The storyline was seemingly set in stone. Ciryl Gane, Frenchman from the same gym that launched the career of heavyweight wrecking machine Francis Ngannou, was making his UFC debut in Uruguay against Raphael Pessoa in August, and at 6-foot-4, 242 pounds, “Bon Gamin” seemed poised to smash through walls just like “The Predator.”
Then a funny thing happened on the way to Gane’s first Octagon victory. He submitted Pessoa via arm triangle choke at 4:12 of the opening round.
“That was also a surprise for me,” laughs Gane. “I thought there was a more likely chance for me the finish him on the feet than on the ground, considering his background.