Cyril Gane might be the most technical striker the UFC heavyweight division has ever seen. His clean, crisp strikes and light-footed movement recall the ease of motion of a middleweight, a far cry from the relentless forward plod of heavyweight champions.
However, when he fought former teammate Francis Ngannou for the UFC heavyweight title, Gane went for a leg lock submission, a strange choice from a man best known for his stand-up game.
Why Did Ciryl Gane try a Leg Lock on Francis Ngannou?
Cyril Gane told The MMA Hour that he regrets nothing, and knew he needed to seal a finish in order to seal the fight. Gane actually claims to be a proficient leg-locker who hasn’t yet had the chance to show off his fancy lower-body attacks at the top level of the UFC.
“The mission, because I was the contender, so when you want to be the champion you must defeat the champion. When it’s too tight like that, it’s not a good plan. So that’s why with my coach, we just need to finish the fight before the end.
That’s why I did this takedown, I did very well, and after I did this choice to go to the ankle, unfortunately I did some mistakes in my technique […]
You see, this technique for me, I can do that on everybody that I have in my gym. High-level wrestling, high-level BJJ, and I can do it.
I’m really comfortable on this technique, so that’s why I decided to do that, because I know the position was really good for me to go on this technique. I was really good. I was sure to finish the fight, in my mind. That’s why no regrets. Just I was a little bit tired, so that’s why I don’t do exactly the good thing, but no, that’s OK.”
Ultimately, Francis Ngannou neutralized both Gane’s striking and his jiu-jitsu with a dominant wrestling-based performance. Although Ciryl Gane still sees himself as the superior fighter, in the moment, he acknowledges that the champ did what it took to win.
“That’s why congratulations to Francis because I think I was better on my striking, I was better on the ground game too. If you see, he catch me and he keep me like that, it was not possible for him to do some ground-and-pound or to do some submissions because my technique is good.
Yes, it was about the power and the plan. He used the power for the wrestling, unfortunately, it’s about two seconds when he catches me just behind my ribs, after that it’s more complicated to get out with the power of Francis, that’s why I go down.
After that, he leave his body on me, he don’t do too much, and that’s why this is respect for him and his team, because he don’t do too much, but he won the fight.” Do you think the leglock was a good idea for Ciryl Gane? Let us know in the comments.
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