HOUSTON -- Ciryl Ganes is a living representation of the evolution in mixed martial arts. He is a calm, tactical and smooth heavyweight who moves like a man three to four weights below him. He was born in France, where MMA has just been legalized last year.Gane has only been training in MMA for three years. He also had two years experience with pro Muay Thailand. He won UFC gold Saturday night, stopping Derrick Lewis via TKO in the fourth round to win the UFC interim title for heavyweight.Gane stated that Gane touched him maybe once, or twice, during the postfight news conference. "I believe it was a masterclass."Ciryl Gane beat Derrick Lewis 98-16 for significant strikes, and 112-16 for total strikes. Phil Ellsworth / ESPN ImagesTo unify the title, Gane will likely face Francis Ngannou, heavyweight champion. Ngannou and Gane were former training partners at MMA Factory Paris.UFC president Dana White stated that Vince [WWE CEO] McMahon couldn't possibly have written a better story than this. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. He and Francis are a terrible heavyweight fight."Ngannou, who took to Twitter following Saturday's fight, said that he was ready for Gane.Amazing performance by GaneHe is now a legitimate contender.We will see you soon, boy. You know what you know when you know. #ufc265 Francis Ngannou, @francis_ngannou August 8, 2021ESPN ranked Lewis and Gane No. 3, and No. 4. 4 in the world heavyweight division. Gane is the first French-born fighter ever to win a UFC championship. Both Gane and Ngannou were raised in Paris by Fernand Lopez, who Gane called a "genius" that can see the future.Gane stated that nothing Lewis did Saturday night was surprising him or his team. When Gane kept Lewis against the cage, it was the end. Lewis was badly hurt by Gane's leg kick, punching combination and kick to the body. Lewis defended himself, survived the attack and fired back. Then Gane unleashed a new combination and Lewis couldn't escape. He used a variety of techniques. He covered himself, got down to his knees, and then turtled up. Referee Dan Miragliotta couldn't help but call the bout.Gane, a 6-foot-4 athlete, was dominant throughout. Lewis was kept at bay by Gane's superior kicking and length. Lewis seemed to have trouble securing a big shot, which was his specialty. Lewis was kept guessing by Gane's offensive mix. The crowd was disappointed by the fight and its conclusion. Lewis is a Houston resident, and the card was designed around him as a star.Lewis was outlanded by Gane 98-16 in significant strikes, and 112-16 total strikes. He scored 80% of his important strikes. Gane's plus82 significant strike differential was the largest ever recorded in a UFC Heavyweight Title fight.White described Gane as a "big, powerful, and bad-ass heavyweight" who moved like a middleweight. He "totally shut him down, put on an exhibition, and looked great doing it. It was easy to make it look easy when you are up against someone who can knock out the lights with one punch.Gane (10-0), is one of the UFC's most promising fighters. Gane, 31 years old, has a UFC record of 7-0. This makes him the fourth heavyweight in history to do so, along with Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. Alexander Volkov was defeated by "Bon Gamin" in a unanimous decision. It was a one-sided fight in June. Gane is the sixth UFC heavyweight champion to win a title without being defeated.Gane's seven-fight winning streak in the UFC heavyweight division is tied for second with Andrei Arlovski (and Velasquez), for the longest.Lewis (25-8, 1 NC), has the most KO/TKO wins in UFC heavyweight history (12). This mark places him in a tie with Matt Brown and Vitor Belfort for the record of most knockouts in any UFC division. Lewis, 36, was just coming off a second round knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes.Gane stated, "I believe I'm the best in the universe now." "I believe this means something. "I don't want [to say] I'm the best, because Francis Ngannou is still the champion."
