Cyril Gane – Syndication Server

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Aug. 10: Ciryl Gane still has room to move

Just two years after making his way to the UFC, Cyril Gane is now an interim champion – but where does that leave him in the rankings?

Just two years after making his way to the UFC, undefeated [autotag]Cyril Gane[/autotag] is now an interim champion – but where does that leave him in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings?

The short answer is No. 3.

Following his UFC 265 win over Derrick Lewis, Gane climbs up one spot and now sits at No. 3, just behind the man many consider the greatest UFC heavyweight of all time, Stipe Mioic.

Reigning UFC champion Francis Ngannou holds on to his No. 1 spot.

Gane’s career run has been spectacular, and he can call himself a champion, but Miocic’s sustained run of greatness keeps him just ahead – at least for now. Gane will have a chance to make a major statement and ascend to the top of the list when he meets Ngannou in a unification bout at a date still to be determined.

Heavyweight wasn’t the only division to get a new look following UFC 265. Check out the changes in each weight class by using the dropdown menu above.

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Spinning Back Clique: Fedor’s return, PFL season grades, Usman-Diaz beef, stories of 2021

Check out the latest edition of “Spinning Back Clique,” giving a quick spin on Emelianenko’s return, Usman and Diaz’s Twitter beef, and more.

Check out the latest edition of “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, our panel weighs in on [autotag]Cyril Gane[/autotag]’s place in the heavyweight division, Kamaru Usman and Nate Diaz’s Twitter exchange, PFL’s regular season grade, who Fedor Emelianenko should face in his return, and more. Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of “Gorgeous” George Garcia, Nolan King, and Matthew Wells weighed in with host John Morgan.

This past Saturday, UFC heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane defeated Alexander Volkov in the main event at UFC Fight Night 190. Only nine fights into his professional career, is it time to put him in a title fight now?
UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] and [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] ended up in an unexpected Twitter beef. It appeared the champ would be open to a matchup with Stockton’s scrapper. Diaz’s star power is strong, but how would it look if this fight actually came together?
The PFL wrapped up its 2021 regular season this past week, and a few big names and former champions failed to make the playoffs this season. Although there were some exciting moments during the season, a lot of expected names are out of the mix. The panel gives their grade for the regular season.
Bellator made a huge announcement last weekend, revealing that [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] will return to action in October for a fight to take place in Russia. We know when and where, but who is the right person to take on the heavyweight legend in his return to the cage?
With the biggest promotions in the sport idle this coming weekend, we take a look back over the first six months of 2021 to determine the biggest story of the year so far.

Hope you enjoy this week’s show. Watch the full episode of “Spinning Back Clique” above.

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What’s next for Jairzinho Rozenstruik after loss? | UFC Fight Night 186 matchmaker

What’s next Jairzinho Rozenstruik after his decision loss to Ciryl at UFC Fight Night 186? MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn examines his future in this edition of “Mick Maynard’s Shoes.”

Who should Ciryl Gane fight next after main event win? | UFC Fight Night 186 matchmaker

What’s next Ciryl Gane after his decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Fight Night 186? MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker in this edition of “Mick Maynard’s Shoes.”

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Feb. 2: Big month ahead at heavyweight

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings before a busy February slate kicks into high gear.

After taking a week off, the UFC is back this Saturday with UFC Fight Night 184 to kick off a busy February that is sure to cause plenty of movement in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

Among the fights to watch:

No. 6 [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] vs. No. 7 [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag], heavyweight
No. 3 [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] vs. No. 4 [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag], bantamweight
No. 1 [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] vs. No. 2 [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag], welterweight
No. 5 [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag] vs. No. 11 [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag], bantamweight
No. 14 [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag], women’s flyweight
No. 3 [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] vs. No. 4 [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag], heavyweight
No. 5 [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] vs. No. 8 [autotag]Cyril Gane[/autotag], heavyweight

For those keeping track, the month features three heavyweight main events featuring the Nos. 3 through 8 in our rankings. A lot is at stake among the big men in February.

Get caught up with all of the rankings in the dropdowns above.

Junior dos Santos say UFC 256 opponent Cyril Gane reminds him of himself

Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos chats to MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George Garcia and Brian “Goze” Garcia ahead of his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 256.

Combat Rewind, May 24: Baby-faced teenager Jorge Masvidal shows off his slick striking

Check out the best highlights from this day in history with MMA Junkie’s “Combat Rewind.”

There’s “Flashback Friday” and “Throwback Thursday” (and Tuesday, too, if you want). But at MMA Junkie, we figured why not expand that to every day?

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year. It’s a look back at history, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives, featuring stellar finishes and classic moments in MMA and beyond on their anniversaries.

So kick back and relive the following bits of greatness in the video above:

TKO 48: [autotag]Cyril Gane[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Roggers Souza[/autotag] – May 24, 2019
King of the Cage – Future Legends 23: [autotag]Nicco Montano[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Leann Acosta[/autotag] – May 24, 2014
Cage Warriors Fight Night 6: [autotag]Jarrah Hussein[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Houthaifa Gdouda[/autotag] – May 24, 2012
K-1 Braves ’98: [autotag]Ernesto Hoost[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jean Riviere[/autotag] – May 24, 1998
King of the Cage – Future Legends 23: [autotag]Brent James[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Victor Orquiz[/autotag] – May 24, 2014
TKO 48: [autotag]Taylor Lapilus[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nathan Maness[/autotag] – May 24, 2019
King of the Cage – Future Legends 23: [autotag]Carlo Rodriguez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mike Silva[/autotag] – May 24, 2014
HOOKnSHOOT – Absolute Fighting Championships 3: [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brandon Bledsoe[/autotag] – May 24, 2003

Fight footage courtesy of UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s official digital subscription service, which is currently offering a seven-day free trial. UFC Fight Pass gives fans access to exclusive live UFC events and fights, exclusive live MMA and combat sports events from around the world, exclusive original and behind the scenes content and unprecedented 24-7 access to the world’s biggest fight library.

Combat Rewind – May 24

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.