Fernand Lopez is responding to allegations surrounding Ciryl Gane’s reluctance to compete in fights. Managed and coached by Lopez, Gane has faced criticism for not stepping into the ring since his last win in September. Lopez clarified that Gane had to decline an offer to fight at UFC 304 due to a prior commitment to star in a movie with Netflix. Despite accusations from interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall that Gane snubbed a fight with him, Lopez explained that the UFC had not actually proposed a bout between Gane and Aspinall, rather an offer was made to Aspinall in July. Lopez also disclosed that Gane had shown readiness to take on Aspinall at UFC 300 in April, but Aspinall was waiting for a more high-profile fight.
The narrative delved into the discussions and negotiations between Gane and the UFC matchmaking team regarding potential matchups, eventually culminating in Gane’s upcoming bout against Alexander Volkov at UFC 308, following his previous victory over Volkov in June 2021. Lopez stressed that Gane’s choices revolved around timing, opportunities, and prior commitments, rather than evading opponents. The article wrapped up by mentioning the imminent UFC 304 event and invited readers to explore MMA Junkie’s platforms for more engaging MMA content and conversations.
