In the Clinch: Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane? UFC 270 – Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane will unify the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 270.
The special sauce in this heavyweight matchup is the drama. The Snub. “Manipulated” sparring footage. Former training partners. Contract negotiations. Take your pick.
But at the end of the day, styles make fights. We have Ngannou (16-3-0), who learned from his losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis almost four years ago to finish his last five contests.
But will “The Predator” have the cardio to put down Gane in a firefight?
Then there’s Gane (10-0-0), unblemished in 10 fights but knocked by Dana White a few fights ago for his lack of aggressiveness. His technical striking and cardio could give Ngannou trouble, and his ground game could be the difference in the contest.
But it only takes one good strike from Ngannou to put anyone down. Will Gane’s chin and body hold up?
Ngannou learned a lot battling the heavyweight GOAT in Miocic twice. Velasquez. Dos Santos. Overeem. These are some of the all-time greats. The experience advantage should go to “The Predator.”
Gane has beaten and finished Lewis, something Ngannou couldn’t do. The way he battered the bigger Alexander Volkov could be a template for this fight. The ground game and the technical striking goes to “Bon Gamin.”
Both guys seem like they can tune out the chatter and focus on the mission. And in that respect, we should see a war in every sense of the word.
Here’s a Ngannou tidbit: He currently holds the world record for the hardest punch ever measured, at 129,161 units. According to UFC president Dana White, that’s equivalent to a “12-pound sledgehammer swung full force from overhead.”
Of course, Gane is focused on other things. I expect the interim champion to find a way to avoid that power and inflict some of his own.
Make sure to take the time to enjoy this fight.
In the Clinch: Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane? UFC 270 – More Resources
Francis Ngannou
Ciryl Gane
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