Ciryl Gane used to treat MMA like a sport -- now h...
Key takeaways
- "There is pressure in a game like basketball, yes, but not like this.
- Gane, of France, is about to appear in his fifth UFC title fight (three undisputed, two interim) -- and in many ways, not much has changed since his first, an interim championship win over Derrick Lewis in 2021.
- He is acutely aware of certain truths of the fight game that he maybe wasn't before.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Ciryl Gane, 36, promises he's the same fun-loving guy he was at the beginning of his career, but he is now more careful about showing his personality to the world. Carolyn Van Houten for ESPNBrett Okamoto Jun 10, 2026, 08:00 AM ETClose Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mc Gregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWASHINGTON -- Ciryl Gane is sitting in a cafe a few blocks from the White House, wrapping up an interview that has touched on his life, career and interim heavyweight championship fight against Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Sunday. The conversation is essentially over when Gane leans forward with one last, unsolicited thought.
"This is a strange sport," he tells ESPN. "There is pressure in a game like basketball, yes, but not like this. We go in there trying to kill each other. It's probably not a sport."
He doesn't say this as some grand revelation; it's more like a matter of fact he has inevitably come to learn after 10 years in combat sports.Editor's PicksMonths of planning preceded White House Octagon eventMichael RothsteinUFC White House buzz: Custom fighter kits, gloves unveiledESPN StaffFrom the Octagon to the Oval Office: White, Trump and a 25-year friendshipESPN Staff2 Related