Sep 3, 2022; Paris, FRANCE; Ciryl Gane (red gloves) before fighting Tai Tuivasa (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

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Ciryl Gane’s Coach Heartbroken After UFC 321 No Contest Against Tom Aspinall

Sep 3, 2022; Paris, FRANCE; Ciryl Gane (red gloves) before fighting Tai Tuivasa (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Corner men invest just as much emotionally into fights as the athletes themselves do. They spend months developing game plans and drilling specific techniques for one specific opponent. Coaches watch their fighters sacrifice everything during brutal training camps that test physical and mental limits. Then fight night arrives and all that preparation gets put to the test inside the octagon. When things go perfectly according to plan, the satisfaction feels incredible for everyone involved in the camp.

But when circumstances beyond anyone’s control ruin everything, the devastation hits differently for coaches watching helplessly. Fernand Lopez has guided Ciryl Gane through his entire professional MMA career with exceptional striking expertise. The French coach helped transform Gane from a raw Muay Thai prospect into an elite heavyweight contender. They have experienced highs like winning the interim title and lows like the Jon Jones submission loss.

UFC 321 promised redemption and a chance to capture undisputed heavyweight gold against Tom Aspinall. But after UFC 321 no contest against Aspinall, Lopez was heartbroken. He spoke with Daniel Cormier immediately after the fight with visible disappointment etched across his face.

Cyril Gane’s Coach Wants An Immediate Rematch

Fernand Lopez was approached by Daniel Cormier for a post-fight conversation that revealed his genuine heartbreak. The usually composed coach couldn’t hide his disappointment about how everything ended so abruptly. Lopez emphasized how well Ciryl was fighting before the accidental eye poke ruined everything completely. Gane’s striking looked sharp from the opening bell as he established his jab immediately against Aspinall. The French heavyweight was controlling distance perfectly and bloodying the champion’s nose with precise punches.

Everything was going according to plan until 4:35 when the accidental double eye poke stopped everything. Lopez saw victory within reach before circumstances snatched it away in the cruelest fashion possible. Lopez wants the rematch scheduled as soon as possible without any delay or waiting around. The coach believes his fighter deserves another immediate opportunity after what transpired Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. He wants Gane back in there proving what everyone saw glimpses of before the stoppage.

Dana White already confirmed the rematch will happen, giving Lopez and Gane something concrete to work toward. They will return to the gym immediately and prepare to finish what they started in Abu Dhabi. Lopez believes his fighter proved that he can compete with and potentially beat Aspinall. The rematch gives them another chance to validate that belief and capture heavyweight gold.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall

UFC 321

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!