick Lewis is a one-trick pony. His losses against former Champions, Daniel Cormier and Junior dos Santos give some credibility to these assertions. However, Lewis has made quite the jump in his conditioning, maintaining his composure and staying dangerous late in the fight.  

Ciryl Gane, on the other hand, is a more versatile and skilled fighter. His background in Muay Thai allows him to be extremely mobile and agile for a heavyweight. Furthermore, his recent run in the division has been nothing short of impressive.

Come fight night, we will find out whether the French native can handle Lewis’s thunderous power while outclassing him on the feet.   

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Derrick Lewis vs Ciryl Gane: What will a win mean for the French native?   

While Derrick Lewis has had his shot at the title earlier in his career, this will be the first time for Gane. With a record of 9-0 in the UFC, Gane’s ascension through the ranks has been meteoric. 

Getting his hands on the interim belt will not only give him a title to boast about but also pay-per-view points. If and when he competes to unify the belts.  

With the Ngannou fight being a guarantee for the winner, Ciryl Gane will have the opportunity to face his former teammate for the Heavyweight title just ten fights into his UFC career, but first, he must deal with ‘the Black Beast’

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Needless to say, Ciryl Gane is one of the most incredible additions to UFC’s heavyweight roster, another outstanding fighter who is bound to keep the entire division on their toes.

What do you think? Who wins the fight? Derrick Lewis or Ciryl Gane? Let us know in the comments.

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