Ciryl Gane Bio
Ciryl Romain Jacky Gane (born April 12, 1990) is a French professional mixed martial artist, actor, and former Muay Thai fighter. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a two-time Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. Known by the nickname Bon Gamin, or Good Kid, Gane trains out of the respected MMA Factory gym in Paris under head coach Fernand Lopez. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall with a 206 cm reach, Gane is widely regarded as one of the most technical heavyweight strikers in the sport.
Early Life and Background
Ciryl Romain Jacky Gane was born on April 12, 1990, in La Roche-sur-Yon, a city in the Vendée department of western France. His paternal family has roots in Guadeloupe, the French overseas department in the Caribbean. His father, Romain Gane, worked as a bus driver and was also a footballer who played at the Division d’Honneur level in France. Growing up, young Ciryl played both football and basketball, showing a natural gift for team sports.
Despite his athletic ability, Gane initially chose a different career path and took a job in sales at a furniture store. He also enrolled in a work-study program in Paris to continue his education. It was during this period that a former classmate introduced him to the sport of Muay Thai, a moment that redirected his life toward combat sports. The discipline and structure of Muay Thai appealed to him, and he soon committed himself to training and competition.
Path to MMA
Gane launched his professional combat sports career in Muay Thai in 2014, fighting under the AFMT banner in France. He made his professional debut on June 4, 2016, winning an AFMT Muay Thai heavyweight title fight against Jérémy Jeanne by second-round knockout. He went on to defeat Samih Bachar by decision before beating K-1 veteran Brice Guidon by third-round knockout at La Nuit Des Titans. He also defended the AFMT title with a first-round knockout of Jonathan Gengoul at Muay Thai Spirit 5 and added wins over Bangaly Keita and former WBC Muaythai champion Yassine Boughanem to his record.
By 2018, Gane was ready for a new challenge and transitioned to mixed martial arts. He trained under Fernand Lopez at MMA Factory in Paris and signed with the Canadian promotion TKO Major League MMA. In his professional MMA debut, he captured the vacant TKO heavyweight championship by submitting Bobby Sullivan in the first round with a front choke. He followed that with a second-round TKO of Adam Dyczka and a first-round TKO of Roggers Souza to firmly establish himself as a rising prospect in the heavyweight division.
Ciryl Gane Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Gane’s early MMA career was built on a foundation of striking developed through years of competitive Muay Thai. His three title-fight appearances in TKO showcased a versatile finisher who could win by submission or by strikes. The TKO heavyweight championship gave him a professional platform and exposure that would soon attract the attention of the world’s largest MMA organization.
Later in 2018, Gane signed with the UFC and was booked for his promotional debut on August 10, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2. He submitted Raphael Pessoa with an arm triangle choke in the first round to announce his arrival on the biggest stage in the sport.
UFC Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Following his successful debut, Gane kept his momentum rolling with a third-round heel hook of Don’tale Mayes at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren, a finish that earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus. He closed out 2019 with a unanimous decision win over Tanner Boser at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie.
After several cancellations in 2020, Gane returned with a statement performance, stopping former champion Junior dos Santos via second-round technical knockout at UFC 256 in December 2020. He continued his climb in 2021 with a unanimous decision over Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Fight Night 186 and another unanimous decision win against Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 190. His biggest moment came on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265, when he faced Derrick Lewis for the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. Gane dominated the fight and finished Lewis by third-round technical knockout, capturing interim gold and earning another Performance of the Night bonus.
Interim and Undisputed Title Bids (2022-2023)
Gane’s first shot at undisputed gold came on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270, when he faced Francis Ngannou for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Gane won the first two rounds on the scorecards with his striking, but Ngannou shifted to wrestling and controlled the championship rounds. Gane suffered the first loss of his professional career by unanimous decision, a setback that revealed areas of his game that still needed sharpening.
He responded with a third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa at UFC Fight Night 209 in September 2022, a thrilling bout that earned him the Fight of the Night award. In March 2023, he challenged Jon Jones for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 but was caught in a first-round guillotine choke. He bounced back with a second-round TKO of Serghei Spivac at UFC Fight Night 226, collecting his third Performance of the Night bonus in the process.
Comeback and Second Interim Title (2024-2026)
Gane was scheduled to rematch Alexander Volkov on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308, but the bout was shifted to UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, after a knee injury to Volkov. Gane won a close and controversial split decision, a verdict that prompted UFC CEO Dana White to publicly state he believed Volkov had done enough to win.
On October 25, 2025, at UFC 321, Gane challenged Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight championship. During a competitive opening round, Gane extended his hand and poked Aspinaccidentally in both eyes. Aspinall was unable to continue, and the fight was ruled a no contest. Six months later, on June 14, 2026, at UFC Freedom 250, Gane faced former two-division champion Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title and captured the belt by second-round technical knockout, earning a $425,000 Performance of the Night award in the process.
Style and Strengths
Gane is widely considered one of the most well-rounded and athletic heavyweights in the sport. His Muay Thai background gives him sharp elbows, knees, and a varied kicking game, while his movement and footwork are unusual for a man his size. Under coach Fernand Lopez at MMA Factory, he has steadily added wrestling, grappling, and submission skills to his already dangerous striking arsenal, making him a difficult puzzle for any heavyweight to solve.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Gane’s career are his first-round submission of Bobby Sullivan for the TKO heavyweight title, his demolition of Junior dos Santos at UFC 256, his interim title win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, and his second interim title victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. His four UFC post-fight bonuses highlight a fighter who consistently delivers memorable performances.
Ciryl Gane Career Wins
Ciryl Gane has compiled a professional combat sports record that spans both Muay Thai and mixed martial arts. He has captured major titles in two different sports and has been a fixture near the top of the UFC heavyweight rankings for several years.
MMA Highlights
Gane owns an MMA record marked by finishes, including a string of early stoppages in the UFC heavyweight division. His first UFC victory came by first-round arm triangle over Raphael Pessoa, and he later added stoppage wins over Don’tale Mayes, Junior dos Santos, Tai Tuivasa, and Serghei Spivac. His most significant wins remain the TKO of Derrick Lewis for the interim UFC heavyweight title in 2021 and the 2026 technical knockout of Alex Pereira for his second interim title.
Muay Thai Highlights
Before moving to MMA, Gane built an impressive Muay Thai resume in France, capturing the AFMT heavyweight title and recording wins over K-1 veteran Brice Guidon and former WBC Muaythai champion Yassine Boughanem. Those striking foundations remain central to his success inside the UFC cage.
Ciryl Gane Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ciryl Gane was raised in La Roche-sur-Yon by his father, Romain Gane, a former Division d’Honneur footballer and bus driver. His paternal family traces its roots to Guadeloupe, the Caribbean French overseas department, giving him a multicultural heritage that has shaped his identity as a French athlete.
Personal Life
Gane is married and is the father of two daughters. The family resides in Nogent-sur-Marne, a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris in the Île-de-France region. Outside of competition, Gane has begun to explore acting, appearing in the film KO as Bastien and in the 2025 movie Den of Thieves 2. He has also served as an MMA judge on the French reality television series l’Arène, broadcast by Netflix in 2026.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined for Ciryl Gane by his third shot at undisputed UFC heavyweight gold. He entered the year as one of the top-ranked heavyweights in the world and was booked to face Tom Aspinall for the championship at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025. The bout was highly anticipated as a clash between two of the division’s most athletic competitors.
The fight itself unfolded in dramatic fashion. During a competitive opening round in which both men traded strikes, Gane extended his hand and inadvertently poked Aspinall in both eyes. The champion was unable to continue, and the contest was officially ruled a no contest. The result left the heavyweight picture unsettled heading into 2026 and set the stage for Gane’s interim title clash with Alex Pereira.
Looking ahead, the no contest with Aspinall left unfinished business at the top of the division. With his second interim title win over Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026, Gane once again positioned himself as the leading contender to unify the heavyweight championship. His partnership with coach Fernand Lopez at MMA Factory continues to anchor his game, and his blend of elite striking, improving grappling, and championship experience makes him a central figure in the UFC heavyweight division for the foreseeable future.
