Daniel Cormier, like many fight fans, is wondering who at heavyweight could compete with Ciryl Gane’s terrifying athleticism. In the higher weight divisions, skill, technique, and athleticism have typically fallen distant second to punching power. However, Gane’s meteoric rise to the interim heavyweight title shows that with the right balance of skills, even mighty fighters like Derrick Lewis can succumb to superior technique.
Should Gane do to Ngannou what he’s done to every other fighter he’s ever faced, he may well rule the heavyweight division for the foreseeable future. Daniel Cormier, former heavyweight champion and current UFC commentator, begrudgingly admits that there’s one fighter who can cause Gane major problems.
Jones “will present the most problems to Ciryl Gane” – DC
On his ESPN show DC & RC, Cormier claimed that Jon Jones could give Gane a run for his money. “This is crazy coming from me… Jon Jones!
Jon Jones is the guy that will present the most problems to Ciryl Gane. Why? Because Jon Jones has fought at 205, Jon Jones has the skill of a little guy, Jon Jones has seen athletes before.
Jon Jones beat me twice. I’m an athlete. He’s seen the speed, he’s seen the foot movement and the angles, he’s had to deal with guys like that before.
Now can he handle that at a weight class above? I don’t know. But I truly believe that Jones is one of the guys that truly can give Ciryl Gane problems, but I don’t know who beats him. I think Francis has his hands full.”
Jon Jones, at light heavyweight, was undisputed champion, and he currently occupies no.1 spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Much has been made of Jones’ supposed move up to heavyweight, but to do that he’ll need to pack on sixty pounds. According to Dana White, Jones is unlikely to fight until at least 2022, at which point Ciryl Gane may well be undisputed heavyweight champion.
Cyril Gane is often described as a heavyweight who moves like a middleweight. Despite the constant threat of a knockout among 265-pound fighters, he’s never lost a fight. In fact, a few of his wins came from decisions, with Gane avoiding any serious damage at the hands of such specialized knockout artists as Rozenstruik and, most recently, Derrick Lewis.
Gane’s ability to neutralize the great equalizer at 265 pounds may well change the way heavyweights compete in MMA. Perhaps Jon Jones moving up to 265 pounds isn’t as unrealistic as many originally thought.
Do you think Jon Jones is the biggest problem for Ciryl Gane, or is DC discounting Francis Ngannou too early? Let us know in the comments.
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Screenstinger for great videos, news, and gameplay!
