Ciryl Gane is one of the UFC's most explosive heavyweight champions, and his training camp before facing Alex Pereira turned heads across the sport. Nicknamed Bon Gamin, the French striker built his mixed martial arts career at MMA Factory in Paris under coach Fernand Lopez, capturing the interim heavyweight title with a devastating TKO of Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026. Ahead of that fight, Gane brought in former Glory kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov, the last man ever to beat Pereira in kickboxing, giving him a direct stylistic blueprint for the matchup. Gane was elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion in September 2026 after Tom Aspinall vacated the title. Known for relentless footwork and ferocious finishing instincts, Gane's preparation remains one of combat sports' most strategically respected camps.
Ciryl Gane claimed the UFC interim heavyweight title with a TKO victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026, capping one of the most strategically compelling training camps in recent memory.
Gane, known as Bon Gamin, enters the record books at 14-2 and has long been regarded as one of the most technically refined heavyweights in the sport. The 36-year-old Frenchman, representing MMA Factory in Paris under coach Fernand Lopez, stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and has built his game around elite movement and precision striking. He lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a 61 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect both his volume and efficiency at heavyweight.
A key element of Gane's preparation was the addition of Artem Vakhitov, the former Glory kickboxing champion who holds the distinction of being the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing competition. Bringing in Vakhitov gave Gane's camp a direct stylistic reference point, allowing his team to construct a gameplan shaped by firsthand knowledge of Pereira's tendencies and vulnerabilities.
Pereira, nicknamed Poatan, entered the fight with a 13-4 record and had moved up to challenge for heavyweight gold. The Brazilian lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute with 62 percent accuracy, and his knockout power has defined his UFC career across multiple divisions. At 39, he remains one of the most dangerous strikers in the promotion's history.
Following the interim title win, Gane was elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion in September 2026 after Tom Aspinall vacated the title.
Why it matters
- Gane is now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion at 14-2, with the interim and full titles secured in 2026
- Recruiting Vakhitov as a training partner highlighted the lengths elite camps will go to replicate a specific opponent's style
- The strategic preparation has drawn widespread recognition as a model for opponent-specific fight camp planning
