Heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane has respectfully declined Khabib Nurmagomedov’s offer to help him evolve his ground game after a less-than-stellar showing against Jon Jones earlier this year.
Gane’s lack of wrestling skills has arguably cost him the opportunity to become a UFC champion on two separate occasions. After coming up short against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 last year, ‘Bon Gamin’ found himself with another opportunity to reach the top of the mountain in March, squaring off with Jon Jones for the vacant heavyweight crown. Fans were expecting a highly competitive contest between two of the sport’s greatest strikers. Instead, they were treated to a quick two-minute matchup that saw Jones easily take down and submit Gane.
The loss prompted one of the greatest grapplers in the history of the game, Khabib Nurmagomedov, to reach out and offer Gane some assistance in honing his skills on the mat. However, Gane can’t see himself venturing off to Russia for months at a time, leaving his family behind in the process.
“This is really kind of him, but I have another job, and that’s to be a father,” Gane told Mirror Fighting. “I have two daughters, and this is a big job. People underestimate this. To leave…
