Combat sports stars often have fascinating stories about how they began their fighting careers. Recently, fans learned about Kai Asakura’s journey, which started after a street fight with his brother inspired him to pursue MMA, eventually leading him to become the Rizin bantamweight champion. Similarly, former UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane revealed that Anthony Joshua was his inspiration for entering the world of combat sports. Gane, who had just started training in Muay Thai, was motivated after watching one of Joshua’s fights.
Former interim heavyweight champion Gane is set to face Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. Ahead of their clash, Gane shared the inspiration behind his fighting journey. In a recent vlog by Red Corner MMA, Gane discussed how he modeled his approach after Anthony Joshua, which played a key role in his rise to UFC success. In the video, ‘Bon Gamin’ said:
“When I started doing Muay Thai, I remember I did exactly the same [as] Anthony Joshua,” Gane said. “Like damn, this guy is so f***ing good! ‘I want to be like him!’. I remember saying… ‘okay, let me do some push-ups like this! I want to be like him!’
The 34-year-old fighter also shared that watching ‘AJ’ served as a significant motivation for him, emphasizing the importance of having a target to strive for. Now, Gane aims to secure a victory in his upcoming heavyweight clash.
Ciryl Gane Commends Jon Jones for Dominant Victory Over Stipe Miocic
Gane, who was defeated by Jon Jones via first-round submission at UFC 285 in March 2023, recently praised his former rival for his impressive performance at UFC 309. Jones returned to the octagon in November, securing a third-round TKO victory over Stipe Miocic. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, the No. 2-ranked heavyweight commended the champion, saying:
“Every time we see for the fight against Stipe, everything was possible because Stipe is a really great fighter, really well-rounded, but [Jones] proved it another time. He’s so dangerous, he’s capable of changing, he can do everything you want so even if you have a guy [who is] really good on his striking or the wrestling, he can manage this.”
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‘Bon Gamin’ also weighed in on potential opponents who could challenge Jon Jones and possibly defeat him. Gane leaned slightly towards Tom Aspinall, citing his well-rounded skill set, while also acknowledging the danger Alex Pereira poses with his striking. Although Jones’ next opponent remains uncertain, discussions about his future fights are ongoing, and fans can expect updates soon.
Also Read: Joe Rogan Explains Why Jon Jones’ Height Is His Secret Weapon In MMA
