Ciryl Gane has completely flipped his mindset since his devastating first-round loss to Jon Jones for the UFC heavyweight title. It was the second time Gane had fought for the undisputed belt, and the second time he came up short. But this time, the loss lit a fire that changed everything.
“When I started the fight, I was not there,” Gane admitted on UFC 321 Countdown. “I was absent. Unfortunately, I made a mistake, and what is done is done. After my loss against Jones, a lot of things changed. More questions.
‘Why did you do that? Do you really want that?’ Now, it’s different. My mindset was revenge. That’s exactly what we did for UFC Paris.”
That mental shift sparked a new version of Gane, one that’s hungrier, sharper, and more self-aware. Since the loss to Jones, he’s racked up two straight wins and is now set for a third shot at UFC gold when he faces Tom Aspinall in the main event of UFC 321.
With his mindset reset, Gane also restructured his training camp. He surrounded himself with elite grapplers and strikers to prepare for Aspinall’s versatile style. The Frenchman’s focus is clear.
“I put everything I can do for this title shot. For no regrets,” Gane said. “This is the most important thing. I want this like I never wanted before. I don’t want to have any regret, that’s why I did all I could for this fight. UFC 321, I win this fight.”
Now, Gane steps into the octagon not just chasing redemption, but ready to claim what he believes is rightfully his.
