MMA Preview – Junior dos Santos vs Ciryl Gane at UFC 256
JUNIOR DOS SANTOS VS CIRYL GANE FACTS
When is UFC 256? Sunday 13th December, 2020 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 256? UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 256? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC 256 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 256? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
JUNIOR DOS SANTOS VS CIRYL GANE LOWDOWN
Junior dos Santos (21-8) keeps walking back into the lion’s den to take on the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. He still has the class and technique as we saw on his terrific three-fight win streak where he earned a unanimous decision over Blagoy Ivanov and knocked out Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis. However, he then ran into the paths of Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes and Jairzinho Rozenstruik getting finished in every fight.
He now crosses paths with the hottest prospect in the division Ciryl Gane (6-0). He has only had six pro fights, but he has the skill to match his raw power and athleticism. He has had three UFC bouts submitting Raphael Pessoa and Don’Tale Mayes and last fought a year ago earning a unanimous decision over Tanner Boser. Since then, he has had cancelled fight after cancelled fight and although he has had to wait too long, the former heavyweight champion has stepped up with an opportunity to fast-track him right to the top of the division.
JUNIOR DOS SANTOS VS CIRYL GANE PREDICTION
Dos Santos has all the experience, he is the former champion with some of the best boxing and takedown defence in the division. He has shared the cage with absolute monsters, but his chin has racked up so many miles on the clock now and has taken a significant amount of damage.
Gane has knockout power and is also a beast on the mat. He is unlikely to take dos Santos down who is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, so a submission will be as a result of a knock down and the fight will already be over.
So, this will be a stand-up fight which is dos Santos’ domain, but it is hard to see his chin holding up. The Brazilian can knock Gane out and outclass him in a decision but Gane has the power and reach to knock him out early. The fact that Curtis Blaydes knocked dos Santos out on the feet puts the writing on the wall.
Prediction: Gane via KO/TKO
