Midnight Mania! ‘Lazy’ Ciryl Gane admits lax training schedule: ‘I only train when a fight is announced’

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Ciryl Gane is one of the most naturally talented men in MMA.

Gane spent a few years competing in Muay Thai prior to his MMA career, but he didn’t really have an extensive combat sports background. Nevertheless, he was able to pick up on wrestling and grappling incredibly quickly, joining the UFC roster after just three fights on the regional scene. Just another two years later, Gane was lifting the interim UFC Heavyweight title over his head.

His journey from professional debut to UFC title only took three years! That’s astounding, even at Heavyweight. Though he did come up short to another generational talent in Francis Ngannou, he’s since rebounded and put himself back in position to fight for the title against all-time great Jon Jones at UFC 285.

As it turns out, Gane may be even more talented than previously understood. While speaking with La Sueur, Gane recently revealed that he only trains in the lead up to fights, which is pretty wild considering how rapidly he still seems to be improving.

“I love grappling,” Gane said in French (via MMA Junkie). “But unfortunately, I’m lazy, that’s the truth. I only train when a fight is announced. I have a lot of media obligations. Professional opportunities outside of the sport. You can’t say no to all these things. I also have to give time to my family, rest well.”

“If I look back at my career, this a regret: I only train when a fight is announced,” Gane said. “I had my fight against Tuivasa (in September), barely trained since then, and now I’m back it since the Jones fight has been announced.”

Oddly enough, Gane’s opponent may be able to relate. Jones had admitted several times to neglecting training at the height of his powers, notably bragging that he beat up Daniel Cormier “after a weekend of cocaine.” Still, the results of either man cannot be questioned, as both have proven themselves more than capable of putting on championship-level performances across five rounds.

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CHAMPIONSHIP TRILOGY! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to The O2 in London England, on Sat., March 18, 2023, with newly-minted Welterweight kingpin, Leon Edwards, running it back with former 170-pound champion, Kamaru Usman, for a third (and likely final) time. In UFC 286’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, all-action Lightweight knockout artists, Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, will lock horns with the winner inching closer to a future Lightweight title shot.

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Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.