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Ciryl Gane wants interim UFC title shot after Tai Tuivasa bout with one eye on Jon Jones

INTERVIEW Ciryl Gane is ready to reignite his UFC title charge with a win over Tai Tuivasa in September and is keeping one eye on Stipe Miocic's potential bout against Jon Jones

[French MMA heavyweight athlete Ciryl Gane poses for portrait in a gymnasium, in Paris on September 14, 2021.]

Ciryl Gane is ready to reignite his UFC title dream by beating Tai Tuivasa in September(Image: Getty Images)

Ciryl Gane is ready to reignite his UFC title charge with a win over Tai Tuivasa on home soil in September while eyeing up another shot at the interim belt later in the year and keeping an eye on Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones.

The former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, who lost out in his first title shot against former training partner Francis Ngannou back in January at UFC 270, is looking to bounce back having secured a main event slot in Paris on September 3.

The event comes after France accepted MMA as a sport back in 2020, and will see the 32-year-old, who is ranked #1 in the division, take on the #3 ranked Tuivasa, 29, who knocked out Derrick Lewis in February.

When asked by Daily Star Sport if he thinks a second title fight would follow a win over Tuivasa, Gane said: "I don't know what is the exact plan for the UFC, but for me I think the next fight for my career will be an interim title fight.

"Of course at the moment Francis has the belt, and there is also Stipe Miocic versus Jon Jones."

Adding: "My mission, my goal remains to go for the belt, and I hope I win this fight against Tuivasa and after we progress."

Who will end the year as UFC Heavyweight champion? Give us your prediction in the comments section below.

[ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: (L-R) Ciryl Gane of France punches Francis Ngannou of Cameroon in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 270 event at Honda Center on January 22, 2022 in Anaheim, California. ]

Ciryl Gane narrowly missed out on heavyweight glory against Francis Ngannou in January(Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty)

[LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 11: Tai Tuivasa of Australia reacts after defeating Augusto Sakai of Brazil in their heavyweight bout during the UFC 269 on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.]

Tai Tuivasa has won each of his last five bouts via knockout and sits #3 in the rankings(Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty)

Gane went into his bout against Ngannou with a perfect MMA record of 10-0, which followed a perfect Muay Thai return of 13-0. Having impressed in the opening two rounds, Gane was beaten by unanimous decision after Ngannou opted to wrestle his opponent with notable success.

However, with Ngannou's future in the sport still unclear as his UFC deal comes to an end, ex-heavyweight champion Miocic has been linked with a bout against dominant former light-heavyweight Jones, which could very well have a big impact on where the undisputed belt ends up.

Speaking to French media this week, Gane also gave his thoughts on the atmosphere at UFC London back in March as he hopes for something similar in his first ever professional bout on home soil.

[LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 23: Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones poses on the red carpet prior to the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Induction Ceremony at Park Theater at Park MGM on September 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada]

UFC Hall of Famer Jon Jones looks set to make his heavyweight bow later this year(Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty)

[HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 07: Ciryl Gane speaks during the post fight press conference after defeating Derrick Lewis for the Heavyweight title belt during UFC 265 at Toyota Center on August 7, 2021 in Houston, Texas.]

Ciryl Gane beat Derrick Lewis for the interim belt in 2021 - and wants it back in 2022(Image: Getty Images)

He said: "UFC London really impressed me. Superb atmosphere we know the English public, it's one of the best and it's hard to do better.

"But I hope we will get close. I hope there will be good supporters present. Not just for me. We will have good fighters and fighters, so I hope the fans will be there."

Also on the card is a middleweight bout between two former title contenders in Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori, as well as a flyweight bout between Manon Fiorot and former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: GANE vs. TUIVASA tickets go on sale from 09:00 a.m. BST on Friday, July 24, via Accor Arena and Ticketmaster.

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