Several MMA fighters in 2021 had years that turned them from virtual unknowns to cage-fighting household names. However, the one competitor that The Underground forums felt stood head and shoulders above the rest was UFC heavyweight sensation Ciryl Gane.
Gane (10-0) entered this year with four Octagon appearances under his belt, including a second-round knockout victory over future UFC Hall-of-Famer Junior dos Santos. However, the Frenchman was still viewed as a talent with big-time potential, but with something left to prove. And he did exactly that throughout 2021.
After thrashing former heavyweight champion dos Santos in December of 2020, “Bon Gamin” was back in action two months later in his first UFC main event opportunity against top-10 talent Jairzinho Rozenstruik. “Bigi Boy” entered his matchup with Gane having won five of his six Octagon appearances, and also had a second-round finish over JDS on his hit list. In a division where many of the best talents reach their prime at 40, Gane vs Rozenstruik was a showcase of two heavyweight young bucks — in their early 30s — that were in the conversation as the most technical strikers in the division.
Ciryl Gane dominated from start to finish to win 2021 breakout MMA fighter of the year
Gane’s fight with the Suriname native would be an early display of what all of his fights this year would look like. Technical dominance from start to finish. The 31-year-old would pitch a shutout in winning all five rounds on the judge’s cards and put the division on notice that a new level of striking had emerged at heavyweight.
The French fighter would return four months later in another headlining spot against former Bellator and M1 Global champion Alexander Volkov. Another talented striker that offered a rare challenge for the 6’4″ Gane. An opponent who was actually longer and taller than him. However, the Russian’s 6’7″ frame was still only enough to win one round on one judge’s card as Gane again went into a UFC main event unbeaten, and kept his record perfect with more tactical striking dominance.
With wins over two top-10 heavyweights in the bag, the sport was finally wise to the fact that Gane was the genuine article and a certified title contender. However, instead of moving on to face new heavyweight king and former training partner Francis Ngannou in his next matchup, the beginnings of a schism between the promotion and their new champion would land Gane an interim title opportunity instead. And his opponent would be the hardest puncher the weight class has ever seen in “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis.
Gane put himself alongside Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez as one of the fastest to become a UFC heavyweight champion
Observers of the sport knew that Gane was the far better striking technician and cage tactician. But when it comes to Lewis, the man only needs one opportunity to release the hellfire in his hands and put Gane to sleep. In the Houston resident, he had an all-new threat where he could not lose focus for one second or have to wait a very long time before his next championship opportunity came.
In a showcase of the constantly evolving MMA fighter that the former Muay Thai star has become, Gane used a complete MMA game to befuddle Lewis for three rounds. Making the heavyweight monster seem unsure of himself and shockingly gun shy. This one did not need five rounds as the fighter out of Vincennes became a UFC champion in just his tenth fight. A breathtaking rapid ascent to the top of the division that mirrors division legends in Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez.
In 2021, Gane fought three times against elite competition and lost only one round on one judge’s scorecard, over 13 rounds. He may not be the fighter of the year in 2021 (although he might win the award in 2022), but there is no doubt about his place as the undisputed breakout MMA fighter of this past year.
