Former UFC contender Josh Thomson didn’t maintain again whereas discussing Ciryl Gane’s historical past of fouls, saying the UFC heavyweight has constructed a report of incidents that’s too frequent to dismiss as unhealthy luck. Talking on the “Weighing In” podcast, the previous Strikeforce champion pointed to what he described as 5 eye pokes, three groin pictures and 4 unlawful elbows throughout Gane’s UFC run.
“Some fighters make up 90% of the fouls,” Thomson stated. If you end up a cheater, you’re a serial cheater, and I don’t imply like Ciryl Gane. I simply imply Ciryl cheater.” He added that Gane has had “10-15 notable foul incidents” since arriving within the UFC, framing the French heavyweight’s report as a recurring sample fairly than a set of remoted errors.
Ciryl Gane’s Foul Historical past Again in Focus After Josh Thomson Feedback
The feedback arrive after Gane’s current stoppage win over Alex Pereira reignited arguments about unlawful strikes. Pereira stated Gane landed punches and elbows to the again of his head in the course of the ending sequence and claimed these pictures affected his capability to get well. Video from the sequence has led to debate as a result of Pereira was turning and defending whereas Gane was attacking, creating the standard MMA drawback: a strike will be geared toward a authorized goal, then land elsewhere when an opponent’s place modifications.
Former referee John McCarthy took that view, calling Gane reckless at instances however stopping wanting branding the pictures intentional. Intent is tough to show in a quick alternate, but a fighter stays accountable for controlling strikes, kicks and hand place. Beneath the Unified Guidelines, strikes to the again of the pinnacle and neck are prohibited, as are eye gouges and groin assaults. A referee should resolve whether or not an unlawful blow was unintended, whether or not it precipitated injury and whether or not the bout can proceed.
Gane’s most severe current foul got here towards Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 in October 2025. Their heavyweight title struggle ended as a no-contest at 4:35 of the opening spherical after a watch poke by Gane left Aspinall unable to proceed. UFC Stats lists the official end merely as “Eye poke by Gane.” Aspinall later stated he required surgical procedure on each eyes, turning a single in-fight second right into a prolonged absence and a serious level of pressure between the rivals.
The problem didn’t start with Aspinall. At UFC 285 in March 2023, Gane landed a groin kick on Jon Jones simply seconds into their heavyweight title bout. Jones paused, recovered and went on to submit Gane within the first spherical. The foul didn’t resolve the result, but it surely grew to become one other entry in a listing critics cite every time Gane is accused of combating carelessly.
Gane’s 2020 TKO win over Junior dos Santos stays essentially the most contested instance. Dos Santos’ workforce appealed the end result to the Nevada State Athletic Fee, arguing the elbow that dropped him landed on the again of the pinnacle and neck. The enchantment sought a no-contest or disqualification. Gane saved the win, however the dispute lingered as a result of dos Santos equipped pictures of bruising and challenged the referee’s interpretation of the foul zone. His representatives didn’t accuse Gane of malice, although they argued the strike itself was unlawful.
In 2022, dos Santos once more criticized Gane after the heavyweight’s knockout of Tai Tuivasa in Paris. A proper hammerfist within the closing alternate appeared to land behind Tuivasa’s head, and broadcaster Michael Bisping described it as a shot to the again of the pinnacle in the course of the replay.
