Francis Ngannou beats Cyril Gane to retain the heavyweight belt – San Bernardino Sun
ANAHEIM – Cyril Gane knows to watch out for Francis Ngannou’s thunderous power.
However, removal may be the last thing Gane expects.
Ngannou’s persistence to hit all the way to the bottom scored him enough points in the final three rounds to win a unanimous decision and retain his heavyweight belt in Saturday’s UFC 270 main event at Honda Center. sold out tickets.
The referees gave the score 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 to the Cameroonian giant, who was defending his first title against his former coaching partner and losing his first.
It was 35-year-old Ngannou’s sixth consecutive win (17-3), although the previous five matches had all ended in a brutal knockout.
For all the discussion of the size and magnitude of the two, the fight had no kills and a lot of grappling in the final three innings. Ngannou earned a score of 10-9 in the final three rounds from judges Ron McCarthy, Sal D’Amato and Derek Cleary, with D’Amato scoring the first round for the champion.
In fact, no boxer lands hard enough to give an opponent a hard time.
Gane (10-1), interim champion, cleverly used his agility and exemplary footwork, along with knee and foot kicks, in the first two innings to dodge power of Ngannou and slipped under his punches. When the Parisians waded into Ngannou’s range, he would land and get out.
The third round began with 31-year-old Gane bouncing, switching positions with his hands at his side to not allow Ngannou to find his range or rhythm.
The champ quickly denied it in the third round with a huge lift and knock. Gane stood up only to be knocked down again.
The fourth round started off with a bit of a misstep in the first minute before Ngannnou took out a knockdown and then another. At the end of the round, as Gane sat leaning against the fence, Ngannou dug his punishment knee into his chest.
Gane turned the game around in the fifth and final game, defeating Ngannou only for the champion to reverse it and finish at the top of the table. Gane tries to hook his heel, but Ngannou escapes it and ends the fight on Gane’s head, though doesn’t do much damage beyond establishing control of the Octagon.
Ngannou has spoken to the UFC about better compensation, even teasing a switch to boxing for more money.
UFC President Dana White has been saying all week that he and the heavyweight champ are cool, but there’s one scene worth watching and watching: When Ngannou was announced as the winner, UFC moderator and matchmaker Mick Maynard – not the customary White – tied the belt around Ngannou’s Waist.
https://www.sbsun.com/2022/01/22/ufc-270-francis-ngannou-outpoints-cyril-gane-to-retain-heavyweight-title/ Francis Ngannou beats Cyril Gane to retain the heavyweight belt – San Bernardino Sun
