UFC’s Ciryl Gane Says He’ll Fight Ex-Training Partner Francis Ngannou Under 1 Condition

UFC rising star Ciryl Gane says there’s only 1 way he’d fight his former training partner and friend Francis Ngannou … if the UFC title was on the line!!

30-year-old Gane is a beast … he’s 6’5″, 247 lbs., and has never lost a professional fight (he’s 7-0).

The #7 ranked heavyweight fighter — who beat Junior dos Santos in December — is taking on #4 ranked, 32-year-old Jairzinho Rozenstruik at the main event of UFC Fight Night 186 Saturday night.

If Ciryl wins, he’ll be in the mix for a title shot … and the champ could very well be Ngannou.

The issue? Gane and Ngannou — who’s fighting Stipe Miocic for the title at UFC 260 next month — used to train together at MMA Factory in Paris under coach Fernand Lopez.

So, we asked Gane if he’d ever fight Francis.

“I think it’s a little bit shame if we do it before the belt because we’re both from [French Cameroon]. For me, we were born in the same gym, with the same coach and this is something.”

Ciryl added … “But, if the UFC wants to do that, that better be for the belt.”

We asked CG if it’d be hard to hurt someone he likes and respects.

“For me, It’s a sport,” Gane said, continuing … “I don’t need to get mad in my career to do something in the cage. Outside the cage I’m a good kid, I’m always like that, and when I’m in the cage I do my job. That’s it, it’s a sport for me. So yeah, I think for me it would be possible.”

Now, there’s a 255 lb. man who hits like a truck and is hellbent on wrecking any plans for a future Gane-Ngannou fight.

We talked to Rozenstruik — who himself wants to fight Ngannou and avenge a 2020 loss — and he says it’s time to derail the Ciryl Gane hype train and get himself closer to a title shot.