That set up an epic showdown with former teammate and sparring partner Francis Ngannou that ended with “The Predator” debuting his offensive wrestling skills to salt away the final two rounds and claim victory, handing “Bon Gamin” his first professional defeat. A bounce-back victory over Tai Tuivasa at home in Paris put Gane in a position to face Jon Jones for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285, and for the second time in 15 months, he departed the Octagon empty handed.
“Every moment is an experience,” began Gane, reflecting on his journey in the UFC ahead of this third opportunity to become undisputed heavyweight champion. “I’m not thinking about the result; I’m just thinking about fight week and stuff like that. When you win, when you lose, this helps you to grow up. I’ve got experience on the big day.
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“I started really late in MMA and was rising really quickly, and when it’s like that, you don’t have any questions of yourself; you just do your thing, go to training, and you win, you win, you win.
“But when you lose,” he added with a smile, pausing before qualifying his two setbacks. “It was different against Francis Ngannou than Jon Jones. Against Francis, it was 50/50; the champion stayed the champion. But with Jon Jones, it was a real loss, and I remember the bad buzz around this fight, and all of this helps you to have a different approach, what you must do [in order to succeed at this level].