Curtis Blaydes doesn’t see Ciryl Gane filling the holes in his grappling recreation.
Gane (11-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) was rapidly taken down and submitted by Jon Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) of their vacant heavyweight title battle earlier this month at UFC 285.
Wrestling additionally value Gane in his title battle in opposition to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270, through which he was taken down 4 occasions. “Bon Gamin” is already again to work and intent on enhancing his grappling, however the UFC’s chief in most takedowns landed doesn’t see Gane ever reaching a excessive sufficient stage.
“I feel he’s like plenty of guys: He obtained away with out having to wrestle, identical to Francis when he fought Stipe (Miocic)” Blaydes stated in an interview with LowKick MMA. “He obtained away with not having to discover ways to wrestle. It’s not simply him.
“There’s plenty of guys with holes of their video games as a result of they solely concentrate on one facet of MMA. It’s not like we didn’t already know that it was a gap. I do know lots of people predict him simply to plug it. It takes years to discover ways to grapple. He’s not going to get it. He’s not going to get it. I don’t count on him to get it.”
Contemplating the stylistic matchup, Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) says the Jones vs. Gane battle performed out the best way he anticipated it to – simply faster.
“I don’t assume anybody anticipated it to finish that quick,” Blaydes stated. “However I’m not shocked at how he was capable of take him down and maintain him down and get on his neck.
“When you could have a gap that large in your grappling after which you’re going in opposition to Jones who, that’s like a power of his – I assumed it was going to be elbows. I didn’t assume it could be a submission. So I suppose that was slightly stunning, however I’m not stunned he obtained the end. I used to be anticipating the end.”
Blaydes will look to emerge as a title contender when he faces the streaking Sergei Pavlovich within the UFC Struggle Night time 222 headliner April 22.
