2022 is just around the corner and so is UFC 270, the first numbered fight of the year and to start off the new year with a bang, the event will see the unification of the heavyweight title between reigning world champion Francis Ngannou and interim champion Ciryl Gane. While the majority of MMA followers will put Ngannou as their favourite, knowing the Cameroonian’s destructive punching power, Gane has confidence and faith in himself that he can control that power.
Francis Ngannou’s backstory is nothing short of a brilliant rang-to-riches story. The UFC champion was once a worker in a sand quarry in his native homeland before he arrived in France where he even had to live on the streets before his introduction to MMA and he not only climbed the ladder to reach the top layer in the sport, “The Predator” even set a world record punching power of 129,161 units four years back.
I’m going to be the baddest man in this world after just three years in MMA: Ciryl Gane positive on beating Francis Ngannou
On the other hand, Ciryl Gane’s life story is rather dim when compared to Ngannou’s which the Frenchman admits himself, and knowing he’s up against someone who’ punches are “equal to getting hit by a Ford Escort going as fast as it can“, the interim champ is confident that he will be able to tame that power.
“Furniture sales,” Gane recalled his pre-MMA days during an interview with BT Sport, “I was really great. Not the best, but I was good. I was young in this job, because in this job normally people are older than me, really older than me. And me, I was young, fresh and authentic. Charisma. So calm!”
“I’m going to win against Francis Ngannou and I’m going to be in the top, the baddest man in this world after just three years in MMA. That’s really crazy. That’s wonderful,” the 31-year-old went on, “And yes, after that, if I win, this is going to mean something for real to me. Because after every fight, maybe you can see, I’m not really enjoying it when I win. I don’t know why exactly, I’m not excited about that. But, tomorrow if I win against Francis, I’m going to be happy. I’m going to be happy for real.”
“I think Francis did a lot these last years, and he probably improved and he’s more intelligent. And that’s really great. He’s really well rounded now, and I think it’s going to be more like that. Because he knows I can manage the power. I think he knows I can manage the power. So maybe he should be a smart fighter this day [when we fight]” Gane added. [H/T MMA Mania]
UFC 270 fight card:
- Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane – UFC heavyweight title unification
- Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier
- Greg Hardy vs. Aleksei Oleinik
- AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun
- Poliana Botelho vs. Ji Yeon Kim
- Wellington Turman vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Highlights:
- Ciryl Gane believes he can control Francis Ngannou’s astounding power when they face off at UFC 270 in January
- In 2017, Ngannou set the world record punching power of 129,161 units
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